Twenty-eight Ely students from The Mark Farnham Schools of Tae Kwon-Do have smashed their colour belt grading examinations and passed with flying colours.

At the grading on Sunday, July 23, 110 students from schools across the region attended three grading on the same day at Providence Street Youth Centre, Kings Lynn.

The students achieved a 100 per cent pass rate, meaning more than 15,500 students have passed their colour belt gradings in the last 35 years since the school was established in 1987.

Ely Standard: Students from the Ely adult beginners celebrated their new gradings.Students from the Ely adult beginners celebrated their new gradings. (Image: Mark Farnham Schools of Tae Kwon-Do)

Master Mark Farnham said: "This was a monumental day for the schools as it was the last function to be held at the Community Centre at Providence Street after more than 35 years of classes and gradings.

"The school now moves to the Discovery Centre, Columbia Way, to start a new chapter.

"A very well done to all of those students who took part in the latest gradings."

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The students were examined by Grandmaster David Oliver, 9th Dan, and everyone passed with good grades.

Ely Standard: Around 110 students from different Mark Farnham Schools of Tae Kwon-Do from across the region completed their gradings.Around 110 students from different Mark Farnham Schools of Tae Kwon-Do from across the region completed their gradings. (Image: Mark Farnham Schools of Tae Kwon-Do)

After the exams, students received their grades and belts at presentations held at their own Mark Farnham School of Tae Kwon-Do during the following week.

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What are gradings?

'Gradings' are conducted by 9th Dan Taekwondo Grand Masters from around the country, who each have over 45 years of taekwondo experience.

To take part in a grading, a student needs to have worked for an allotted time and be up to a good standard for the grade they are taking.

Ely Standard: Ely students with their pass certificates from the Mark Farnham Schools of Tae Kwon-DoEly students with their pass certificates from the Mark Farnham Schools of Tae Kwon-Do (Image: Mark Farnham Schools of Tae Kwon-Do)

Students all start at white belt and work through yellow, green, blue and red belt grades until they are ready to aim for their Black Belts, which they take in front of a panel of five, 9th Dan Grandmaster Examiners.

Getting to this stage will take a minimum of three and a half years, but four years is more common, depending on how well a student progresses.