6th Junior Black sash awarded

November 3rd 2007 , Dublin member, Hugh Noonan, after 10 years of training became just the 6th person to graduate from the Junior Black sash program at YMAA Ireland.

Hugh began his training at the tender age of 8 years of age back when the school was still under the guidance of Sifu's Carol Stephenson, Enda Carty and Stephen Walsh. Hugh began his training under the old Junior program which covered a broad range of skill sets under the Pai Lum Kung Fu system, a highly practical fighting style, emphasising realistic self defence and full contact Kung Fu sparring. As a young teenager, Hugh began to train in the Adult and teens Shaolin Kung Fu classes which by this time was fully immersed in the YMAA International program. Hugh worked extremely hard to successfully test for 5 grades during the last 5 years, cumulating in the successful completion of the Shaolin level 2 program when he tested for Master Yang in March of 2007.

On completion of his Shaolin level 2 he was awarded his Black Tip and began to focus on the next test at hand. He had 8 months to prepare himself for the Black sash grading but first had a little matter of sitting his leaving certificate exams in June. He maintained a high level of training while at the same time applying himself to his studies, which earned him a place in IADT studying "Video and TV Production".

Once the exams were over he was back in the gym constantly and joined a group of students from YMAA Dublin for some intense training with top YMAA Shaolin Instructors in Portugal in July. Weekly he attended 4 Shaolin classes, the occasional Tai chi class (to work on his fighting forms), weapons and sparring classes. This stood to him well on the big day of his test.

Saturday the 3rd of November was the 2nd and hardest stage of the Black sash testing. The first being an impressive Kung Fu (consisting of class of Senior students) led by Hugh. Hugh arrived on the final day for an hours warm-up and preparation with David Mc Donagh (who previously completed his black sash grading with Sean Kingston and Chris Byrne in December of 2005) before the testing began. At 2pm the testing began intensely with Paul Moran (YMAA Dublin Director), Damian Fox (YMAA Coach Instructor) and Enda Carty (Senior Black Sash) making up the testing Committee.

For two and a half hours Hugh proved himself more than adequate in demonstrating all the requirements from the Junior Black sash to the satisfaction of the committee and impressing during the last half an hour with 8 rounds of sparring and acquitting himself very well against spontaneous attacks to show his ability to defend himself against punches, kicks and grappling techniques. He becomes just the 6th person to reach the final stage of the Junior Black sash program in the 24 year history of the school, and can be sure that the Black sash he wears represents a mark of high quality and one thoroughly deserved.