I know I have seen many black belt gradings over time however I’ve come home this evening and just need to tell the world about an 11 year old lad who really shone tonight at his black belt grading. Well, I guess if ever we are going to shine in performing our Martial ARts moves we would hope that the starts align just right when we are doing our grading and when we are in a life saving self defence situation.
This young man delivered for his first dan black belt grading, and I believe, based on his performance tonight, that he would deliver if needed in a self defence situation.
And what’s just great, this guy is a really pleasant and gentle young man, he understands what modesty and humility are all about, and knows that self restraint is more than not eating too much chocolate at Easter. He knows that modesty is about how he conducts himself in the playground at school, and that self restraint is all about not just following the first thought that comes into the 11 year old mind, but doing what’s right.
At the end of the night his mates walked up to him, shook his hand, one after the other, and congratulated him on a great grading and on achieving his first dan black belt in Taekwondo. These young fellas are due to go for their first dan grading soon, and I think left our Dojang thinking that if they pulled out the moves that Eddy did they’ll be just satisfied with that.
I congratulated Eddy’s parents – Maureen and Richard – as they were the people who chose Martial ARts training at Factor10 for Eddy. They’re parents who clearly do the hard yards to help shape their children’s lives but making the tough decisions to have their child do something that, at times, might be very challenging for them. There were times over the last 5 years since Eddy started training that he struggled with his motivation. For Maureen and Richard, stopping was not what was on the menu of choices, but looking at how they could work with his instructors to come up with a solution to ensure he achieved the amazing goal of their son achieving black belt – and he did tonight on Thursday 12 April 2012 – a day that will go down in their family history boos as the time their eldest son achieved his 1st Dan Black Belt in WTF Taekwondo.
We’re all proud of you Eddy! Who knows what else you will achieve in your life. I said to you tonight that I wanted to have my photo taken with you as I am sure you’ll be some famous person one day. I’ll be able to look back in years ahead and say – I know that guy – actually I am in a photo with him the night he achieved his black belt. Famous is when you do something extraordinary – I guess you are already famous!
Click here to view some action shots of Eddy’s grading.
Master Damien O’Flaherty
6th Dan Taekwondo WTF
5th Dan Hapkido KHF
