New Black Belts for Beccles Taekwon-do Club

Left to right, Mr Nidge Bedingfield promoted to 3rd Dan, Barbara Mazza 1st Dan, Lindell Brown 1st Dan, supported on the day by proud Beccles Instructor Mrs Susie Bedingfield.

Beccles Taekwon-do club has 2 new 1st Dan Blacks Belts, Barbara Mazza and Lindell Brown.

Mr Bedingfield (joint club instructor) also had a successful grading being promoted to 3rd Dan.

All Students had to travel 150 miles to Ryton-on-Dunsmore near Coventry, where the grading took place on April 1st 2017.

This is a true test of this martial art, with no quarter given throughout a gruelling day, performing in front of the GTUK senior instructors including Master Aucellio 7th Degree, and Grand Master Oldham 9th Degree who’s history links the Beccles club back to the originator of Taekwon-do General Choi Hong Hi in 1955.

The 1st Dan Black Belt grading is a test of mental and physical abilities, 3 pattern sequences of strikes, kicks and blocks; self defence step sparring; full sparring; the breaking of 2 inch pine boards with hand and feet techniques; Korean theory along with a thesis about Taekwon-do which all students prepare in the months beforehand.

Both Barbara and Lindell showed superb Taekwon-do spirit throughout the day and got their reward with a coveted 1st Dan Black Belt. Barbara was also awarded best adult thesis of the grading.

It takes great dedication and commitment to learn Taekwon-do, with up to 4 years training to become a 1st Dan Taekwon-do Black Belt, on your journey you achieve a great level of confidence, strength, fitness and can make lifetime friendships with like minded people along the way.

Mr Bedingfield’s 3rd Dan test also included patterns, foot sparring techniques and 2 onto 1 sparring, finishing the examination with destruction techniques and theory. The preparation for this Taekwon-do grade takes up to 10 years of committed training with the applicant needing to have competed in National Tournaments, and attending regular seminar courses as an instructor and umpire, including first aid training.

If you would like to be part of this brilliant martial art and start your Black Belt journey come over to The Venue in Beccles on a Monday or Thursday evening 7 – 8.30 pm, new students of all ages are always very welcome to join our family!