Class of 2025

A huge congratulations to Umar Shaikh, Tamim Abdin, Umar Zaman, Saira Uddin, Zaeemah Khan, Musa Ahsan, Musa Manik, and Mustafa Abidin for achieving their black belts — a milestone that reflects years of dedication, discipline, and hard work. This is not just a belt; it’s a symbol of perseverance, resilience, and personal growth.

With this achievement, they proudly join the Class of 2025. Welcome to the legacy!

This year, we had eight students pass their black belt grading — a truly phenomenal achievement and a class of its own!

On Saturday, 22nd November 2025, we held our Silverback Black Belt Ceremony to honour the prestigious ‘Class of 2025‘.

Student Testimonials

Saira Uddin

Managing schoolwork while attending lessons to catch up and prepare for grading was the most challenging part for me, but I overcame it by sticking to a strict timetable. As a martial artist, I know this is just the beginning—but as an individual, it’s shown me that with perseverance, I can achieve anything I set my mind to. Training has helped me improve my stamina, reaction force, and strength, while also testing my physical and mental limits. After ages of hard work, I’m finally grading for my black belt. I’ve learned that starting with the basics is crucial—they form the foundation of Taekwondo and help reduce simple mistakes. I also remind myself never to underestimate the importance of line work and kicking drills.

Musa Manik

The most challenging part of my Taekwondo journey was overcoming my fear of being hit during sparring, but through consistent practice in my spare time, I was able to conquer that fear and grow more confident. Earning my black belt means a lot to me—it represents not only my progress as a martial artist but also the respect and self-control I’ve gained as an individual. Taekwondo has influenced many areas of my life outside the dojang as well, making me more disciplined, motivated, and productive. One of the most memorable moments from my training was when I received my trophy at an awards ceremony hosted by Silverback—it reminded me how far I’ve come. To anyone just starting their Taekwondo journey, especially those working toward their black belt, my advice is to make dua, have faith in Allaah, and take precautions. If you’re older, work even harder, because the examiners will assess you more precisely.

Umar Shaikh

Back when I was only a green or blue belt, I started to hate going to taekwondo as my body would ache after every session and it was strict. But through perseverance, I learned to use that as a way to grow as I became stronger and better, so it pushed me to become better. As a martial artist, this is just the beginning, as I still have to get all 9 dans. But as an individual, this is a huge milestone—one that I can celebrate not only as a child now but as an adult in the future, especially for jobs. Taekwondo taught me determination, as I wouldn’t give up on hard tasks so easily. If you’re a beginner and you find it difficult in class and want to give up, don’t—it will only make you weaker, and you won’t grow like that. True growth is through the hard times, like when you’re getting beaten up in sparring.

Zaeemah Khan

When I first started Taekwondo, I was bursting with excitement. I couldn’t wait for every lesson—the sound of the kicks, the energy in the room, the thrill of learning something new. In the beginning, everything felt simple. The techniques came easily, and I thought I had it all figured out.
But as time went on, the challenges grew tougher. The moves became harder, and no matter how many times I tried, I couldn’t always get them right. I started to feel frustrated, even defeated. For a while, I wondered if I was really good enough to keep going.
Then I reminded myself why I started—because I loved Taekwondo. So I pushed through. I trained harder. I showed up even when it was tough. And slowly, the things that once felt impossible became part of me.
After years of hard work, I finally earned my black belt. But that wasn’t the end—it was the beginning of something greater. Taekwondo taught me discipline, resilience, and passion. It showed me that progress isn’t about being perfect; it’s about never giving up, no matter how hard it gets.
To anyone still on their Taekwondo journey: keep going. You might stumble, you might feel afraid, but those moments don’t define you—your perseverance does. Once you overcome your doubts, you’ll discover a confidence that no one can take away.
So tie your belt, take a deep breath, and step back onto the mat. Every challenge you face is shaping a stronger version of you.

Umar Zaman

The most challenging part of my taekwondo journey was staying committed and not giving up when things got hard. I overcame this by setting a vision and setting clear goals. As a black belt, I feel valued in martial arts; as an individual, I feel like I can defend myself, and I feel proud. I feel proud telling my friends and family that I’m a black belt in taekwondo, and I feel respected as well. A memorable moment for me would be seeing the taekwondo community come together and train as one, such as during seminars. As a beginner, I would advise staying committed and motivated no matter what, and asking as many questions as you can about anything you’re unsure of.

