New Black Belts at SDTKD
Tallaght Leisure Centre played host to the 2016 Irish Taekwondo Union Black Belt Grading where 40 hopefuls presented themselves to the national grading panel for promotion. 10 of our team mates took to the mats in their home venue. Junior ages Cian Coughlan, Leroy Dilandu, David Phelan, Karl Negrillo and Adam Nugent were first up in the morning session where all were successful in passing to 1st Dan Black Belt.
In the afternoon the older applicants demonstrated their abilities when Juan Alberto Boccia was also awarded 1st Dan and a quad of Aoibhe Thornton, Jamilah Depakakibo, Anas Belmaati and Dylan Leonard all pushed up the ranks achieving 3rd Dan. All 10 went through rigorous training and preparation including a club internal assessment, preliminary ITU grading and ultimately the final grading after their years of dedication to the sport. Club Coach Robert Taaffe who sat on the senior examination panel noted his delight, ‘This is always a very positive time of the year for the club. I’m very happy and proud of our gang who have joined the Black Belt ranks and climbed the ranks.’ SDTKD was founded in 2008 by ITU High Performance officials Robert Taaffe & Niamh Buffini and have since boasted almost 40 Black Belt promotions at their club in Tallaght