GTI Spring Black Belt grading 2004
Global Taekwondo International recently conducted their Spring black
belt grading. This saw 38 students successfully undertake & pass
grades from 1st through to 4th Dan. It was also
to bear witness to the promotion of Master Ted Hopwood to 8th
Dan.
A vast amount of experience was shared between the esteemed members of
the grading panel. This consisted of; Master Ted Hopwood (8th
Dan), Mr Clive Harrison (6th Dan), Mr George Cockburn (6th
Dan), Mr Tony Sewell (6th Dan) & Mr Paresh Bhadeshia (5th
Dan).
Master Hopwood was awarded 8th Dan in recognition of the
many years of dedication to the Art of Taekwondo. Master Hopwood first
started training in TKD under the tuition of Master Rhee Ki Ha in
1968, the year following the introduction of Taekwondo to the British
Isles by Master Rhee. In 1972, Master Hopwood was selected as a team
member to represent the UK & to compete in Montreal, at the first
I.T.F. World Championships, successfully achieving a bronze medal.
Sadly, for many years Master Hopwood has been suffering with the
illness Multiple Sclerosis, and because of this ongoing condition, he
has decided to retire from the Dan Grading Examiners Panel.
The GTI committee would like to extend their thanks to Master Hopwood
on his retirement from the grading panel for his contribution which
will be sorely missed. He has shown great strength of character &
demonstrated integrity and indomitable spirit over the years, and many
have come to admire him for these qualities. The GTI would like to
wish him all the best and look forward to seeing him at future events.
The students who had submitted their-selves for promotion were tested
in all areas of Taekwondo, from the patterns to advanced linework
drills. These included various forms of jumping & spinning kicks,
traditional techniques through to modern sparring combinations. The
students also had to perform various set sparring drills & demonstrate
practical forms of self-defence, these including defences against
knife attacks. Once this section of the grading was completed, the
students donned their safety equipment & sparred a number of rounds,
exhibiting a wide variety of hand & foot techniques in a controlled
manner.
The final section of the grading consisted of power testing & theory.
The juniors had to demonstrate the power of their techniques by
striking kick shields with circular, linear & spinning kicks, whereas
the adults had to smash their way through breaker boards with a
variety of techniques. The theory element is to test the student’s
knowledge of the philosophy & physical aspects of the Art.
Mr Billy Thomson was successful in his undertaking of the grade of 4th
Dan & a further three students passed the 3rd Dan grading.
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