Tetsudo

Tetsudo is martial art of Tibetan origin, incorporating a blend of combat skills and artistic movement based on the teachings of Maha Ustad Tetsura. The art form is chiefly practised in the United Kingdom and governed by the Tetsudo Association. The Association is headed by Guru B.S. Dhaliwal, sole student of Tetsura.
Tetsudo focuses on improving fitness, flexibility, strength, confidence and self-control. Particular attention is given to basic techniques such as punches, kicks, blocks and turns which contribute to the development of freestyle. A number of kedh (a form of kata) of varying complexity form much of Tetsudo's artistic substance.
History
The concepts on which Tetsudo is based were developed by Maha Ustad Tetsura throughout his lifetime, studying numerous martial arts and physical activities. He identified common threads across a number of these activities, three of which were deemed to be especially significant. These threads - the physical, emotional and intellectual dimensions - are represented by the three characters which form the Association's logo.
In 1960, Tetsura met 9 year old Balbinder Singh Dhaliwal in a Library in Wolverhampton. Noticing that he was reading a book on the Martial Arts, Tetsura questioned the boy about his interest in the subject, and invited Dhaliwal to become his student.
When Tetsura died in 1966, Dhaliwal had been his sole student and carried his ideas forward as the art of Goyararu. However, in 1994, after a disagreement between senior instructors in the artform, Dhaliwal refounded the art as Tetsudo - The Way of Tetsura.
Grades
Early in the history of the artform, with persuasion from his students, Guru Dhaliwal introduced a Grading system of coloured belts, similar to most modern Martial Arts. Grades can be achieved at special Grading Sessions, held regionally at junior level, and nationally in Loughborough for Senior grades. There are usually 2 or 3 gradings a year that students may attend if they feel ready to progress.
Ungraded students are referred to as White Belts, and may choose to wear a white belt if they feel the need. The first Junior Grade is the Yellow Belt, though under 16's may take a Yellow-Tag grade if they feel unable to complete the full Yellow Belt grade. The second (and last) junior grade is the Green Belt, and again, younger members may take a Green-Tag as a stepping-stone to the Green Belt grade.
The next grade, the first Senior Grade of the artform, is the Blue Belt. This stage of a students development is important because it allows the student to participate in practices such as Competitive Freestyle, and students are also encouraged to spend more time on personal training. Following Blue Belt is Purple Belt, and in turn this is followed by the Brown Belt. The last of the Senior Grades is the Senior Brown Belt. When a student passes this Grade, they are awarded with black tags, symbolising that they are only one step away from Black Belt.<ref name="Principles"/>

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