This coming weekend sees the next opportunity for Graduation/Grading.
The Saturday Graduation will be held at Essa Academy, Lever Edge Lane, Bolton BL3 3HH. If you are attending an alternative time/date due to being unable to attend on the 26th due to religious, cultural, work or holiday reasons, you will have been informed of your Graduation details directly by email/text.
The entrance to the car park is actually off Slack Fold Lane. However, we cannot stress enough - DO NOT approach the school from the M61 end of Slack Fold Lane. It is a narrow single track road with no passing spaces (February's Graduation saw a car crash on that lane and dozens of people missed the Graduation & were stuck for hours). Go through Farnworth & approach from Lever Edge Lane.
All of the 2023 Graduation time/dates are listed in the Centres, on Facebook and on the Graduation Form - as a reminder you can also find them here.
If you have never been to a Graduation before, check out what some of the students say about it here.
PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING TIMES ARE DIFFERENT FROM NORMAL SO TAKE A NOTE OF THE NEW TIMES (These only apply to the August Graduation).
Tigers (9.00am)
The Tiger Graduation normally starts at 9.00am sharp (apart from last time when we were locked out of the school until 9.20am!). The students are supported to remember the syllabus - Mr Ogden will be taking charge of this Graduation so give him your best!. There is no need to be nervous as there are lots of friendly faces amongst the Instructors, including Instructors from all our Centres. Be there about 10 minutes early & wait in the canteen area to be called through just before 9am.
They will be demonstrating:
Inside two Outside Middle Block
Side Kick
Back Fist & Punch attacking technique
Their self-defence technique (rear double wrist grab)
Jump Side Kick
and a combination of Side Kick, Back Fist & Reverse Punch
Make sure you take lots of photos & post pics of your proud Tiger on the relevant Tiger Facebook page. Don't forget to come & get a picture with your favourite Instructor too:
Middleton - https://www.facebook.com/FMACMiddletonTigers
Prestwich - https://www.facebook.com/FMACPrestwichTigers
White & Yellow Belts (10.00am)
This group includes any striped belts who have moved up from Tigers. Mr Nelson Snr is looking after this group at Graduation, so there will be a 'friendly' face at the front. Again, be there 10 minutes early & wait in the canteen area to be called through as a group.
As a reminder, your syllabus is:
Front Stance
Horse Stance
Front Kick
Chop kicks
Back Fist & Reverse Punch
Inside-to-Outside Middle Block
2 onto 2 Wrist Grip Self-Defence
The terminology you should be learning can be found here. Supporting videos of the various techniques can be found here.
The Yellow Belts will demonstrate the current syllabus (as above), but to a much higher standard.
Orange & Blue Belts (11.00am)
Mr Nelson Jnr will be leading this group, who will demonstrate the current syllabus (above), plus recap some of the other syllabus elements that you have learned in the past:
Low Blocks & High Blocks
Back, Side & Cross-Legged Stances
Chop & Cross, plus Jab & Cross
Side & Roundhouse Kicks
Cross-Hand & Same Side Self-Defences
As well as all of the above, Blue Belts will be demonstrating the Beginner Form (Cho Bo Ja Hyung)
Blue Belt Terminology is on the Student Zone here & you should also hand in your completed blue Beginners Workbook before the Graduation. Replacement books (for those who have lost them) can be purchased via the Club Shop or via the Wix App.
6th Gups to 4th Gups (Green Belts) (12.00pm)
Don't forget your sparring gear - please don't be the student who has to do the walk of shame to the front desk... Your focus should be Basic Form #3 (Kee Cho Hyung Sam Bu), Pyung Ahn Ee Dan Hyung & the two 2 onto 2 Self-Defences (just what we have been working on in class).
3rd to 1st Gups (Red Belts) (1.00pm)
On top of the above, you may get asked to do any Basic Form, plus the Pyung Ahn Hyung previous to the current one (Pyung Ahn Cho Dan Hyung). If you are going for your 5th Black Tab, you will also demonstrate Bassai Hyung. Lastly, make sure you bring your sparring gear! An extra 15 minutes has been added to allow time to go through your syllabus in more depth!
Black Belts (2.00pm)
As well as your One Step Sparring (numbers 1 to 6) for 1st Dans or Inside-to-Outside Knife Self-Defence for 2nd Dans, you could get asked ANYTHING off the Gup syllabus - time to reach back into those darkest recesses of the mind! Make sure you are up to date on your Pyung Ahn Hyungs & Bassai, plus Yuk Ro Cho Dan Hyung for the 2nd Dans.
Relax though - if you're going, then we have made sure that you're good enough. Enjoy the day & prove why you are part of the best martial arts club in the universe!
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