Barrett waited six years to be eligible to grade to his Seventh Dan and the technically complex grading involved demonstrating his knowledge in poomsae (patterns) performance, sparring (fighting), Korean terminology and self- defence (both unarmed and against a knife).

It was a great honour for Barrett to receive his grading off Grand Master Cho, who had been his Grand Master Instructor since he began taekwondo.

Cho started taekwondo back in 1950 in Korea and has been a pioneer for the martial art in Australia ever since, and he now resides in Victoria.

At the end of the grading, when Cho told Barrett he had passed, it was a relief to see all the hard work and preparation had been rewarded.

This makes Barrett one of only 100 Seventh Dans in Australia recognised by Kukkiwon (World Organisation) and one of the youngest in the country.

Barrett was assisted by club black belt Tanu Sudnit who gave up his time to travel to Canberra to assist Master Barrett with his grading by partnering him for some of the components of the grading.

This was Barrett's last grading in Australia as he will now have to travel to the Kukkiwon Headquarters in Korea to do his Eighth Dan grading in eight years' time.

This caps off what has been an already busy year for Master Barrett and his wife, Vivienne Barrett, as the pair were invited by the Taekwondo Union of New Zealand (TUNZ) Organisation to attend their Annual Instructors Camp which aims to provide an opportunity to its many instructors from around the country to update themselves in all things related to the martial art.

At the camp, Barrett facilitated a training session for the attendees which covered aspects such as how to train for specific poomsae techniques as well as strength and conditioning tips.

Barrett was also voted back in this year as the National Poomsae Officiating Committee Chairperson by Australian Taekwondo which the National organisation for taekwondo in this country.

In July, he will head to the Gold Coast to attend an International Referee Refresher Course for poomsae run by the World Taekwondo organisation.

Barrett and his wife are currently preparing their students for their upcoming grading in May, which will include members from both the Yass and Binalong clubs.

If anyone is interested in try taekwondo they can contact Craig Barrett on 0407 640 361 or check out the website sipjintaekwondo.com, where you can find times for classes in both Yass and Binalong.