Mustafa Abidin

My name is Mustafa, I am 12 years old, and I am proud to say that I am a first-degree black belt in Taekwondo. My journey began when I was just six years old. Back then, I had no idea how much hard work, discipline, and perseverance it would take to reach this point. As I trained and moved up through the ranks, there were many moments when I wanted to quit. Sometimes I was so tired or frustrated that I begged my parents to let me stop. But over time, I realized that Taekwondo wasn’t just about kicks and forms—it was about building strength, confidence, and determination. When I learned to enjoy the process and saw how much I was improving, I made it my goal to earn my black belt. It wasn’t easy—there were challenges, tests, and a lot of sweat—but with the support of my fellow athletes and my instructors, I kept going.

I want to give special thanks to my instructors, who pushed me, tested me, and even shouted at me when I needed it—because they believed in what I could become. Thanks to them, I achieved something I once thought was impossible. Taekwondo has also helped me outside the dojang. The discipline I’ve learned has made me more focused at school, more respectful at home, and more confident in everything I do. I’ve learned to set goals, stay patient, and never give up—even when things get tough. Taekwondo has taught me discipline, respect, and perseverance. But more than that, it has given me a community—a group of friends and mentors who support each other every step of the way. I know this is just the beginning of my journey, and I’m excited to keep growing as both a martial artist and a person.

Musa Ahsan

The most challenging part of my taekwondo was coming to every lesson consistently. Some days I could not be bothered, but I still pushed through and came to class. For me, earning my black belt signifies my hard work and dedication in taekwondo, but becoming black belt is not the end — it is just the real beginning. Becoming a black belt has embedded the five tenets of taekwondo into my heart: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-Control, and Indomitable Spirit. These qualities are not just for taekwondo; in fact, they are valuable qualities in life as a whole. Taekwondo has taught me how to be a better person in my day-to-day life. It teaches me to “respect my instructors and seniors,” which is part of the oath. This really means not only respecting those who are older or more knowledgeable than you, but also being respectful to those younger than you. It teaches me to have confidence in myself no matter what other people think. This confidence helps me do better academically by silently encouraging me to engage in class discussions and put my views across. It quietly pushes me out of the crowd and helps me stand out for the right reasons. It teaches me not to be lazy and that if you put the work in, you will succeed. The most memorable moment for me was when I was a white belt. It was my first ever grading, and becoming a black belt was just a dream in my little 6-year-old brain. The examiner (Grand Master Dennis) asked me, “What is your instructor’s name?” At the time I did not know; I only knew him as “Sir,” so that is what I said. My instructor stood there and burst out laughing, and even Grand Master Dennis chuckled slightly. Only later down the line did I find out that his name was Mr. Uddin. To those just starting their taekwondo journey, I encourage you with all of my heart to keep going. Even when you are tired or you cannot be bothered to go to class, just make that effort, and I promise you that if you train hard and are willing to put in the time and dedication, your results will speak for you. Taekwondo is not just about fighting — it is an art that has many layers to it. It slowly develops you not just physically but also builds your character as a good human being. If I had to say one thing: KEEP GOING. I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!

Tamim Abdin

The most challenging part of my Taekwondo journey came after COVID. I felt tired, unmotivated, and even started forgetting my patterns. My classmates overtook me, and it was disheartening to watch everyone progress while I fell behind. Instead of quitting, I used it as motivation to work harder and stay consistent. That experience taught me resilience and reminded me why I began Taekwondo in the first place. Earning my black belt means a great deal to me. It represents the progress I’ve made as a martial artist and the dedication I’ve put into my training. On a personal level, it symbolises perseverance, commitment, and the ability to push through difficult moments. It’s a milestone that shows how much I’ve grown over the years. Taekwondo has influenced my life outside the dojang as well. It has made me more health-conscious and encouraged me to stay fit. I’ve built better habits, such as going to the gym regularly and looking after my overall wellbeing. The discipline I’ve learned in training carries into other areas of my life too.

One memorable moment that stands out is winning a gold medal at a national LTSI competition. It was a proud achievement that made all the hard work feel worthwhile and gave me a huge boost in confidence.

If I were to give advice to someone just starting their Taekwondo journey, especially if they’re aiming for their black belt, I’d say: don’t give up and don’t slack off. Consistency is everything. Missing three weeks of training can set you back a whole month, and it makes things so much harder. Keep turning up, keep practising, and stay patient. Progress comes with time, effort, and commitment.

Class of 2025

Student Testimonials

Saira Uddin

Musa Manik

Umar Shaikh

Zaeemah Khan

Umar Zaman

Mustafa Abidin

Musa Ahsan

Tamim Abdin

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