The ITA Winter 2012 black belt grading took place in the West County Hotel, Ennis, Co. Clare on the weekend of the 8th & 9th of December. 49 people presented for the promotional test out of which 43 were promoted over the two days.

On Saturday the 8th of December candidates presented for promotion for 2nd, 3rd and 4th Dan. The examiners panel of Mr. Niall Jones V, Mr. Adrian Byrne V, Ms. Annie Kinsella V, Mr. Declan McMullen V and Mr. Hong Looi V tested the candidates for 2nd Dan. The examiners panel of Master Pat O’Rourke VII, Mr. Pat Barry VI and Mr. Adrian O’Mahoney VI tested the candidates for 3rd and 4th Dan. Out of the 17 candidates that presented on day one, 15 were successfully promoted. Special mention must go to Ms. Laura Cullen who was promoted to 4th Dan, adding to the number of female international instructors in the ITA.

On day two, 32 people presented for the exam to be promoted to 1st Dan out of which 28 were successfully promoted. The candidates were again divided into two groups, group one were tested by the panel of Mr. Pat Barry VI, Mr. Terry Donnelly VI, Mr. Niall Jones V, Ms Annie Kinsella V and Mr Declan McMullen V. Group 2 were tested by the panel of Master Patrick O’Rourke VII, Mr. Adrian O’Mahoney VI, Mr. Jamie Rigney V, Mr. Adrian Byrne V and Mr. Kevin Kinsella V.

The candidates were rigorously tested in the areas of fundamental movements, kicking, patterns, step sparring, free sparring and self-defence by the main panels, Master Wheatley VII, with Mr. Kevin Kinsella V assisting on day 1, tested theory over the two days, while for the first time power breaking and special technique were tested in rotation throughout the day, with Mr. Tim Forde VI and Mr. Stephen Ryan V taking responsibility for marking these sections. With these modifications to the set up of the grading it meant that the exam was run in a very efficient manners over the two days. Special thanks to the grading narrators over the two days Mr. David Severn II, Mr. John Moriarty II and Mr. Declan Staunton I. The Midwest region did a fantastic job in organising the event with great attention to detail and a very professional set-up.

See more photos athttps://picasaweb.google.com/IrishTKD/BlackBeltGradingWinter2012.

Stephen Ryan
Secretary General
Irish Taekwon-Do Association