Each year a special day is set aside. Once annually we hold a testing for Black Belts. All active Black Belts are required to perform basic skills honoring their rank including breaking, sparring, self defense. Black Belts at large are encouraged to attend if not to perform at least to participate in the banquet celebration that evening. 
"The  performances were stunning, I could not be more proud to find myself in the company of these people" M.Witt

Saturday May 28^th was a day of many firsts for Langley’s Pacific Coast Taekwondo & Hapkido school. School founder and President of the BC Taekwondo association, 6^th Degree Master Daniel Witt, hosts an Annual Event for his many Black Belt graduates and aspiring candidates. Active members are required to attend and demonstrate general expertise. Candidates for rank advancement will demonstrate in great detail and find themselves challenged in random requests. Performances of skill and "indomitable spirit" are paramount, however comradery and mutual respect are the undeniable bonds in this arena. Students demonstrate precision skills in full contact sparring, multiple attackers, forms, breaking 1 inch thick pine boards and 2 inch thick concrete blocks, demonstrate close quarter self defense and weapons skills. Bumps, bruises, blood, sweat and sometimes tear drops are set aside as these outstanding individuals get the job done. At days end a banquet is held where Black Belts new and old swap stories and rekindle long friendships. New candidates sit with the Master’s and are treated to dinner as guest’s of honor.

At 17 years, Pacific Coast has passed thousands of students through it’s doors and generated many black belts who receive international certifications, registered at the Kukkiwon building in Seoul, Korea. Kukkiwon certification is the only Taekwondo style recognized at the Olympic level. Students graduating from our school are proficient in Taekwondo and Hapkido. It takes about 4 years to go from beginner to black belt in our club.

Noteworthy: * Our newest Master.... is Master Witt’s son, James... tested for his 4^th Dan this year, now recognized as a ‘Master’. Quite a feat for a person born with Asperger’s syndrome, who spent a year in a half body cast and another 6 months wearing a ‘Scottish wright brace’. Master James Witt started at age five, twenty-one years ago. He trains daily and is a full time instructor in our school.

* Grandmaster Suggs presented  Master Henk Boese with his 6th Dan Certificate. Master Boese traveled all the way from  Eau Claire, Wisconsin to be with us. After flying to Portland, Master Boese drove up with Grandmaster Suggs to our studio.
* Master Michael Smith drove in from Westbank, a 5 hour drive from BC's interior . Unfortunately he had car trouble on the way home and spent an extra day in Hope while his truck was repaired. I truly appreciate the efforts made by these men in gracing our annual event.

Graduates 2005

5^th Dan ~ Master Christopher Halliwell (2nd V.Pres., BC Taekwondo Association)
5^thDan ~ Master Darryl Mitchell (Secretary, BC Taekwondo Association)
4^th Dan ~ Master James Witt
3^rd Dan ~ James Chamberlain, Instructor
3^rd Dan ~ Thomas Membury, Instructor
3^rd Dan ~ Adam McLean, Instructor
2^nd Poom ~ Taylor Meyer
1^st Dan ~ Stavros Darvoudis
1^st Poom ~ Kirsty Davis, Assistant Instructor
1^st Poom ~ Victor Hsu
1^st Poom ~ Jeremy Wall, Tutor
1^st Poom ~ Matthew Logan, Tutor

* Dan ~ Black Belt 15 or older, Poom ~ Jr. Black Belt, under 15 years

Performing
2^nd Dan ~ Scott Robertson, Instructor
2^nd Dan ~ Amanda Ruf, Instructor
2^nd Dan ~ Matt Briscoe
2^nd Dan ~ David Pollon
2^nd Dan ~ Stuart Guiel
2^nd Dan ~ Marc Scelsa
1^st Dan ~ Morgan Hall
1^st Dan ~  Ian Beeching, Assistant Instructor
1^St Dan ~ Paul Lair
1^st Poom ~ Alexander Meyer
1^st Poom ~ Brandon Mollica

Guest Masters:
8^th Dan ~ GrandMaster Ronald R. Suggs (Taekwondo, Hapkido, Judo)
6^th Dan ~ Master Henk Boese ~ Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA
4^th Dan ~ Master Michael Smith ~ Westbank, BC (Kelowna) (Secretary & 1st V.Pres., BC Taekwondo Association
* GrandMaster Ronald Suggs is Master D. Witt’s instructor

* Group pictures, viewers L-R
Masters: Master Boese, Master Christopher Halliwell, Master Darryl Mitchell, Master James Witt, GrandMaster Ronald R. Suggs, GrandMaster Daniel Witt, Master Michael Smith.
New Black Belts: Jeremy Wall, Matthew Logan, Stavros Darvoudis, Victor Hsu, Kirsty Davis
All: GM Witt, GM Suggs, Morgan Hall, Master Witt, Matthew Logan, Master Mitchell, Paul Lair, (frt)Alexander Meyer, Matt Briscoe, Thomas Membury, (frt)Jeremy Wall, Scott Roberston, Adam McLean, (frt)Brandon Mollica, Dave Pollon, Karyn Stogryn, Stavros Darvoudis, Victor Hsu, Kirsty Davis, Stuart Guiel, Taylor Meyer, Amanda Ruf, Master Smith, James Chamberlain, Master Henk Boese, Master Christopher Halliwell.