My First Grading toYellow Belt, Did I Pass or did Fail.

Well, let's find out. If you know me personally or if you have read my last blog, you will have some idea of my struggles with mental health, you will have realised how difficult things can be, how hard it can be to focus and concentrate on the smallest of things. When I put my mind into something I'm all in and give 110% even though I struggle to remember things and find it difficult to focus for a really long period of time, but I always try my hardest. So after all the hard work and training, it was grading day 6/4/24 and of course I was a little nervous double grading to yellow belt. There were 16 denby dale students grading and some of us met beforehand and travelled over to stocksbridge, on arrival we said our hellos and got changed into our uniform.

We all went into the screened off section of the hall and did some practising and warming up, after a team talk it was time for every other class to assemble in the main part of the hall. We all did our pre grading duties and got split up into 3 groups ready for our own individual gradings by rank / belt. First up were the higher belts, green belt and green belt with orange tag, they all did great as was expected and only a few pointers from the masters were needed. Next were the orange belts and yellow belts with orange tags . However I knew my turn was fast approaching and before I knew it my group was up, the yellow belts and white belts. My name was called and it began. Standing up shouting tang soo and getting in position. Now I could feel my heart beating hard in my chest and we went through the motions, lifting kick, front snap kick, sidekick and onto blocks. Low block, into out middle block and high block.

Moving on to 3 step sparring and semi sparring after that section of the grading it was form time, we all got ready and we did basic form 1, 2 and 3 which I think I smashed It. After all, I have been training hard for this moment since October and I have had good trainers and advice. Before we knew it everyone was done and now it was time for the board breaking which i was really looking forward to. I decided I was going to kick it extra hard just in case the board was strong. I was right at the end of the line and finally it was my turn so up I got and bowed to the masters, got into position and bowed again and got into stance. I measured up for my front snap kick and bamm straight through the board and then some. The last 2 took their go and it was over apart from the closing ceremony and group photos, unofficially I hope I passed, well hope but we will have to wait for the official verdict.

16/04/24 and I have officially passed, so I am now a yellow belt.

Tang Soo

Gareth

(Denby Dale Tang Soo Do)