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Master Instructor Dicks congratulates Russell Webb on passing his 1st Dan Black Belt examination

Pacific Sun Taekwondo welcomed a new 1st Dan Black Belt to its ranks when Russell Webb passed his examination today.

Russell, from the Whangarei Central branch of PSTKD, has been training with the club since the age of 8 years old – 99 months in total.

He passed his Junior Black Belt examination three years ago, and since that time has been training hard towards this goal.

Russell’s grading consisted of performing various hyung (patterns), partnered techniques, board breaks and a long period of free sparring against Whangarei’s existing Black Belts.

Russell is now looking forward to training as an Instructor and getting the opportunity to give back to the club.

Dates for the first grading of 2013 have been set. Learn well and train hard to ensure you qualify for grading.

Auckland – Thursday March 21, 2013
Opua – Friday March 22, 2013
Whangarei – Saturday March 23, 2013
Christchurch – Monday March 25, 2013
Wellington – Tuesday March 26, 2013

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 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.

The Hutt City branch of Pacific Sun Taekwondo was featured in Hutt News this week, with the full article below:

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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