Grading July 19 2025

It seems like only Yesterday that way had our March 2025 Grading. This grading started off at 10am when the coloured belts turned out for their boot camp style warm ups with Sensei Michael. He ran them through all manner of torture until 11am when they made their way to the hall.

After a couple of glitches got sorted out, we got under way. Another warm up just to get them sweaty and away we go. We started out with Kihon techniques; Jo Dan Age Uke, Soto Uke, Shuto Uke, Chu Dan Uchi Uke, Ge Dan Uke, Ge Dan Barai, and Chu Dan Osai. Jo Dan Tsuki, Chu Dan Tsuki, and Gedan Tsuki, practising both sides as either oi tsuki or gyaku tsuki. Shuto and Gyaku Shuto, followed up with Mai Geri. A number of combinations of the above moving forward and back, just to confuse them a little, and onto Kata.

Kihongata Jo Chu Ge, a little faster than we practise in class, then Sanchin with Green Belts leading, to our count. That was the end of the Yellow Belt Grading. We had 9 go full Yellow and 1 went Yellow with a White Stripe (Basically Junior Yellow).

A break for photos with the kids that got their Yellow belts, and back to it for the Yellow Belts wanting Orange and so on up to Greens going Blue.

Kihongata to warm them up, done at double time, then onto Gekisai Ichi and Ni. Then more Kihon techniques moving forward and back. Just to confuse them instead of only blocking moving back and striking moving forward, we did the opposite by striking moving backward and blocking moving forward. It worked, but they did well, and then it was on to drills.

Sticky Hands and Trapping Hand drills were key, and before you knew it we had 7 new Orange Belts. A quick break for photos and back to it.

We had one Orange Belt student testing for Red. She is only 10 years old but she handled it like a pro. After demonstrating more Kihon moving back and forth, then doing Saifa and the first of the Meibuken, Tenchi, followed up by more drills. Then she had to demonstrate blocks against random attacks. Starting off slow and gradually speeding up, she went from strong crisp blocks to adrenal dump and a tiny bit of fear, making her blocks sloppy, but they were still good enough to stop everything I threw at her including my super load and "scary" Kiai. She was so happy when it was all over that she teared up a little. Then it was time for photos and done. 

Now we had 2 Red Belts going for Green and 5 Green Belts going for Blue left to test. More Kihongata, as well as Kihon techniques moving against attacks and defences from Michael and myself. Michael even turned it up a bit by attacking with one of the blue kick shields, which for some reason caused a small amount of panic... Then drills, but this time we weren't just focusing on defensive flow drills but also conditioning drills. Not allowing anyone to drop out until the time for the drill was over. Shisochin was next for the Reds going Green and while the demonstration left a little to be desired, they are only kids, they did well enough to get the belt. We kept them in for the testing of the Greens going Blue and had them punching kick shields flat out or defending attacks from Michael or myself. When they did Sanchin this time around, Michael and I started testing the Greens going Blue with heavy slaps, light punches and gentle(ish) kicks to the legs.

Just as we were about to call it quits and be finished for the day, someone pointed out that we'd forgotten to have the Greens going Blue demonstrate Seiunchin. They got that done and now we were done. Take some photos, pack up and call it a day.

We now have, 1 new Junior 9th Kyu Yellow Belt with White Stripe, 9 new 9th Kyu Yellow Belts, 7 new Orange Belts 8th Kyu, 1 new Red Belt 7th Kyu, 2 new Green Belts 6th Kyu, and 5 new Blue Belts 5th Kyu.

The photos are up and ready to be viewed at https://www.meibukangojyuryu.com/gallery#6885c5f71503d