On Sunday 10th of April Nemesis Kickboxing Academy Inverurie had their first ever Black Belt Test candidates. Throughout a five hour exam Marley McGregor and Aiden Linklater were tested on their fitness, technical ability and mental strength.
The journey for both these martial artists started five years ago at white belt. From that point they started their journey through the Nemesis Syllabus, being tested for a new belt every few months and each test becoming more and more demanding. From learning individual techniques and stringing them together into pad drills, they learned how to apply them in practice with sparring. They have been able over the years to take what they have learned and compete all across Scotland at national championships where they have both won medals.
As they both became more and more advanced through the syllabus they began giving back the knowledge that they had gained to newer students coming up through the syllabus. As part of their brown belts they had to learn to teach whole classes of students of different levels and abilities. This helps the teacher gain a greater knowledge of what they are teaching by finding new ways of explaining things for their own understanding and that of the pupil.
The final stage of preparation has been taking part since the beginning of this year. They had both been undertaking rigorous exercise regimes in an attempt to prepare for the day of the test. Both had their highs and lows during their final preparations, Aiden having to isolate for a week in his bedroom was a notable low. However, they stayed focussed and managed to ensure that when they arrived on test day they were both in peak physical condition.
The Test itself was the culmination of everything they had done previously over the past 5 years condensed into 5 hours. Their fitness was tested first with a run around Inverurie that involved stopping at various areas to do exercises and hill sprints. Upon return to our Dojo they were then tested on their knowledge of the syllabus by having to demonstrate every technique and every pad drill that they had been taught. After that, they were tested on their sparring ability by completing multiple rounds of both points sparring and continuous sparring. Once that had been completed they were pressure tested by having to take on multiple attackers, maintaining composure and minimising damage taken by keeping on their feet ahead of their attackers.
In the end both candidates had been pushed as far as they thought possible, and then beyond that point. And both candidates demonstrated incredible resolve and strength of character to make it through the test without giving up. Not only that, but the incredible achievement of making it to a test that so many of their contempories couldn’t or wouldn’t manage to get to is a glowing tribute to them both. No many Black Belts will be able to say they had years of Lockdown restrictions, zoom classes and outdoor training in all weathers to contend with that put a holt on their progress and meant they had to be extemley patient and determined not to take their eye off the prize.
It is with great pleasure and pride that we are able to congratulate Marley and Aiden on becoming First Dan Black Belts, as well as being shining examples of what we expect from Nemesis students and two great young men with bright futures ahead of them both.