IN A GRADING,
SHODAN HO, FOR VICKY AND SAM
Well done guys we are so proud of you both
Full Version: A stressfull few weeks
Weve had a few very stressfull few weeks, culminating today.
IN A GRADING,
SHODAN HO, FOR VICKY AND SAM
Well done guys we are so proud of you both
IN A GRADING,
SHODAN HO, FOR VICKY AND SAM
Well done guys we are so proud of you both
WOW.....
That's great news guys.....
Well done.... the first of many by the sounds of your other posts....
Keep it up.
That's great news guys.....
Well done.... the first of many by the sounds of your other posts....
Keep it up.
WELL DONE VICKY AND SAM!!!
Congratulations on a fantastic milestone!
Well done Vicky & Sam
You guys are an inspiration
You guys are an inspiration
Well done guys! 
Shodan-ho....
Very, very well done.....
Tom.
Very, very well done.....
Tom.
Excellent!! 
Congratulations Vicky and Sam; really well done 
Wooohoo! Congrats Vicky and Sam! Can you feel your legs again yet? 
Here we go then, the write up.
Black belt grading 13th may 2006
So after a nervous couple of weeks, we found ourselves at a sports centre in Dagenham Essex uk, as usual we were around an hour early, i always do this, for a number of reasons, first i dont like being late, in fact i hate being late,and the british traffic is awful at times, and also it gives the kids a chance to go to the loo, warm up, and then stretch before hand.
This was an open Next is Black, so anyone could attend, imo its an ok thing to do, but to be honest i dont see the point in paying to go to a next is black for the lower grades, as most of the time is spent sitting watching, and you can do that for free and still learn lots.(just my opinion)
On our arrival there was a regional grading taking place in the sports hall.
The hall was cleared by the allotted time and the NIB got underway, the bow in, then Sensei Joe gave one of his speeches on eating healthy etc etc.Eventually they were up and doing stuff, stances, combinations, kicks etc, im a bit vague about this, because i was popping in and out to check on the footy scores(FA cup final), I popped in and out regularly to check on the kids, it had nothing to do with nerves at all guv honest.
After some 2 hrs we started to get down to the nitty gritty, all those that were being looked at for grading were put in the first few lines, with Sam as usual right in front of Sensei Joe, they started off Kata from Seiunchin, which dissapointed me, i wanted to see them all, eventually working there way up to Sepai.
At this point,everyone sat down and names were called out, 2 lines worth to go through kata sunseru, this was done then the 2nd line came to the front and the kata was performed again.
This was repeated until all the possible gradees had been up, and then the procedure was repeated for kata sepai.They all sat down and then those attempting 1st dan and 2nd dan were bought up, and they went through the process as above.
Sensei Joe then called out some more names, from the shodan ho attemting group and made them go though the kata again.It was fasinating to watch the selection process, of who passes and who doesnt, because to be honest i havnt a clue, how he was sorting them, it seemed very mixed up to me, but then it was the same at all the other gradings i have watched.
I tried not to watch the kids, because i knew what they could do, i concentrated on a few others, with just the occasional glance at my two, obviously im biassed, but i would have been very very dissapointed had they not passed, on reflection of what i saw.
It seemed to me people around me ,that i did not know, were very taken with Rosie(Vicki) , and Sam as usual was getting the Arhhh factor, i smiled proudly as i listend to the comments.
Sensei Joe announced were were running short on time, like hellooooo thats a suprise we always do and called all those attempting grading to get there mitts and pads on, very dissapointingly there was only two rounds and neither of my two got to fight Sensei Joe or a Rm, which for all of us, was one of the biggest let downs from the grading, the kids were so looking forward to locking horns with Sensei Joe.
Everyone sat down, and Sensei Joe started the procedure of presenting the belts, he called them out 3 at a time, as we were way over the allotted time, sam was sat between his sister and another young lady from our dojo, when Rosie was called up, Sam sobbed in sheer happiness for her, eventually Sam was sitting alone, the very last name to be called out was Sams, and a huge cheer went around the hall, Sensei Joe gave him a hug that lifted him clean off the floor, and an excited rosie also squeezed him and lifted him off the floor to a resounding AHHHHHHH from the hall, fairy tale stuff and very very emotional for us all.
I didnt get to see the kids for about ten minutes after it ended, they were awash with people congratuating them, but when i did, we had a group hug and the tears flowed freely.
Feed back from the grading, ive had untold emails congratulating the kids, from people i didnt think i knew, but they knew us, i cant tell you some of the marvellous things that have been said about them, but it brings a lump to my throat when i read them.
