Lorena Promoted to 5th Dan Master

On Sunday 7th December, a Dan Grading event took place in Coventry, UK, where we are incredibly proud to announce that our club coach, Lorena Garcia successfully graded and was promoted to 5th Dan Master, marking a major milestone in her lifelong Taekwondo journey.

Lorena has been practising Taekwondo for as long as she can remember. She is an integral part of Gibraltar Taekwondo and has become very much the face of the club’s growth and development over the years. Her passion, dedication, and leadership continue to inspire students and instructors alike.

The grading panel consisted of Grand Master Neil Guest (8th Dan), Master Stavros (7th Dan), and Master Sediqi (7th Dan), whose expertise ensured a challenging and comprehensive assessment. Lorena travelled to the event with Master Edward Garcia (7th Dan), who is also Lorena’s father, and her partner, who flew over especially to support the grading.

During the examination, Master Edward partnered with Lorena for the self defence section, which featured knife defence, baton defence, seated defence, and several other components. Their sharp execution, varied techniques, and overall technical precision stood out as a highlight of the day.

The event also provided a great opportunity to meet other coaches and Taekwondo enthusiasts, allowing us to extend our network and strengthen connections within the wider martial arts community.

Lorena would like to give a heartfelt thank you to club coach Megan Ruiz (2nd Dan) and Master Edward, for their support in helping her prepare for this achievement. Their encouragement and commitment played a vital role in her success.

We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Grand Master Neil Guest and Louise for their wonderful hospitality throughout the trip.

Finally, we wish to congratulate everyone else who successfully graded on the day.

Please join us in congratulating Master Lorena on attaining her 5th Dan. A truly well-deserved accomplishment and a proud moment for our entire club.