ITF England has two new 4th degrees.

On Saturday 8th November the Vision Taekwon-Do Association (VTA; part of ITF England under the ETA) hosted a senior black belt grading. Master Orello Ellis 8th degree (President of ITF England) travelled from Oxford to Redhill, Surrey in order to conduct the grading of 3rd Degrees Luke Thompson and Matt Gibb.

Before the grading took place Master Ellis conducted a seminar with students who travelled from all over the south east of England and included Mr Nicholas Symonds 5th Degree (ITF England Technical Director) and Mr Philip Lear 5th Degree (AETF Board member).

After the 3 hour training session, the grading then followed which included patterns, numerous types of step sparring, self defence, 2 v 1 sparring and self defence line drills. Towards the end of the grading, Messrs Thompson and Gibb were called to the table individually, and were asked some very hard theory questions over a period of 15 minutes each, the grading ended with numerous breaking techniques (on 3cms pine boards), including U-shaped punching kick (breaking three boards simultaneously, with a U-shaped punch and a side kick) and other various hand and jumping techniques.

   
Left: Master Ellis shows defence from a seated position, right: Master Ellis teaching two of the students
   
Right: Master Ellis with Matt Gibb (left) and Luke Thompson (right) after the grading, left: Matt Gibb, Philip Lear and Luke Thompson after being presented with their grades

On Tuesday 11th November, their instructor, Mr Philip Lear 5th degree, informed them in front of the class that they were both successful in passing to 4th degree. They were then asked to each break a brick, before Mr Lear then awarded them their new belts and doboks. Both Luke Thompson and Matt Gibb have trained with Mr Lear since he took over their class in 1996 when they were colour belts and have each been training over 15 years.

www.visiontkd.co.uk

Matt Gibb – 4th degree
VTA Secretary