Issue 22 - Professional Unification of Martial Arts

PLANET P.U.M.A.
Day Two - 11 th April 2010 and a very Special Day
This date has such a big significance for Taekwon-do history as 55 years ago today our art was born. All
the Black Belts grading today will never forget it. Two of the Black Belts grading today have played a massive
part in my return to Taekwon-do. Mr. Tettmar was one of the first students at Bath Taekwon-Do
School, training as a beginner under the then Mr. Gayle and Mr. Ogborne. Mr. Dowding I have only known
for a short time but I have come to respect him. He is a very technical Black Belt and I enjoy training at his
school most Fridays. Both Mr. Tettmar and Mr. Dowding have greatly encouraged me in my return to
Taekwon-Do. Today’s Grading Panel has a slight change to allow for the absence of Mr. Tettmar. His replacement
is Mr. Harper 5 th Dan, with Mr. Skidmore 4 th Dan taking Mr. Harper’s place on the theory table.
It is past midday when the first group of Black Belts, mostly juniors, line up to identify themselves for their
grading from 1 st to 2 nd Dan. Master Gayle starts with Dan-Gun followed by Won-Hyo. Compared to the
previous day’s group, they are more crisp and definite in their moves with no hesitation and more confidence
in the execution of the moves. The group moves on to Yul-Gok, followed by Joong-Gun, Toi-Gye,
Hwa-Rang and Choong-Moo. Once finished they go straight into the 1 st Dan patterns Kwang-Gae, Po-Eun
and Ge-Baek. This is followed by a pattern of their choice; they all perform a different coloured belt
pattern, but Do-San seems to be a favourite.
Next is three or four minutes of kicking line-work, after which they turn and face for traditional 1-step
sparring. There are lots of loud shouts on execution of attacks, then its freestyle 1-step sparring. After a
couple of changes Master Gayle asks the candidates to put on their safety equipment. The group starts
with two minute rounds of free sparring. This is the chance for the first Dans to show off their skills using
everything from jumping techniques to reverse turning kicks. This is followed by two against one sparring.
The idea of this is to line up your two attackers so they cannot attack you both at the same time. At this
point the group has been on the floor for 35 minutes with no break.
The second group enters and the candidates identify themselves and they start with patterns as before.
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