We are smack bang in the middle to the school summer holidays, so that must mean it is time for our next Graduation of 2024.
The normal 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 17th due to religious, cultural, work or holiday reasons, you will have been informed of your Graduation details directly by email/text.
How should I get there?
The entrance to the Essa Academy car park is actually off Slack Fold Lane.
However, DO NOT approach the school from the M61 end of Slack Fold Lane as it’s a narrow single track road with no passing spaces (there are often crashes on that lane so don't risk your car or your Graduation).
Go through Farnworth & approach from Lever Edge Lane (or go down Smethurst Lane. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
You can find advance notice of all of the 2024 Graduation time/dates in the Centres, on Facebook and on the website - as a reminder you can find them here.
If you have never been to a Graduation before, check out what some of the students say about it here.
Tigers (9.00am)
As usual, the Tiger students will be supported to remember the syllabus. There is no need to be nervous as there are lots of friendly faces, including the Instructors from our Centres. Mr Ogden will be at the front directing proceedings, so make sure you so your very best for him!
For the Tigers, it will feel like a great, big class. They just need to attend in their uniforms & do everything that they have been doing in class & they will be fine! The parents will likely be more nervous than their Tigers.
At Graduation, Master Parkinson may ask the following questions:
What is the name of our martial art? (Tang Soo Do)
Where do we practice our martial art? (In the Do Jang)
What is our uniform called? (Do Bok)
What is the new belt that you will collect called? (Dee)
What is the Korean for Side Kick? (Yup Podo Cha Gi)
What is the Korean for Middle Block? (Choong Dan Mahk Kee/Ahneso Pahkuro Mahk Kee)
What is the Korean for Side Stance? (Sa Ko Rip Jaseh)
Plus all the things we have been discussing as part of our ‘Stranger Danger’ theme.
Be there 10 minutes early & wait in the canteen area to be called through just before 9.00am.
Just like in class, they will be demonstrating:
Middle Block
Side Kick
Jump Side Kick
Back Fist & Punch
Side Stance
Back self defence (you will need to get involved, parents)
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 (the Instructors have a competition to see who can get the most pics so help them out!):
Middleton - https://www.facebook.com/FMACMiddletonTigers
Prestwich - https://www.facebook.com/FMACPrestwichTigers
White Belts (10.00am)
This group includes any striped belts who have moved up from Tigers. Mr B Nelson is looking after this group at Graduation and there will be 'friendly' faces at the front, with Mr H Nelson, Mr Ogden & Mrs Kelly supporting. Again, be there 10 minutes early & wait in the canteen area to be called through as a group.
As a reminder, your syllabus is:
Inside to Outside Middle Block
Front Snap Kick
Chop kicks
Back Fist & Punch
Front Stance
2 onto 2 self-defence #1
The terminology you should be learning can be found here. Supporting videos of the various techniques can be found here.
Yellow Belts (11.00am)
They will demonstrate the current syllabus (as above), but to a much higher standard. this Graduation will be led by Miss Armitage.
Orange & Blue Belts (12.00pm)
This group will demonstrate the current syllabus (above), directed by Mr Andrews, plus recap some of the other syllabus elements that you have learned in the past:
High Blocks & Low Blocks
Back, Side, Horse & Cross-Legged Stances
Jab & Cross plus Chop & Punch
Roundhouse & Side Kicks
Same Side & Cross-Hand 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) (1.00pm)
Don't forget your sparring gear - please don't be the student who has to do the walk of shame to the front desk... Miss Shorthouse leads this team!
Your focus should be Basic Form #3 (Kee Cho Hyung Ee Bu), Pyung Ahn Sam Dan Hyung & the three 2 onto 2 Self-Defences (just what we have been working on in class).
3rd to 1st Gups (Red Belts) (2.00pm)
We're expecting a great demonstration from the Red Belts, led by Mr Pritchard! 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 Oh 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 (3.15pm)
As well as your current syllabus, 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 Ee Dans.
As always, if you're going, then you're good enough because we've made sure in class. Relax & enjoy the day - You come from the best martial arts club in the universe!
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