First Tae Kwon Do Western Australia held its first grading examination of 2023 recently. Apart from the many coloured belt students who earned promotions in rank, several instructors were promoted through the higher Dan ranks (2nd Dan and above). To start off today’s photographs, we have some girls demonstrating excellent side kick and front snap kick techniques.
In the mid-afternoon, seven instructors undertook their 2nd Dan and 3rd Dan grading examinations under Master Vernon Low, the head of First Tae Kwon Do.
Breaking techniques formed a significant part of the higher Dan gradings, including the punch, head-butt, and jumping kicks shown below.
To round off the breaking tests, all of the candidates broke stacks of clay roof tiles. Below, we see two of the men executing knife-hand strikes through stacks of eight tiles.
The candidates then completed many rounds of free sparring against instructors and black belt members, whether in one-on-one or multiple-on-one situations.
Following successful completion of their gradings, candidates were promoted by Master Low with the traditional belt tying, where the master issuing the promotion personally ties the new belt onto the recipient.
In addition, the newly-promoted instructors received their official First Tae Kwon Do rank certificates from Chief Instructor John O’Brien, who is based in Adelaide with Master Low.
In total, First Tae Kwon Do Western Australia had six instructors promoted from 1st Dan to 2nd Dan, and one instructor promoted from 2nd Dan to 3rd Dan. The photograph below shows the successful candidates with Master Low, Chief Instructor O’Brien (6th Dan), and Chief Instructor (Western Australia) Dane Meade (5th Dan).
The grading for senior students (high ranked coloured belt members) followed, and we can see good side kick techniques from a couple of them below.
Congratulations to all members who were promoted, and particularly the seven instructors who were promoted through the higher Dan ranks.