Black Belt Grading Sessions

I was wondering if anyone else feels the same way as I do about the Black Belt training sessions that take place twice a year.

I have been training in TKD for 10yrs and are due to take my 3rd dan next year. I attend every club session and extra sparring sessions at some local clubs, as well as taking part in nearly all the TAGB championships since yellow belt.

I have attended most of the black belt sessions since my 1st dan and to be honest I don't feel that I gained anything from them. Usually there are 100+ people there sometimes 150+. Most of the sessions are just basic drills which are nothing new and some lessons are well below par and not even slightly inspiring. Combine this with the fact they are on weekend usually in the middle of the day and it virtually rights off a large chunk of my weekend for very little gain.

My understanding of them is that they are ensure continuous training for 2 years prior to taking a dan grade. Could this not be replaced by a letter of commendation from your instructor, surely this would be a better gauge of a members contribution and commitment to TKD than attending 2 sessions per year.

Since we now have to pay £5 for the pleasure of attending these sessions I am starting to wonder if it is just turning into a cash generator, as these use to be free. I think it was bought in to help pay for the world champs but has carried on - I could be wrong. If it was a cash generator I would much rather pay a £10 annual black belt fee NOT to attend these sessions, rather than waste my free time.

Please don't think I'm knocking the TAGB it's a great organisation that puts on good champs with good instructors but I feel this is an area that needs addressing.

Hi, this is really interesting cos I feel very different about these training sessions. Where do you train? I am in the south-east and Master Sergiew does my black belt training sessions. Even though I only have to go to one every 6 months (not grading till 2011) I'm always at as many as I can go to cos I love them so much! He always notices things that you're doing slightly wrong that no-one's noticed before and I think it's a really good way to get people ready for the grading and get them to iron out anything that's not quite right. Some of the things I've picked up from these training sessions are some of the things I now do the best! Maybe you should speak to your instructor if you think they you aren't learning anything cos it's obviously important that you gain something from them, then maybe they can raise the issue at some point. I agree that the training sessions can be pretty busy at times but the ones I go to are still great nonetheless. Good luck and I hope things improve for you

I too attend the sessions with Mr Sergiew,

I find them very enjoyable and he gives plenty of tips to improve things. one such training session I remember we practiced jumping/flying kicks, which I greatly enjoyed as we don't often practice them at the club.

Also I do really enjoy the talks Mr Sergiew gives us, sometimes he will tell us something that my instructor has told me already, but just in a different way that makes me think "oh yeah! I get it now!"

David I know what you mean, he is very inspiring
As for jumping/flying kicks I continue to be terrible at them no matter who teaches me, but I'm sure one day I'll get there