Kali Black Belt Grading – September 2013

Robin French with Successful Kali Graduates - Sept 2013

Saturday 7^th September 2013 saw me finally test for my UK MASDA 3^rd Degree Black Belt in Kali (Filipino Martial Arts) under Guro Laurence Sandum.

Kali was the first Black Belt I tested for back in 2006, but due to other training commitments, I have had to postpone this assessment up until now.

Testing with me on the day, also for his 3^rd degree, was David Farmer. I have trained in Kali with David for over a decade now; initially with him as an instructor and now as a peer.

Also testing on the day, for her 1^st Degree Black Belt, was Debbie Lysaght. Debbie started training Kali in personal training sessions with me back in 2010. It really is great to see how far she has come on since then.

During the morning session Laurence assessed us all on our syllabus material; for David and I that meant, on top of other things, a lot of double stick running drills and staff drills.

After a very short lunch break, visiting instructor Guro Ralph Jones took us and a number of other academy members through some palm stick material. Palm sticks, part of the sixth area of Inosanto Kali, is not often taught so it was great to get a chance to learn some.

After the seminar finished, the two other people grading and I were asked to demonstrate further material from the syllabus, before finding out our results.

I am happy to say that all three of us were successful in our assessments; congratulations to David and Debbie.

A special thanks to Laurence Sandum for providing the top class Martial Arts tuition to me that he has over the past decade and getting me to where I am; it is very much appreciated!