The Graduation for 2010 will take place on Friday December 10^th.

 

After teaching for some years, Si-Fu Julian Hitch wanted to find an appropriate way of giving the students who had made outstanding improvements recognition, whilst at the same time bringing together all the families of the students. It was through this that the idea of the Graduation was conceived, with the first Graduation taking place in 2003. Since then, the concept has constantly evolved, each year becoming more professional and each ceremony showing more about the spirit of the ancient Chinese art, the spirit of the schools and the students that represent it. Every year a substantial amount of time, energy and preparation goes into the Graduation. All the rooms are specially decorated with traditional hangings, paintings and pictures about Chinese Wing Tsun. Drinks and food are prepared for all the guests. Numerous meetings of the teachers, assistants and other helpers take place to allow this to happen. Indeed, it is historically the topic of the first meeting of the teachers at the beginning of the year.

 

The ceremony itself takes the form of speeches about Wing Tsun, a series of live demonstrations, presentation of certificates from the recent grading and awards. The awards are one of the most prestigious parts of the ceremony, only given to a selected few students who have both excelled physically and made outstanding contributions to the school. The recipients of these awards are only made known at the ceremony itself.

The Graduation is a time where students can, and are indeed strongly encouraged to, bring their families and friends. It not only allows the guests to see what each student has achieved over the course of the year but also to have a better idea of what Chinese Wing Tsun actually is. This school is also able to have closer contact with its surrounding community. The Graduation enables students to get to know one another better, particularly those from different schools or who train only on a specific days. Former students are also very welcome at this event – for them it is a time to catch up with old colleagues and see how the schools have developed.

 

Grades achieved in the final exam session of the year are presented at the Graduation. Exams for the highest levels in Wing Tsun (the Technician Grades - equivalent to 1^st Dan and above) only take place once a year, in November. Only a few students pass these exams each year and it is at the Graduation that these are presented.

 

A brochure detailing the event will be sent out (and given out in the classes) to every student near to the event. These contain more information on the Graduation, along with the exact location and times. It has been specifically arranged to take place in the evening, to ensure that every student has sufficient time to come after work with the minimum amount of disruption to daily life.

 

Tickets will be checked on the door and each person attending needs to purchase a ticket. Children under the age of 5 are free. As there is a lot of preparation involved, which also depends on the number of people who will be attending, students need to let the school know how many tickets they require by the first week of December at the latest. Tickets can be purchased in class or the over the phone (reservations can made by email).

 

The dress code for the event is smart (detailed on the brochure). Only those taking part in the demonstrations will be wearing normal class uniform.

 

Photographs from recent Graduations can be seen in the Gallery. For more information and details (along with details of previous Graduations) please visit the relevant entries on Si-Fu’s Blog.

 

The Graduation is a time where students can, and are indeed strongly encouraged to, bring their families and friends. It not only allows the guests to see what each student has achieved over the course of the year but also to have a better idea of what Chinese Wing Tsun actually is. This school is also able to have closer contact with its surrounding community. The Graduation enables students to get to know one another better, particularly those from different schools or who train only on a specific days. Former students are also very welcome at this event – for them it is a time to catch up with old colleagues and see how the schools have developed.

 

Grades achieved in the final exam session of the year are presented at the Graduation. Exams for the highest levels in Wing Tsun (the Technician Grades - equivalent to 1^st Dan and above) only take place once a year, in November. Only a few students pass these exams each year and it is at the Graduation that these are presented.

 

A brochure detailing the event will be sent out (and given out in the classes) to every student near to the event. These contain more information on the Graduation, along with the exact location and times. It has been specifically arranged to take place in the evening, to ensure that every student has sufficient time to come after work with the minimum amount of disruption to daily life.

 

Tickets will be checked on the door and each person attending needs to purchase a ticket. Children under the age of 5 are free. As there is a lot of preparation involved, which also depends on the number of people who will be attending, students need to let the school know how many tickets they require by the first week of December at the latest. Tickets can be purchased in class or the over the phone (reservations can made by email).

 

The dress code for the event is smart (detailed on the brochure). Only those taking part in the demonstrations will be wearing normal class uniform.

 

Photographs from recent Graduations can be seen in the Gallery. For more information and details (along with details of previous Graduations) please visit the relevant entries on Si-Fu’s Blog.