BTF National Seminar in Exeter

George Wright • November 15, 2019

Black Belt & Colour Belt Seminar conducted by Grandmaster Brown IX in Exeter, 2nd & 3rd November 2019

On the 2nd November 2019 Miss Danielle Williams IV, Miss Natalie Williams III, Ella Barnes I and George Wright I travelled to Exeter to attend the BTF National Black belt and Colour Belt seminar conducted by British Taekwon-Do Federation President Grandmaster Brown IX.

Report by George Wright I:

The seminar consisted of patterns, semi-free sparring and self defence sparring, step sparring and knife sparring. I thought both days were a great experience and a fun opportunity to train with other enthusiasts of Taekwon-Do from around the country. I encourage both colour belts and black belts to attend the next seminar to gain more knowledge and meet new people.

On the first day of the seminar, there was a warm and friendly welcome to everyone with the day focusing on colour belts. First of all, we did a thorough warm up and then moved onto fundamental movements. Grandmaster Brown then proceeded to pair up the colour belts with a black belt to let the black belts teach the colour belts the application of techniques in their patterns. This included sun sonkut tulgi (straight fingertip thrust) for green belts and for yellow belts, sonkal yop taerigi (knifehand side strike). This exercise tested the black belts knowledge and teaching while giving colour belts the opportunity to meet more black belts and learn from them. In a similar fashion, the colour belts then were able to spar the black belts in semi free sparring. We then looked in depth at some of the colour belt patterns with Grandmaster Brown correcting our technique along the way.

The second day was a black belt focus. Grandmaster Brown started off the seminar with performing all the colour belt patterns as a warm-up. Then Grandmaster Brown focused on the first degree patterns; Grandmaster Brown really helped me to improve all three of my patterns and I feel a lot more confident now in performing them.

He then continued to teach the rest of the Black Belt patterns to the more experienced black belts.

In the afternoon, the focus shifted towards step sparring and knife sparring. Firstly we learnt a number of different counter attacks to one step sparring which included blocking then attacking; dodging and attacking; take-downs and much more. Finally, we practised knife sparring and self defence.

Ultimately, in my opinion, I thought the seminar was a fantastic weekend and it was very fun learning more about Taekwon-Do from Grandmaster Brown and meeting new people with shared interests. I recommend this seminar for all colour belts and black belts.

I hope to see you all at the next one!