"Never in doubt" was the most popular comment
My own thoughts on the grading and that of the kids, that apart from the nerves and the occasion of it all, we were a little dissapointed they werent pushed more, ie the kumite, and not covering all the kata.We all felt like they earned it, but not nesessarily on that day, if you know what we mean, which maybe is right.Ive probably forgotton heaps, but thats the day as best as i can remember.
Thank you all for your good wishes
Nigel
__________________
"Pain is Inevitable - Misery is Optional"
Black belt grading 13th may 2006
So after a nervous couple of weeks, we found ourselves at a sports centre in Dagenham Essex uk, as usual we were around an hour early, i always do this, for a number of reasons, first i dont like being late, in fact i hate being late,and the british traffic is awful at times, and also it gives the kids a chance to go to the loo, warm up, and then stretch before hand.
This was an open Next is Black, so anyone could attend, imo its an ok thing to do, but to be honest i dont see the point in paying to go to a next is black for the lower grades, as most of the time is spent sitting watching, and you can do that for free and still learn lots.(just my opinion)
On our arrival there was a regional grading taking place in the sports hall.
The hall was cleared by the allotted time and the NIB got underway, the bow in, then Sensei Joe gave one of his speeches on eating healthy etc etc.Eventually they were up and doing stuff, stances, combinations, kicks etc, im a bit vague about this, because i was popping in and out to check on the footy scores(FA cup final), I popped in and out regularly to check on the kids, it had nothing to do with nerves at all guv honest.
After some 2 hrs we started to get down to the nitty gritty, all those that were being looked at for grading were put in the first few lines, with Sam as usual right in front of Sensei Joe, they started off Kata from Seiunchin, which dissapointed me, i wanted to see them all, eventually working there way up to Sepai.
At this point,everyone sat down and names were called out, 2 lines worth to go through kata sunseru, this was done then the 2nd line came to the front and the kata was performed again.
This was repeated until all the possible gradees had been up, and then the procedure was repeated for kata sepai.They all sat down and then those attempting 1st dan and 2nd dan were bought up, and they went through the process as above.
Sensei Joe then called out some more names, from the shodan ho attemting group and made them go though the kata again.It was fasinating to watch the selection process, of who passes and who doesnt, because to be honest i havnt a clue, how he was sorting them, it seemed very mixed up to me, but then it was the same at all the other gradings i have watched.
I tried not to watch the kids, because i knew what they could do, i concentrated on a few others, with just the occasional glance at my two, obviously im biassed, but i would have been very very dissapointed had they not passed, on reflection of what i saw.
It seemed to me people around me ,that i did not know, were very taken with Rosie(Vicki) , and Sam as usual was getting the Arhhh factor, i smiled proudly as i listend to the comments.
Sensei Joe announced were were running short on time, like hellooooo thats a suprise we always do and called all those attempting grading to get there mitts and pads on, very dissapointingly there was only two rounds and neither of my two got to fight Sensei Joe or a Rm, which for all of us, was one of the biggest let downs from the grading, the kids were so looking forward to locking horns with Sensei Joe.
Everyone sat down, and Sensei Joe started the procedure of presenting the belts, he called them out 3 at a time, as we were way over the allotted time, sam was sat between his sister and another young lady from our dojo, when Rosie was called up, Sam sobbed in sheer happiness for her, eventually Sam was sitting alone, the very last name to be called out was Sams, and a huge cheer went around the hall, Sensei Joe gave him a hug that lifted him clean off the floor, and an excited rosie also squeezed him and lifted him off the floor to a resounding AHHHHHHH from the hall, fairy tale stuff and very very emotional for us all.
I didnt get to see the kids for about ten minutes after it ended, they were awash with people congratuating them, but when i did, we had a group hug and the tears flowed freely.
Feed back from the grading, ive had untold emails congratulating the kids, from people i didnt think i knew, but they knew us, i cant tell you some of the marvellous things that have been said about them, but it brings a lump to my throat when i read them.
"Never in doubt" was the most popular comment
My own thoughts on the grading and that of the kids, that apart from the nerves and the occasion of it all, we were a little dissapointed they werent pushed more, ie the kumite, and not covering all the kata.We all felt like they earned it, but not nesessarily on that day, if you know what we mean, which maybe is right.Ive probably forgotton heaps, but thats the day as best as i can remember.
Thank you all for your good wishes
Nigel
__________________
"Pain is Inevitable - Misery is Optional"
Ahem... where are the pictures of the new BB's!?! Congrats again Vicki and Sam, think tombat'll be happy to let you pummel him in celebration 
Congrats again Vicki and Sam, think tombat'll be happy to let you pummel him in celebration
Yes, celebratory piccies would be nice
David
David
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