Nathan set to become youngest black belt

Oct 8 2008 by Our Correspondent, Birkenhead News

SEVEN-year-old Nathan Saunders is set to become one of the youngest black belts in the UK.

The Taekwondo Association of Great Britain student is due to take his black belt in the Korean martial art on October 17.

At that time, the Brookhurst Primary School student will be seven-years-and-five-months-old and will perform his moves at the Bristol Headquarters in front of five 7th Degree Taekwondo Masters.

Nathan, from Bromborough started training in taekwondo when he was just three-years-old under the tuition of his dad, Wirral and Chester senior taekwondo instructor, Richard Saunders.

Richard, who is a 5th Dan, said “It’s going to be a great achievement if Nathan passes and the TAGB are checking to see if he will be their youngest-ever black belt.”

For his black belt, Nathan will have to perform set forms, or patterns, which consist of more than 97 various techniques. He will also have to do free-sparring and self-defence along with a verbal exam.

Anyone wishing to know more about taekwondo or a club near you can contact Richard on 512 6521.