Alexandra ITKD

On Friday 22nd May, we had three of our youngest students travel to the Otago University Club in Dunedin, for their first ever national grading. The examiner, Master Hayden Breese VII dan put them through their paces in front of fellow students, family and friends. All three candidates achieved 'A' passes to 9th gup (grade). Their secret weapon - the large family support that came to cheer them on, in most cases travelling some 2 1/2 to 3 hours to be there. We are very proud of them all!!

It was great to have a visit by the Alexandra Venturer Unit on Monday night. Instead of the usual demonstration, we had our visitors have a go at releases from wrist grabs, trying some kicks, participating in parts of a pattern and some pad work. Great job by all the venturers!!

ANZAC Day 2026, two of our members participated in the Alexandra commemoration ceremony. Ryan Clearwater paraded as a member of the Alexandra Rural Fire Brigade and Miss Phoebe Briggs assisted Senior Firefighter Jason McDonough in the wreath laying ceremony. We are very proud of both of them

On March 1st the Alexandra Instructor Mark Davies and Mr Dion Bennett (Mosgiel Club) sat and passed their 4th dan in Auckland. The examiners for the grading were Grandmasters Davidson (left) and McPhail (right). Both clubs are extremely proud of their instructors. The grading in Auckland was the culmination of 6 months of hard work, monthly fitness testing and being able to perform on the day. To add some perspective to this achievement, ITKD has only twenty six active 4th dans throughout NZ. Congratulations.

Miss Mya Boyd getting presented with her 1st dan ITKD (national organisation) and ITF (international body) certificates at club last night. A very proud moment for us all.

For the first time probably ever a 1-3rd dan grading was opened up as a seminar in the morning session. Grand Master James Rimmer IX dan and Master Hayden Breese VII dan took the session/grading component. Thanks to Threshold Taekwon-Do Dunedin for hosting the event. A very enjoyable session with very knowledgeable senior members of ITKD.

Members from the Alex Club attended the annual Mosgiel weekend camp at OYAT Lodge in Berwick the weekend of 21 - 23/11/25.

Guest Instructor was Master Gray Patterson VIII dan from Wellington. Starting on Saturday morning Master Patterson put the students through a dynamic warm up and comprehensive stretching session, then focussed in on the various levels of self defence, from dealing with an annoying person to full on attacks.

The afternoon was spent assisting these who were grading the next day with polishing their syllabus.

Sunday morning saw approximately 25 students of varying grades put through their paces in a comprehensive grading. Alexandra Club had two students who were tested, Paddy McDonough and Ryan Clearwater. Both passed their tests. Mr McDonough promoted to 6th gup and Mr Clearwater promoted to 3rd gup.

A huge thank you goes out to the Mr Dion Bennett and members of the Mosgiel Club for their kind invitation and to Master Patterson for his awesome contribution to a very successful weekend.

Todays Taekwon-Do students are tomorrow's leaders. Mr Ryan Clearwater (Blue belt) a student at Dunstan High School was awarded today his bronze Duke of Edinburghs and acknowledged for being the top volunteer at the school for the Students Volunteer Army (SVA), completing over 250 hours of service for our local community. We are very proud of him!!

Miss Mya Boyd dropped in at training tonight. Always a pleasure to catch up.

ITKD national team representing New Zealand at the World Champs in Croatia, October 7th to 11th 2025.
From Otago: Lachlan Ellis, Ava Sheehan (Mosgiel), Cody Thomson & Esmé Blaker(Threshold). More information to follow on how to tune in live to watch our team compete.