March 2023 Black Belt Gradings
The Morning - before the gradings started
Today at 9am we start the latest round of Adult Black Belt Gradings.
This is the culmination of a minimum of three & half years training in our Traditional Japanese Ju Jitsu - most take a longer journey, and ALL of these candidates had to train through the covid lockdowns, so it's taken 5, 6 years or longer, two started with us as Juniors!
First of all "Well done" for getting here. Do not underestimate the sheer tenacity & strength of character it takes to arrive at this point.
Seriously, well done, myself & the coaching team are super proud of all of you, nothing is taken for granted, nothing gifted.
This is YOUR time, today you will show us the culmination of all of those years of training.
"90% of success is just showing up"
Woody Allen
You have all shown up week in, week out for years, again, well done.
It's not those that have never had problems or injuries that arrive here, it's those that had all that & made it here in spite of those things.
I hold the coveted Black Belt, the first step in your next journey, in very high regard. The picture is of mine in December 2000, 23 years on I remember it well, not the specifics but the atmosphere & the feelings, oh and the elation & the relief.
To the candidates;
Davy Hawkes
Parbinder Sahota
Damien Hollis
Chris Walsh
Pawel Charzewski
I wish you well,
- calm yourself
- arrive early
- bring with you all that you need
- come prepared for anything
- show your best self
- stay "in the moment"
- concentrate
I sincerely wish you all a highly successful day.
Your grading panel will be;
Robert Phelps 5th Dan & LJJ Head Coach
Nathan Webb 2nd Dan & Senior Coach
Duncan Phelps 2nd Dan
We expect a lot, do not disappoint us!
After the grading had finished
LJJ Martial Arts now has 4 new Black Belts!
After a 6 hour grading yesterday where they had to thoroughly prove themselves with a range of throws, strikes, kata, sparring both stand-up & on the ground, four were successful & one failed.
I am beyond proud of all 5 who trained hard to get to this point.
Well done
Parbinder Sahota
Page Created 26th March 2023
Page Updated 26th March 2023