聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Moose Mountain Wado-Kai Karate Club were pleased to host a black belt grading in Carlyle 鈥� a first for the community. In the past members from the area have travelled to Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia to have their pre-grading and grading completed.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭his has been held a lot of different places across Canada, but it鈥檚 the first time black belt grading has happened here,鈥� Jayson Humphries, a sensei with the Moose Mountain Club, explained. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting for those going for a black belt and a new degree, but it鈥檚 also really exciting because we have a large group of brown belts from our home club here going through their pre-grading.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A clinic was hosted on the Friday, Oct. 21, and the grading took place on Saturday, Oct. 22. There was a total of 17 people participating in the grading, nine were going for a new belt or degree, while others were there for pre-grading or for the workout and feedback from the Joseki Board (the grading panel).
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Joseki Board included six senseis who each had participants to focus on for the day and grade. The panel was led by Sensei Ron Mattie, an eighth degree black belt and Chief Instructor for the Shintani Wado Kai Karate Federation.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Saturday began with a series of basic techniques: stances, transitions, blocks, strikes, and kicks. The group then moved into advanced basics, which strings together different combinations of techniques.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Kevin Dyck, a second degree black belt with the Moose Mountain Club, explained, 鈥淭he evaluation is really based on speed, power, and spirit; they鈥檙e evaluating your energy and your intent with each technique. So, they鈥檙e judging your spirit in addition to the proper technique of each skill.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭hey will also make sure skills are done at two different levels, low and high, to see that control as well. And that doesn鈥檛 mean it has to be a high kick to the head, each person is different and some aren鈥檛 able to kick quite that high, but as long as you鈥檙e showing two different levels.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There were brown belt participants looking to earn a first degree black belt, while others looked to earn their second degree, third degree, and fifth degree black belts.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Before the day got underway the Joseki Board made one statement, 鈥淭oday you will either pass and be given things to work on or we may tell you that we鈥檙e sorry and don鈥檛 think you鈥檙e ready for the next grade, but here are some things to work on. Either way you will have things to work on to improve moving forward.鈥�
