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Duan Grading
15th July 2007

by Tina Matania (3rd Duan)

On Sunday 15th July 2007 students, instructors and Masters gathered to attend the Duan Grading held as always at National Headquarters, Grays, Essex.

Grandmaster M K Loke with young students

Eight red belts took their examinations, together with duan grades taking their upgrading exams for 1st duan senior, 2nd duan and 3rd duan.

The day was as always a special occasion. When we attain our 1st duan 'black belt' we call it our 'second birthday' because this is when our training really begins.

The attainment of the 1st duan level means we have reached a stage of physical and mental development when we can begin to really develop technique. From the 1st duan examination onwards we also consider the development and learning of others, from building their confidence, determination and spirit through to technical excellence.

It is worth noting that our belt is not black but midnight blue; this is because we are constantly developing throughout our training and our lives and therefore can never achieve perfection, but can only strive to attain a level of expertise and continuously improve.

The grading practical examination , conducted by Grandmaster Loke (which followed the written test requirement), began with standard and then more advanced techniques. Grandmaster Loke analysed selected techniques, with special attention to the half move positions. At this level the student must be absolutely confident that his/her technique will work. In a self-defence situation the one selected technique must be appropriate for the situation and effective.

Grandmaster Loke instructs the young red belts:
sia duan tang (low block) half move, covering the groin
ready to twist the hip and finish with the turn of the wrist

After analysing low block (sia duan tang) Grandmaster asked the students what a more advanced low block would be. After consideration, they replied that it would be the low section reverse forearm block (sia duan fan pei tang) which was correct.

Denise Connolly, William Parsons and Barry Fisher in the front row:
sia duan fan pei tang (low section reverse forearm block)

Grandmaster Loke explained that this was faster than the basic low block because there was no requirement to pull back before the block. The block could be applied from the normal position where the hands are usually held, i.e. hanging by the body below the hip. We don't walk around going about our daily lives with our hands up in fighting position!

Grandmaster Loke then went on to illustrate the natural position of the hands (see picture left) as a half position prior to the double overhead block, known as shuang pei tang, pictured on the right.

This overhead block can be used to grab and twist the arm of the opponent pulling him forward and to the side as illustrated in the picture on the left. Here Grandmaster Loke has demonstrated the block on Instructor Tony Sellen and finishes in an advantageous strategic position.

Tony Sellen

Half positions for other key blocks, for example, inside to outside block (nei pei tang) were covered where the trajectory of the block and final twist of the blocking hand were emphasised.

William Parsons, Sean Feltham and Jonathan King:
tooi-ta ready position

Brett Sydney-Smith: half position chuan ti (roundhouse kick)

Grandmaster looked at the benefits of slow kicking for developing muscle strength, balance, flexibility and refining technique and both 1st ji and red belts participated in this exercise.

The front thrust kick (chean chuai ti), side thrust kick (cher chuai ti), roundhouse kick (chuan ti) and back kick (hou chuai ti) were all analysed and practiced, emphasising the correct position for the half moves, i.e. before and after the extension of the kick.

and hou chuai ti (back kick): note the toe points downwards towads the floor and the eyeline is looking over the shoulder and extended leg

... Stretching

Stretching exercises observed by
Grandmaster Loke

Grandmaster Loke asked the red belts and duan grades to demonstrate their stretching to evaluate their level of flexibility.

Grandmaster Loke commended more mature students for their endurance and effort

Master Cook and Master Goward also presided over the grading required elements.

Master Cook and Master Goward observe

During the stretching one of the exercises was to put the soles of the feet together and push the knees down with the elbows (as we do in class).

Knees should ideally reach the floor (and then the chin can be brought to the ankles)

Tim Eves

... Forms & Sparring

Instructors and senior belts led the students through their required pinan and luohan forms observed by Grandmaster Loke and Senior Masters. Master Angie Thomas, Master Jeff Thomas and Master Nazim Gokcezade were in attendance. Instructors and senior students then participated in the free-sparring (tooi ta) and one step sparring (ee puh tooi ta) elements of the examination.
Master Angie Thomas leads the red belts in pinan form 5		Master Jeff Thomas leads the red belts in luohan form 1

Master Jeff Thomas (pictured right):
sia duan fan pei tang (low section forearm block)
from luohan form 1

Finishing position sou chuor kong chee (elbow strike)

Grandmaster Loke took the opportunity to analyse individual movements within the forms and flows of selected sequences.

Grandmaster Loke instructs Russell Jones on the finer points of wai tau sou kong chee (outside to inside knife hand strike)

... Breaking boards

Here are a selection of photographs from the penultimate element of the grading examination, the breaking of break-boards by utilising kicking techniques. For those taking duan upgrading examinations it was necessary to break the harder black break-board with a single selected kick.
Foreground: Emlyn Jones prepares, Background: young student from Reading		Student from Reading: Nei chuai ti (Inside to outside drop kick)