Urban Combat Woodbridge Celebrates Two New Black Belts: Marc Osborne & Adam Deelawar Achieve 1st Dan Karate Grading

Urban Combat Martial Arts Academy, Woodbridge | 2nd August 2026

Urban Combat Woodbridge is proud to announce that Marc Osborne and Adam Deelawar have both successfully achieved their 1st Dan black belt in karate, graded on 2nd August 2026 by 10th Dan Master Mick Blackwell, one of the most respected grading examiners in UK martial arts.

A Landmark Achievement for Two Dedicated Students

Earning a 1st Dan black belt is one of the most significant milestones in any martial artist's journey. It represents years of consistent training, discipline, resilience and personal growth — not just technical mastery of karate.

For Marc Osborne and Adam Deelawar, this grading marks the culmination of that journey and the beginning of a new chapter as black belts within the Urban Combat community.

Both students trained under the Urban Combat Woodbridge program, part of the wider Urban Combat Martial Arts Academy network spanning Essex and Suffolk, including Ipswich, Colchester, Stowmarket and Leiston. Their grading was conducted to the exacting standards set by Master Mick Blackwell, a 10th Dan black belt and senior examiner whose lineage traces back through decades of martial arts excellence in the region.

Who Is Master Mick Blackwell?

Master Mick Blackwell holds a 10th Dan black belt, one of the highest grades achievable in martial arts and is widely regarded as a cornerstone figure in Suffolk and Essex martial arts heritage. As grading examiner, Master Blackwell personally assessed Marc and Adam's technical ability, sparring, kata, discipline and overall readiness to carry the title of black belt — ensuring their 1st Dan grading reflects genuine, tested competence.

What This Grading Means

A 1st Dan black belt is not an ending — it's a foundation.

Marc and Adam now step into a new phase of their martial arts journey, one focused on refining technique, developing leadership within the dojo and eventually mentoring the next generation of students coming through Urban Combat Woodbridge.

Their achievement reflects the core values instilled at every Urban Combat school:

• Discipline — showing up, training consistently, and committing to the process
• Respect — for instructors, training partners, and the traditions of karate
• Perseverance — pushing through plateaus and setbacks on the road to black belt
• Community — training as part of a supportive, encouraging Urban Combat family
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Congratulations, Marc and Adam!

On behalf of everyone at Urban Combat Martial Arts Academy Woodbridge and the wider Owen Martial Arts network, huge congratulations to Marc Osborne and Adam Deelawar on achieving their 1st Dan black belts. This is a proud moment for our Woodbridge dojo and a proud moment for karate in Suffolk.

If you're inspired by Marc and Adam's journey and want to start your own path toward a black belt, Urban Combat Woodbridge welcomes students of all ages and experience levels. Get in touch to book your first class today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who graded Marc Osborne and Adam Deelawar for their 1st Dan black belts? They were graded by Master Mick Blackwell, a 10th Dan black belt, on 2nd August 2026.

Where did Marc Osborne and Adam Deelawar train? Both trained at Urban Combat Martial Arts Academy in Woodbridge, part of the Urban Combat network of schools across Essex and Suffolk.

What does a 1st Dan black belt in karate represent? It's the first black belt rank in karate, awarded after demonstrating technical proficiency, sparring ability and discipline through a formal grading examination — typically the result of several years of consistent training.

Where can I train karate in Woodbridge? Urban Combat Martial Arts Academy Woodbridge offers karate and martial arts classes for all ages and skill levels.