Sunday, 7th December 2008, was an exceptionally day of high expectations for I.N.T.A. students and instructors from around Ireland. Most of Ireland awoke with thoughts of going Christmas shopping or visiting relatives or such . However, many individuals and a few of their more supportive friends and family arrived in the TKD Centre in Exchequer Street, Dublin for the 10 o’clock start of the 2008 winter Black Belt Grading. The students donned their dobuks and awaited the entrance of the examiner panel, comprised of Master O’Toole, Master Douglas and Mr Martin. The proceedings were under way by ten past ten, four students at a time. Each group of four was asked to perform some fundamental movements up and down the floor, from punches to flying kicks. Then came the patterns, at least three and one of those at the diagonal, followed by three-step, two-step and one-step sparring. The final part of the first section for the students was, of course, self-defence, which demonstrated how I.N.T.A. students are very capable of defending themselves should the need arise. Students showed some inventive methods of escaping from would-be attackers and on more than one occasion Master Douglas was smiling at the variations while watching from the examiners table.

After the lunch break, the students were again divided into groups of four for sparring, each group having three rounds of individual spars. Once this was over, it was time for the most crowd-pleasing aspect of any grading, the two-on-one sparring for those attempting to rise within the ranks of the Black Belt. Each Black Belt student had a different tactic, some dodged, while others stood their ground long enough to remove one of the two from the game.

Finally, all hopefuls filed into the dojang for the last part of the grading. They sat around the room waiting and listening for their turn to approach the examiners table. Each student was asked a number of questions on terminology, techniques and general questions in both english and korean and then they were allowed to measure and make one attempt at breaking. Black-tags had to attempt to break with a jump-spot sidekick, the kicking technique of their choice and a punch; first degree students had the jump turning as the designated kick and a reverse knife-hand as the designated hand technique; second degree's had to attempt to break with the jump reverse turning kick and the back fist.

At this point, all students came out of the dojang as the examiners went down to the reception area to discuss in private the results of the grading. Everyone else waited in the weights area, each person analysing his or her performance and trying to guess the possible outcome. After 20 minutes the examiners emerged and walked solemnly back into the dojang. The students returned and lined up, waiting with bated breath for their names to be called out. All students passed and all had the opportunity to shake hands with the examiners and enjoy the Christmas season of 2008.