Students from Boyne Valley Taekwon Do School participated in the recent Senior Masters Seminar on Patterns and Power hosted by St. Mark’s Taekwon-Do School in Tallaght. This was our second year taking part in the Seminar all agreed that it was thoroughly worth the trip. Everyone who attended found it a very educational and fun experience leaving with some valuable insights into the various patterns and different techniques.

The patterns section of the day offered a rare opportunity to question the Senior Masters and gain from the wealth of their knowledge and experience. It is not very often that we get to perform our pattern in front of Senior Master without the pressure of a grading or competition. While the prospect of doing your pattern in front of a Master can be daunting, it is still a great opportunity to have errors fixed and moves explained by Senior Masters who really are experts.

The power section of the day was especially rewarding with everybody getting to break at least once. Senior Master Phelan took his time with each student in his group talking about each technique chosen, everyone’s measure up and their final technique. As a Red Belt I was very impressed with the standard of other Red Belt students as well as the standard of the Green & Blue Belts coming up the ranks. I personally found it a very positive experience to opt for a technique that is still a bit outside my comfort zone and that I could not guarantee would break for me. I could have chosen to break with something that I know works for me but I was there to learn and it’s much better to benefit from the experience of a Senior Master like Senior Master Phelan when he was prepared to spend the time. Senior Master Phelan went through my measure up and I’m glad to say that I did break. Everyone learned a lot about different techniques and everybody’s confidence with power really improved from this. Senior Master Phelan was a tough but patient and very rewarding teacher.

Standing in line at the seminar it became clear how far I have progressed in Taekwon -Do even since the last seminar. That elusive Black Belt was now only one row away from me. During the patterns section, Senior Master Phelan pointed to the Red Belt section of the students and said ‘these Red Belts and Black Tags are the Black Belts and Instructors of the future. You will look to them to teach you your patterns and to answer your questions. Their experiences will make you better students and better Black Belts. They are our future’. Profound words but very apt.

St. Mark’s Taekwon-Do School, as always are very welcoming and accommodating to us all and really added to our student’s thoroughly enjoyable experience. Boyne Valley Taekwon- Do School would like to thank the Senior Masters for the time and attention they gave us and St. Mark’s School for their warm welcome and for making the day such a relaxed and friendly experience. We are all looking forward to the next Patterns & Power Seminar and to seeing you all again.

Joan Wiseman 1st Kup Boyne Valley Taekwon-Do School