Hutt City branch features in Hutt News
The Hutt City branch of Pacific Sun Taekwondo featured recently in the Hutt News.
The story featured details on Hutt City’s end of year prizegiving, as below.
Advanced training, this Thursday for Whangarei clubs
Advanced training takes place this Thursday night (September 27) for all Whangarei Clubs from 6pm-8pm at Whangarei Central Branch on Lupton Ave.
All 4th kup (Blue Belt) students and up are invited to attend. Training for lower grades is cancelled for this night.
Hutt City branch featured in Hutt News
The Hutt City branch of Pacific Sun Taekwondo was featured in Hutt News this week, with the full article below:
Whangarei Central secures Pub Charity funding
The Whangarei Central branch of Pacific Sun Taekwondo has just secured funding for new equipment from Pub Charity.
“We’re over the moon to have received funding from Pub Charity.”, Senior Instructor Dion McCracken said. “It’s going to give us the opportunity to get a heap of new kick shields, hand mits, rebreakable boards and more for our branch. It’ll really help our students with their Taekwondo skills and it’s very exciting!”
Senior Instructor Dion went on to thank Instructor Sue Meyer and Instructor Sam Butturini who were instrumental in the funding process.
November 2012 grading dates set
Dates for the final grading of the year have been set as below. Continue to learn well in your branch and train hard at home to earn your grading spot!
Auckland – Thursday November 8, 2012
Opua – Friday November 9, 2012
Whangarei – Saturday November 10, 2012
Christchurch – Monday November 12, 2012
Wellington – Tuesday November 13, 2012
14 year old David Marner passes 1st Dan examination
David Marner completes a two board punch break on his way to becoming a 1st Dan Black Belt
At just 14 years of age, Hutt City branch student David Marner successfully passed his 1st Dan Black Belt examination.
Formerly a Junior Black Belt, David’s accomplishment is one that is even more impressive considering the physical requirements are challenging for adults.
“Getting to be a 1st Dan has been a goal of mine since I first started Taekwondo”, David said.
He now wants to go on to become an Instructor and one day to open his own branch.
Congratulations to David and everyone else who was successful in the June gradings.
Whangarei Instructors gain Protect Self Defence Accreditation
Phil Thompson (second from left) with Whangarei Central Instructors after their successful Accrediation test
Three Instructors from the Whangarei Central Branch of Pacific Sun Taekwondo recently qualified as Protect Self Defence Accredited Trainers (Level 1). Senior Instructor Dion McCracken and Instructors Sam Butturini & Chris Dick joined an exclusive group of just 20 people in New Zealand who have gained the qualification.
Protect Self Defence, co-founded by former PSTKD student, Phil Thompson, is an internationally recognised leader in reality based self defence and has developed this qualification which is offered by invitation only.
“Protect programmes focus on empowerment and the ability to avoid or de-escalate potentially violent situations ahead of an immediate physical response if at all possible.”, Mr. Thompson said. “If not possible then our physical training is highly effective but also socially responsible. I am very proud to welcome our new trainers to the team, they are all fantastic people with a genuine desire to help people.”
The qualification allows the Trainers to teach parts of Protect’s self defence system within their own dojang.
“Protect’s system is the real deal.”, Dion said. “From a real world self defence perspective, it’s far deeper and more effective than anything I’ve ever come across. It’s great that we’re now able to teach valuable parts of their method alongside our traditional martial arts.”
Senior Instructor Dion said that his team will be following up with a further qualification focussing on Protect’s self defence system for children in the coming months.
New 3rd Dan Black Belt amongst March grading honours
Over a decade of hard work paid off for Senior Instructor Brian Williams from the Ngunguru branch of Pacific Sun Taekwondo when he successfully passed his 3rd Dan Black Belt examination in Whangarei on March 17.
Senior Instructor Brian has been training with the organisation for over 15 years and students from his branch were in awe watching his breaking techniques, which included an impressive flying side kick and back kick combination break!
New “Dans” throughout country for Pacific Sun Taekwondo!
Members from the Christchurch branch of Pacific Sun Taekwondo after their successful Dan gradings in November!
The November 2011 gradings have proven to be a massive success for Pacific Sun Taekwondo, with an unprecedented number of new Dans earnt!
It all began on Saturday November 5 in Whangarei, as Senior Instructor Dion McCracken passed his 3rd Dan Black Belt examination, and was soon followed by Ben Currie, Logan Hamlin and Hamish Dick all graduating from Junior Black Belt to 1st Dan Black Belt!
Parent’s Night a “real eye opener”
- 6th Kup Student Tia Sakey teaches her father, Gary, Saju Chirigi
The Whangarei Central Branch of Pacific Sun Taekwondo held its first ever “Parent’s Night” on August 23, which proved a “real eye opener” for students and parents alike!
Junior students brought their parents, family and friends to the branch and proceeded to teach them the 10th kup hyung, Saju Chirigi.
“It has been a great experience for the parents, who now have a greater appreciation of what their children can do in the dojang.”, Senior Instructor, Dion McCracken said. “And on the flip side, having to really teach for the first time has been invaluable for our students. They really had to look at what they do in a completely new light.”