National Grading - 26th & 27th June 2015

The IKK held the first of its national gradings for 2015 in Gaelic Street dojo over the weekend of the 26th and 27th June. Over the course of the weekend we had four people attempting 2nd kyu, one attempting 1st Kyu and one attempting Shodan.

The Friday night was for Dan grade candidates only. By contrast to the last National grading in December 2014 when the temperature had dropped to -4 the temperature over this weekend was in the mid 20s so the venue was very warm and humid. Most of Friday night was spent on the hhysical test along with many technical aspects with just Patrycja Calka attempting shodan.

On Saturday she was joined by the rest of the grading candidates and approximately 20 others from dojos across Ireland who had come along to train. Everyone was put through their paces with emphasis Kihon in the morning and on Kata and Renraku in the afternoon, finishing with an hour of Kumite. The day was interspersed with many water breaks due to the intense heat.

At the end of the day Shihan Kevin was please to announce the promotion to 4th Kyu of:

Artur Smolarek

and the promotion to 2nd Kyu of:

Mark Curran 
Louise Crowley 
Ailish Coakley 
Bridget Clarke

and the promotion to 1st Kyu of:

Emilia Cahill

Also promoted was the IKKs newest Senpai:

Patrycja Calka

Congratulations to all who were successful.


Shane