A record number Stawell students participated in their Taekwondo second grading and masterclass on August 13.
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Sixth degree black belt examiner Paul Harper traveled from Melbourne to conduct the largest grading the Stawell Taekwondo Club has ever hosted.
Instructor of Il Shim Taekwondo Stawell Corinne Leahy said there had been an explosion in numbers in the past year.
More than 20 students have been regularly training with 14 of them attempting the black belt grading.
Gradings take place three times a year and are a requirement of going up to the next coloured belt.
Students must also participate in the masterclass that takes place with the grading.
The focus of the August masterclass was sparring and included drills to improve students confidence in the sparring ring and tips on how to think one step ahead of their opponent.
Mrs Leahy said new members of all ages can call call Corinne for more details on 0409 334 800.
Mr Harper was assisted by his wife Michelle, a third degree black belt and his son Brandon, who is a first degree black belt.
Brandon also wowed students with his prowess in a special technique where a kick is performed mid air to reach a target of set height.
Sparring and special technique, along with patterns and power breaking, make up the four events that will be contested at the Il Shim Melbourne Victorian Challenge on September 3.
A record number of students from Stawell will be traveling to compete alongside their instructor Mrs Leahy.
Mrs Leahy won the overall senior female champion award, as well as the national title in sparring and special technique in 2015.
She said one of the best ways to improve is through competition.
“As well as learning so much about your own performance under pressure you get the chance to watch and be inspired by some of the best Taekwondo practitioners in the country,” she said.
“It is wonderful to have so many students competing this year and I’m immensely proud of how hard they all worked in the lead up.”
Il Shim Taekwondo Stawell train every Tuesday and Thursday from 6.30pm to 8pm in the Stawell Primary School gymnasium.