Surprise Gradings At Recent Training Weekend
New Dan Grades for Club and Area Instructor as well as a new Brown Belt crowned.
This past weekend students at Sennen Karate Club were treated to a special training weekend where they had the honour of welcoming two very important guests from Oxford, our Deputy Head of Style and 8th Dan Black Belt Elaine Jaycock and 3rd Dan Black Belt John George (who was celebrating his birthday this weekend).
Elaine and John were also joined by Cornwall Area Head Coach and 7th Dan Black Belt Clive Double for the weekend. This was a great opportunity for our students to train with some of the highest graded members of our style, get insights and valuable feedback to elevate their training.
The sessions started on Friday night and resumed on Saturday morning. Sennen Club Instructor Luke Jackson had been in regular contact with John and felt something big was going to happen this weekend, but little did he know just how big. This weekend wasn’t planned to be a grading weekend and none of the students had given it any real thought, however you just never know what is going to happen at any given time.
During the Saturday session instructors were impressed with 1 particular student and decided that he would be graded. That Student was Lucas Carroll who was in total shock and disbelief when Elaine informed him that he had been graded to Brown Belt. A great surprise and achievement for Lucas who has the potential to go far.
That wasn’t the end of the surprises, Elaine also announced that Clive Double and Luke Jackson had also graded with the blessing of our Chief and Head of Style Derek Collins 9th Dan, who couldn’t attend todays Session. This unexpected announcement saw Clive presented with his 8th Dan and Luke Jackson with his 6th Dan. Both students were surprised yet delighted with the announcement.
After the session ended the higher grades went down to the Old Success in Sennen Cove for a top class meal and a well deserved drink or two. I would like to thank Elaine, John and Johns Partner Natalie for making the trip from Oxford and spending the weekend here in Sennen with us, and to Clive and Lesley for making the trip down from Burnley.
Looking forward to the next one in September where it will be a Grading weekend and several of our students will be taking their Black Belt grading. Not long to wait!