Kickboxing Black Belt Grading – October 2012

Saturday 6th October 2012 saw Laurence Sandum’s Black Belt Martial Arts Academy in Chelmsford, host another of the regular UK MASDA Kickboxing Black Belt gradings held there.

The grading was a day long assessment, starting at 10am, with candidates first demonstrating a selection of randomly picked syllabus material.

At noon, the candidates were assessed on their ‘self defence’ techniques; having to demonstrate and teach both two empty hand defences and two weapon defences.

After an hour lunch break, the afternoon session began with sparring. This began with ‘specialised sparring’ where only certain limbs or strikes could be used. The sparring rounded out with general sparring.

Candidates aptitude to learn new material was then tested by working on some brand new drills and combinations.

The final section of the day took the form of a gruelling fitness test, where physical and mental limits were pushed.

I am happy to say that after nearly twenty years of training in Kickboxing, I passed my 3rd degree Black Belt.

I would also like to congratulate two of my close friends, Peter Squire and Dave Mecham for successfully testing for their 2nd degree Black Belts; they are two of the most committed and determined martial artists that know.

Successfully passing their 1st degree Black Belts were Graham Young and Debbie Lysaght. This is Graham’s second Black Belt grading this year; he is a true success story from the Academy. Debbie is the first person that I have trained from White through to Black Belt; this successful rank up therefore represents a big milestone for us both.

As ever, I have to thank Guro Laurence Sandum for his help, support and coaching that has been fundamental in my development as a martial artist.