FIVE students of the Clive Harrison School of Tae Kwon-Do in Worc-ester have been successful in attaining the grade they sought at the recent Black Belt grading with Global Tae Kwon-do Int-ernational (GTI), the nat-ional association to which the club is affiliated.

The following students were promoted: Tonia Cox to 4th Dan, Wayne Lewis, Helen Wilkes and Tejinder Uppal to 2nd Dan and Matthew Teague to 1st Dan, all after training for the required number of years.

They went to Derby to attend the GTI's Black Belt grading where students from as far apart as Cornwall and York travelled to be graded by senior GTI Examiners.

The five-man examiners' panel consisted of one 6th Dan and four 5th Dans with over 100 years experience between them.

The students had to perform various disciplines to a high standard.

These included advanced hand and leg combinations, various patterns (attack and defence combinations in different directions against imaginary opponents) self defence techniques, set sparring, free sparring, knife defences, destruction techniques (board breaking) and also a theory test.

Instructor Clive Harrison said: "The students had prepared extremely hard for this grading and because of this they all performed very well on the day.

"There were students who were unsuccessful on the day, but that is only right if, to pass everyone just because they sat the test belittles what the Black Belt should mean.

"It's not just a test of the student's physical skills but a test of commitment, attitude and knowledge.

"Everyone at the club is very proud of them and we wish them all the best in their new grades."

Any one wishing to train with Clive at his Worcester club can call him on 01531-640187.