Digger Barnes Joins Grading Panel at Inspirit Martial Arts in Oxford

Last Saturday, Digger Barnes, Chief Instructor of Storm Family Martial Arts, had the privilege of spending the day at Inspirit Martial Arts in Oxford, where he was invited by Chief Instructor Simon Tyas to sit on the grading panel for their latest belt grading.

It was a long day — grading ran from 10am right through until 6pm — but it was also one of those days that highlights why martial arts is about so much more than simply learning techniques.

From White Belt to Brown Belt

Digger joined Simon on the grading panel for the coloured belt gradings, assessing candidates from White Belt through to Brown Belt.

The standard throughout the day was extremely high, with candidates being challenged physically, technically and mentally as they worked through the requirements for their next grade.

Then, from around 2pm, the Black Belt candidates joined the grading.

And that’s where the day really stepped up another level.

Black Belt Testing

The Black Belt candidates didn’t simply arrive and complete a Black Belt test.

They first joined in with the coloured belt grading, repeating the previous grade requirements and demonstrating that they still had the foundations and skills expected at every level.

Only after completing all of that did they move on to their own Black Belt examination.

Their test included:

• Pad work
• Line work
• Sparring
• 2 vs 1 sparring
• Self-defence
• Fitness testing
• And the mental challenge of continuing to perform when physically exhausted

The standard was extremely high.

By the end, the candidates were physically and mentally exhausted, but every single Black Belt candidate successfully passed their grading.

A Special Responsibility

There was an additional reason why the Black Belt grading was particularly important.

One of Simon’s daughters was one of the Black Belt candidates.

Because of this, Simon felt it was important that the examination was completely impartial and handed responsibility for the Black Belt grading over to Digger.

This meant Digger became the sole examiner for the Black Belt candidates.

It was a responsibility he did not take lightly.

A Black Belt grading represents years of hard work, commitment, setbacks, perseverance and personal development. To be trusted to make that decision for another martial arts academy is a huge honour.

Digger said he was “honoured and humbled” to be asked to undertake such an important role.

More Than a Belt

One of the things that makes martial arts so special is that a grading isn’t really about the belt.

The belt is simply a symbol of the journey.

What is actually being tested is whether someone has developed the skills, discipline, resilience and character to earn the next step.

That was very evident throughout the grading at Inspirit.

Watching the candidates push themselves through the final stages of their Black Belt examination — when they were already tired and had every reason to want it to be over — was a great reminder of what martial arts can teach us.

You don’t discover what you’re capable of when things are easy. You discover it when you’re tired, uncomfortable and still choose to keep going.

Congratulations to Everyone at Inspirit

A huge congratulations to everyone who graded at Inspirit Martial Arts, and especially to the Black Belt candidates.

They should all be incredibly proud of what they achieved.

Digger would also like to thank Simon Tyas and the whole Inspirit team for inviting him, trusting him with such an important responsibility and making him feel so welcome.

Opportunities to work alongside other martial arts instructors, share ideas, learn from each other and help develop the next generation of martial artists are always hugely rewarding.

Congratulations to everyone who graded — keep training, keep learning and keep pushing yourself!