GKR Grading Kata Taigyoko Shodan

This is Mark Brown, from Pontefract, United Kingdom training at the GKR Black Belt Grading in April 2013. Mark is totally blind and performs here the Kata of Taigyoko Shodan as part of the assesment for his 1st Dan Shodan Black Belt.

Mark Brown is totally Blind, having excesive recesive kidney diesease requiring transplant and also been an insulin dependant type 1 diabetic, even taking this assesment was some impressive feat, especially when you consider how noisy these gradings can be with upto 100 students all working and training in the sports hall during the assessment and also how pyhsically demanding these intense session can be lasting upto 4 hours long consisting of numerous techniques, kata and kumite.

This version of the Kata is been performed to Mark's own timing. Traditionally in a GKR Black Belt Grading, each of the many performed kata will be done at a regular medium pace to a japanese count, then they are followed by a faster, more fluid version of the kata which is done to the students own timing.

Mark came out of this grading with a full 1st Dan Shodan Black Belt and now instructs a GKR Karate class alongside Sensei Dereck Maitland who can be seen here assisting Mark at the Grading.