As we approach the first Graduation of 2025, there is now no need to remind you of the venue - Bury Grammar School, Tenterden Street, Bury BL9 0HN.
There are alternate Graduations for those unable to attend on the 15th due to religious, cultural, work or holiday reasons. There are Monday through Thursday options at Bury, a Saturday option at the Oldham Centre and then the Sunday catch up, again at teh Bury Centre.. If you are attending any of these alternate Graduations, you will have been informed of the details directly by text - otherwise, we'll see you at Bury Grammar School on Saturday. If you haven't submitted a Graduation form, the next opportunity will be in April.
Make sure you turn up for your agreed Graduation; otherwise your belt & certificate won't be there for you. Anyone who has a last minute disaster/illness should contact their Instructor for advice.
How to get there?
The entrance to Bury Grammar School is off Tenterden Street. We are on the Boys School site, in the Sports Hall.
There is parking on site and there is also limited parking (check restrictions) in the streets around the School. There is also plenty of paid parking at the Castle Leisure Centre, just across the road from Bury Grammar School.
For those who would prefer to use public transport (certainly the easy option for many of the Prestwich Students!), the buses and trams terminate at Bury Interchange where it is just a short 5 minute walk to the Graduation venue.
You can find advance notice of all of the 2025 Graduation time/dates in the Centres, on Facebook, Instagram 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)
All the instructors will be there to help our youngest students remember and show off the syllabus, so no need for any Graduation day jitters from parents or Tigers! Mr. Nick Ogden will be leading the way, with Mr. H Nelson backing him up, so give it your all for them!
For the Tigers, graduation is just like another big class. They just need to show up in their uniforms, do what they've been doing all along, and they'll be good to go! Honestly, the parents are probably going to be more nervous than the 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 Back Kick? (Dwi Cha Gi)
What is the Korean for Outside-to-Insde Block? (Pahkeso Ahnuro Cha Gi)
What is the Korean for Sparring Stance? (Dae Ryun Jaseh)
Plus all the things we have been discussing as part of our ‘Health & Nutrition’ theme.
Be there 10 minutes early & wait in the waiting area to be called through just before 9.00am.
Just like in class, they will be demonstrating:
Outside-to-Inside Block
Outside-to-Inside Chop Kick
Hop Roundhouse Kick
Sparring Stance
Side self defence (you will need to get involved, parents)
and a Combination of Jab, Cross, Duck & Cross
Be sure to snap tons of photos and share your awesome Tiger moments on the Tiger Facebook pages. And hey, don't miss out on grabbing a pic with your favorite Instructor (they're in a friendly 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 & Yellow Belts (10.00am)
This group is for any striped belts who've moved up from Tigers. Mr. McCann is taking care of this group at Graduation, and you'll see some of our 'friendly' faces up front too. Make sure to get there 10 minutes early and hang out in the waiting area until you're called in as a group.
If you've never been to a graduation, see what some students have to say about it here.
As a reminder, your syllabus is:
Inside-to-Ouside Middle Block (Ahneso Pahkuro Mahk Kee)
Front Snap Kick (Ahp Podo Cha Gi)
Chop kicks (Ahneso Pahkuro Cha Gi & Pahkeso Ahnuro Cha Gi)
Back Fist & Punch
Front Stance (Chun Gul Jaseh)
2 onto 2 self-defence #1
You can check out the terms you need to know here. And if you want to see some videos on different techniques, click here.
Orange & Blue Belts (11.00am)
This group, led by Mr Morton, will show you the current syllabus (above) and also go over some of the stuff you've learned before.
Low Blocks & High Blocks
Side, Back, Horse & Cross-Legged Stances
Chop & Punch plus Jab & Cross
Side & Roundhouse Kicks
Cross-Hand & Same-Side Self-Defences
On top of all that, Blue Belts will be showing off the Beginner Form (Cho Bo Ja Hyung).
You can find the Blue Belt Terminology in the Student Zone here. Make sure to turn in your completed blue Beginners Workbook before Graduation. If you've misplaced yours, you can buy a replacement from the Club Shop or through the Wix App.
6th Gups to 4th Gups (Green Belts) (12.00pm)
Remember your sparring gear - unless you want to be the one doing the "Oops, I forgot" shuffle to the front desk... Mrs. Armitage is in charge here, so bring your A-Game, or at least your "I'm trying really hard" face!
Your focus should be Basic Form #1 (Kee Cho Hyung Il Bu) & several of the Same-Side Self-Defences (just what we have been working on in class).
Try to spar with students from other Centres - that will help you to improve your sparring skills.
3rd & 2nd Gups (Red Belts) (1.00pm)
We're looking forward to an awesome demo from the Red Belts, led by Mr Pritchard! Besides that, you might be asked to do any Basic Form and the current Pyung Ahn Hyung (Pyung Ahn Cho Dan Hyung).
Plus, you'll be showing the right number of Same-Side Self-Defences.
Lastly, make sure you bring your sparring gear! And remember to spar with peple from other Centres - you can spar with each other every week!
1st Gups (Senior Red Belts) (2.00pm)
Your Basics & syllabus bits are getting a VIP inspection (that's why you've been given your own special Graduation spotlight). Besides all the cool moves the 2nd/3rd Gups are showing off, you get the extra fun of performing the previous Pyung Ahn Hyung (Pyung Ahn Oh Dan Hyung). But hey, good news! You can now skip Bassai at 1st Gup. 🎉 Mr H Nelson is in charge.
Black Belts (3.00pm)
Along with your current syllabus, you might be asked to demonstrate ANYTHING from the Gup syllabus, so it's time to dig deep into those memory banks! Be sure you're up to speed on your Pyung Ahn Hyungs, Bassai and the previous Hyungs for the Ee Dans & Sam Dans.
All Black Belts will be demonstrating their Bong Dae Ryun (Stick Sparring) and Il Soo Sick (One-Step Sparring #1 to #6).
To go to Graduation, you need to get the thumbs up from your Instructor and show you know your stuff for your age and level. If you can nail that at our Centres, then Graduation will be a breeze. So, have fun on the day and use it as a chance to learn even more!
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