The kids and I completed our fourth grading in Taekwondo last weekend. We’ve been practicing together for nearly 3 years now and have come a long way since our first grading. Just like this is our last winter in Scotland, this will be our last grading here as well, although I’m really hoping to find a new school to continue practicing after our move.
I’m now a ITF Blue Tag (5th Kup), Vivian is a ITF Green Tag (7th Kup), and Sam is a Junior Black Stripe (next level is Yellow Belt 8th Kup for him). In the grading, each of us had to do a combination of patterns and exercises specific to our belt to demonstrate proficiency at our level.
Here is a list of what Vivian had to do, for example: ITF Yellow Belt (8th Kup) Grading Syllabus
The main pattern that she had to learn was Dan-Gun, as demonstrated here:
This felt a bit like the end of an era, even though we still have a couple of months left to practice Taekwondo here in the UK. Practicing has been a really important part of life here for us all, and it’s benefited the kids tremendously. I guess it’s also benefited me quite a bit too.
Martial arts training provides a quiet self-confidence that is unique, I think, to these disciplines in comparison to other sports. Maybe it’s because of the additional philosophy embedded in martial arts, or perhaps it’s because of the practical aspects (both physical and mental) of knowing how to handle yourself in case you were ever in danger.
Either way, I’d recommend it to anyone, regardless of age or fitness level.
Comments welcome!