On the 8th of May 2004, Cheshunt Karate Club held it's first black belt grading since forming in January 1999. The hopeful candidate was a guy called Les Boughey. Les has been a member of the club since 1999 and trains twice a week along with the rest of the club at the Cheshunt and Goffs Oak Dojo's. The grading was held at the Goffs Oak Dojo under a panel of 5 of the clubs senior grades of 3rd Dan and above, with Les performing his Kata’s (formal exercise), Kata's of the panels choice and his oral examination. The 2-hour grading started with Les performing all the basic karate moves required for his grade at full speed and in various combinations. The next part of the grading consisted of blocking and counter attacks with a partner in basic form, semi free style and full free style fighting against black belt opponents. This concluded the grading. Sensei Pell said afterwards “Shodan is a very physically demanding grading, Les performed exceptionally well. The test was of his stamina and fitness levels as well as his technical ability.” Les, an ex professional footballer who played for the brilliant Tottenham Hotspur, and who has been training regularly for almost 5 years, commented “it was the hardest physical activity I’ve ever had to, but I did enjoy it and I just want to carry on training and working towards Nidan”.