The Irish National Taekwon-Do Association (INTA) held their Christmas Black Belt Grading on the weekend of Sunday the 3rd and 4th of December in The Kilford Arms in Kilkenny.

On Saturday all INTA instructors gathered for the Annual General Meeting to discuss the years events and to brainstorm on activities and plans for the future year. A refreshing and productive meeting was had by all with some interesting and novel ideas coming from the floor. Instructors and students had an early start the next morning for the Black belt grading. Registration began with Mr. Liam Carbery at 9am and the examinations commenced under the expert panel of Master Brendan O’Toole (President and VIII Degree), Master Val Douglas (Vice-president and VII Degree) and Master Gerry Martin (VII Degree).

The day was divided into two sections. The morning session focused on 1st Kups and 1st Degrees. Each student appeared in front of the panel three times. The first time focused on fundamental movements, patterns, step-sparring and self-defence. The second session focused on free-sparring and two on one sparring. The third and final session consisted of theory and power-breaking. The first kups performed to a very high level. All 1st Kups and 1st Degrees were presented with their results before lunch. The more senior grades were examined in the afternoon. 2nd and 3rd Degrees commenced this session at 2pm. These groups were then followed by 4th and 5th Degrees. All of the groups were brought together for sparring which allowed the talent of the group to be illustrated to all onlookers.

The results of the grading reflected the significant efforts put in by all students and resulted in 8 new Sabum instructors for the INTA. In addition, Mr. Nigel Stobie, Instructor of Portalington Taekwon-Do Club was the only fifth degree presenting for grading. Mr. Stobie performed exceptionally on the day in question while also acting as an instructor for his own grading students including his son Donnchadh Stobie who achieved the rank of 1st Degree. All those students promoted showed a high level of skill, competency and knowledge respective to their grades and the INTA would like to congratulate the members and their instructors on their achievements.

For further photos then please follow the link http://www.inta.ie/gallery.aspx.