On February 25, 2006, Tom Cain and Gordon Nore graded successfully for their black belts at East York Hapkido-Karate Club. Mr Cain began in the kids' classes in 1994. Mr Nore has been a member of the adult club since 1995. Both have worked as instructors in our classes for children and youth. You can click the smaller images to view larger ones. Please use the "back" button of your browser to return.

With minimum time-in-grade of ten years for a shodan (first degree), black belt gradings are quite rare. Rarer still is to have two participants grading at the same time. Gordon Nore, rear, and Tommy Cain, foreground, are the fourth and fifth students to be graded to black belt since the Foster brothers took over the club in 1990.

Gord locks Tom's wrist after taking him down from a punch. Tom is 'tapping out' to indicate that he is in pain.

Tom responds in kind with kote gaeshi, an outside turning wrist-bend.

At the conclusion of the three-hour grading, Tommy breaks four boards held by participants and examiners.

Mr Nore borrows from Thirty-One Movements kata to make his break.

Back row: Coloured-belt participants from left to right Bill, Tucker Axton-Nore, Scott Anderson, Wendi Sparrow & Leslie Jamieson. Middle row: Examiners Neil Mathews, Max White, John Foster, Tony Foster, Mike Stephenson & Richard Llanera. Front row: Gordon Nore & Tommy Cain.

Photos on this page courtesy of Gordon W.E. Nore © 1999 - 2007