FIVE students from the Clive Harrison's School of Tae Kwon-Do based at Nunnery Wood Sports Centre, Worcester, have gained their black belts.

Gary Vaughan (taking 2nd Dan), William Dean, Sally Greaves, Catherine Miller and Andrea Palmer (all taking 1st Dans) went to Derby for the Global Tae Kwon-Do International's Black Belt grading where students from as far apart as Cornwall and York travelled to be graded by senior GTI Examiners.

The students had to perform various disciplines to a high standard including advanced hand and leg combinations, various patterns (attack and defence combinations in different directions against imaginary opponents) self defence techniques, set sparring, free sparring, knife defences, bag work and a theory test.

Instructor Clive Harrison 6th Dan said: "Our students have trained very hard and prepared well to obtain their Dan grades. The standard in the GTI is very high and grades are not just given away.

"When I put a student forward for Black Belt or higher Dan grade I look for someone who is not only proficient at Tae Kwon-Do but who will also be ambassador for the club and set an example to the other grades. The true Black Belt is someone who continued to train and be an example that other students can look up to.

"This now brings the number of Black Belts and above currently training in the club to 15. I hope they will wear their new grades with pride as everyone at the club is very proud of them."

Anyone wishing to train with Clive at his Worcester club can call him on 01531-640187.