November 17th 2018 – cold, wet and miserable outside. Inside it was hot, sweaty and well…we had every possible mix of emotion from frustration, determination to elation as the kickboxing black belt and advanced Dan candidates were put through their paces. The graduation as always culminated, after drills, bag work, sparring and every other test of fitness, skill and determination that the examination panel could think of with the walk of pain. The black belt candidates toughed it out with Shane Sharp (Wakefield), Joseph Dyson-Abad (Rothwell) and Scott D’Cruze (Normanton) toughing it out to get over the finishing line and prove they had what it takes. Even they must have been amazed though at the grit, style and determination of Victoria Ledger (Wakefield) who pushed herself to the very limit of endurance to complete the even harder walk of pain (walk of agony perhaps) needed for 2nd Dan and then there was more as Kirsty East surpassed all to achieve her 3rd Dan after a thorough test of her knowledge and prowess.
It was of course still wet and miserable on Sunday November 18th but whilst the kickboxers were nursing sore legs and aching abdominals the karate black belt and advanced Dan candidates took to the mats at Chuldow. Showing the level of skill, knowledge and endurance needed to achieve black belt in karate Finn Hayman, Sadie Hayman, Stanley Coates and Charlie Wagstaff of Knottingley and Zeeshan Waheed of Wakefield were presented with a well-earned promotion to 1st Dan. Joe Tinsley and Abeel Mahmood, both of Wakefield, showed that practice and dedication yield great rewards as they exceeded the already high standard of the 1st Dan Candidates and progressed to 2nd Dan!
Well done all!
