Black Belt - 1st Degree

Short Stick (Danbon 단봉) – self defence – single attacker

Use the Danbon as an extension to your own self defence. Using sensitive areas around forearm, shin, triceps, Achilles tendon, etc. Use powerful triangle. Practice these against a single attacker.

• Strikes to the body - thrust to solar plexus, collarbone, shins (when they kick you)

• Against Grabs - single hand, cross hands, double hands, two hands onto one, double lapel, shoulder, hair, bear hug, headlock, punch, front kick, turning kick

Defence against Throwing

These techniques are to defend against someone trying to throw you in a classical hip throw.

1. X-block. Lower your centre of gravity and block their hip using an X-Block. To throw you (unless it’s a sacrifice throw) your opponent will try to get their hips close to you. This technique stops them from doing this.

2. Back of knee and Grab Hair. Push the back of the leading leg as they place it in position to throw you. Check their distance with your elbow. At the same time, Grab their hair and pull them down as they come in to throw you. If they don't have hair - push below the nose with your knife hand.

3. Twist head. Grab their head and twist and as they come in to throw you. Step to the right at the same time.

4. Around & throw. Jump around as they come in and perform a hip throw.

5. Breakfall & throw. Let them throw you, but as you are going over, grab their neck or belt. This will throw them as you land. Don't let them get away.

Board Breaking Techniques

You will be asked to demonstrate one of the following in the grading – practice both in the class. 

These breaks are left to the discretion of the Instructor. If a student can do the "off the wall version" then it should be encouraged. For less agile students they can try turning kick with ball of foot or turning side kick or stepping side kick or spinning knife hand. If doing stepping side kick try with 2-3 boards. The number of boards needs to kept flexible according to the size, weight and skill of the grader.

Double jumping front kick - together or apart – 1 board

Practice on focus mitts. Practice every time you train (after class for 2 minutes).

Jumping Turning kick off a wall or off someone’s back – 1 board

Place your foot at chest height on the wall. Don't forget, when you break, you will have to strike with the ball of your foot. During practice, get used to the angles you need so that at a grading you can set it up correctly. Most people miss because the board is in the wrong place.