Newport IOW Shotokan Karate club member Dan Moss successfully graded for his 1st degree black belt (Sho-Dan) at a recent Shotokan of England karate Union black/brown belt course and dan grading at Portsmouth. Dan who is 33 years old and lives in Wootton first started training at the club in 2015. The grading consists of basic techniques (punching, striking, kicking and blocking) and combinations of any techniques, 2 Kata (set moves) and also Jiyu-Ippon kumite (Pre arrange fighting) and Jiyu kumite (free fighting) against numerous opponents.   

The  black belt grading is not just about performing in front of a grading panel it's also about the 5 years of hours of training, without this discipline and commitment Dan would not have achieve this grade.