Sunday was a busy day for Phoenix Karate students. In the morning Joe Tierney 7th Dan held a seminar for both students and Instructors, concentrating on fitness, fighting techniques and the awareness of self defence in both the competition ring and everyday life.

Sunday was a busy day for Phoenix Karate students. In the morning Joe Tierney 7th Dan held a seminar for both students and Instructors, concentrating on fitness, fighting techniques and the awareness of self defence in both the competition ring and everyday life.

In the afternoon, Tierney officiated at a gruelling five-hour Dan grading. Students from the ages of 11 through to 40 demonstrated their abilities in basics, kicks, kata, pad work and kumite. All performed to the highest level, enduring the heat of the day and exhaustion of such a strenuous test.

Club instructor Dean Snowling put on a strong performance to gain his 2nd Dan.

Daniel Snailham gained his 1st Dan Black Belt. Also from Lowestoft were Zoe Hart, James Pedder and Brittany Pipe who all did well with Brittany impressing Sensei Tierney with her kata performances, something she wants to specialise in.

Adam Rudrum from Martham interrupted his GCSE revision to pass his first exam of the year to get his 1st Dan.

AMA squad member Charlotte Fisher from Great Yarmouth missed an EKF England squad session to take her grading and passed her black belt.

Hopton's Matthew Carr was the youngest student to achieve the prestigious award, looking strong alongside the other juniors.

Wayne Trorey son of instructors Charlie and Vivianne Trorey and assistant instructor with Phoenix Karate Schools finally obtained his black belt.

Wayne put on his first karate suit and started training with dad at the age of three, over the years he has been a regular sight at the classes and some of the older members can remember him watching them train at the age of six weeks old, when his parents would bring him to class while they taught. Wayne has at last matured into a very experienced martial artist and is concentrating his efforts on the refereeing side, after obtaining his judge's qualifications earlier this year he is now training for his referee's badge.

Wayne and Dean were both presented with their coaching qualifications certificate by chief instructor Charlie Trorey 4th Dan after completing the AMA course and exam earlier this year.

Chief instructor Charlie Trorey said: “I was thrilled to see the students succeed, it is not easy to achieve black belt, you must be both mentally and physically prepared. Some students find this difficult, but with dedication and practise they succeed in the end.”

Anyone wishing to train with the Phoenix Schools at classes in Martham, Acle, Great Yarmouth, Gorleston, Hopton, Oulton Broad or Beccles should ring Charlie on 01502 730171 or Vivianne on 07895 550168 for details.