Tuam Karate 2010

As a New Year approaches it seems appropriate to revisit that 1st class by Faolchú back in January 2010. It's hard to believe that it was only 2 years ago that our Little Wolves classes began which has steadly grown to the successful club we are today. We have fantastic students and who are continuously going from strength to strength. We look forward to seeing everyone pursue and achieve their own personal goals in 2012 and will be there to help and support along the way.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

We would like to wish all our students their families and our friends a very Merry Christmas.

Goodbye Caitlin

Best of luck to Caitlin Wigley and her family. The Wigley family are emigrating to San Diego and we may all be a little jealous of a life with sunshine but we still hope they all prosper and Caitlin finds herself a new karate club. And of course wears her Faolchú hoodie proudly!

Tuam Karate Club Christmas Draw

Congratulations to our draw winners,
Cadbury Hamper: Mark Fahy
Toy Shop Voucher: Paul Mc Hugh
Correlea Court Meal Voucher: Rebecca Kelly
Case of beer: Tom Forde
Tin of Sweets: Madeline Warde
Tin of Sweets: Gary Beatty.
Thank you to everyone who supported our draw.

Karate Santa

All Karate students in Tuam please be ready as I have been told that Karate Santa will be visiting the last training sessions of the year this week!!!

I caught up with him training in the Dojo ant took this photo.

So be on your best behavior and show your best karate.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS

Dear Faolchú Students and parents,
Thank you very much for all your support during 2011. The club has went from strength to strength and we have had the great pleasure watching students advance personally, mentally and emotionally from week to week through classes, competitions, seminars, charity events and gradings.
Our final class before the Christmas holidays is Thursday the 22nd of December, Tuesday the 13th of December for the combat class.
All classes will resume from the 10th of January 2012.
We are looking forward to the New Year and have lots of plans and aspirations going forward.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM MARIE & MALCOLM

JKS Ireland Squad Training 2012

Confirmed dates for all JKS members National Squad training are:

Jan 22nd Hombu Dojo, Dublin

Feb 26th Hombu Dojo, Dublin

Mar 25th Abbeyfeele, Limerick

Apr 22nd, Hombu Dojo, Dublin

May 27th Kiltimagh, Mayo

Jun 24th Hombu Dojo, Dublin

Jul 22nd Moate, Athlone

Sep 23rd Hombu Dojo, Dublin

Oct 28th Hombu Dojo, Dublin

Nov 25th Hombu Dojo, Dublin

Combat Students Grade at MVF

Well done to Jayden Murphy, Ciarán Fleming and Daragh Glynn on their recent grading under Master Harry Thompson last Saturday in Ballina. All boys successfully graded and had a challenging grading session and training.
Many thanks to Moy Valley Free Style for hosting a great day.

November Student of the Month

Well done to our Student of the Month winners from Tuesday and Wednesday classes Shauna Flynn, Clara Mullar and Anna Joyce. Out standing work from the girls as always, Osu.

TUAM KARATE GRADING

A fantastic day was had by Faolchú students on Saturday, where Sensei Scott Langley 5th Dan JKS came down to test Karateka for their next belts, accompanied by his guest Sensei John Shanaghan 5th Dan JKS.
60 Faolchú students graded on the day, which is a huge amount from one club.

20 students from the Little Wolves where first up, these students range in age from 4 to 7 years old and are tested on basic kihon and kumite, with some more advanced performing Heian Shodan. As always the little guys brought their best and it is very rewarding to watch between gradings the personal advances that the children individually make. All children passed their belts and progressed forward.

Senior students classes followed with 40 students grading plus other guests training. Thanks to Marty travelling from Donegal and JKS Mayo students coming to train also.

As always training was challenging and left us trying to better master our art with lots to work on.

The grading was conducted by both Sensei Scott and Sensei John and was a strict grading as usual, with JKS standards being enforced. Thankfully all students advanced in belts and now have the challenge of the next belts to meet.

Although if we are to stay true to form I'm sure Faolchú will continue going from strength to strenght.

Many thanks to our grading instructors and most importantly all Faolchú students because with each and every student we couldn't be the successful club we are.

November Student of the Month

Well done to Little Wolves Student of the Month brother and sister Gabriele and Lucas Kiaulalyte.

And Senior Childrens' class students Noah Breannan and Róisín Brogan. They are all excellent karateka and achieving consistently well.

GRADING DAY

Tuam karate students are going to be active this weekend.

Best of luck to all grading on Saturday.

Remember to have a clean ironed dogi, no jewellery or watches and be on your best behavior.

You will all do great, I have great confidence that you are excellent karateka.

Moy Valley Competition

‎Mvf Martial Arts in Ballina are hosting a friendly competition on Sunday, Kicking off at 10am. There will be divisions for all age groups and events are kata, kumite and kick boxing. Please contact your Sensei or Mvf Martial Arts for details. Highly recommended.

Events List

I have updated the events list on the side bar. As more karate events and other events of interest to the club come in I will continue to add them.

October Student of the Month

Well done to student of the month winners.
Senior children Wednesday class Laura Daly and Rian Moloney.
Sorry that I've no photos, I was having camera issues.

Saturday training.

With just over two weeks until grading, we will have a pregrading class on Saturday. It is recommended for all who are grading to attend. Classes are in Total Fitness Solutions on Saturday the 12th of November.
1pm - 2pm Orange belt and below,
2pm - 3pm Red to Purple.
3pm to 4pm Adults.

Halloween Party

Tuam karate children where out to scare and challenge their wits on Sunday at our Faolchú Halloween party.
The costumes where fantastic, with some of the most impressive being the adults!
We played games and had a disco room and a sweets room with some revolting drinks of "vampires blood" and various other rotten things.
Best dressed went to Alyssa Fahy and Leo Krieser who had outstanding effort and character to their fancy dress.
The Gumdrop Sweet Company where in charge of the draw and winners of the t-shirts where Aodhan Mc Carthy, Leo Doherety, Ciarán Fleming, Dara Morrin, Samantha Murphy and one of the Buckley boys (I didn't get a 1st name).
Alana Doherty was the winner of the dogi.
Thanks very much to all who helped make it happen and everyone who came and participated.

Check out our facebook page for photos.

Friday Student of the Month

Tuam Karate Students Jayden Murphy and Míchéal Brogan were the winners of the Student of the Month awards tonight due to their continuous hard work.

Little Wolves Student of the Month

Well done to Seán Brandon and Maeve Mc Cormac on being our Tuesday Tuam Karate Students of the month. Seán Brandon is one of our first students and Maeve is new to us this year and both are exceptional.
We also had an award for Adam Comer, our youngest student for the best effort!

HALLOWEEN PARTY

For Halloween this year Faolchú are hosting a childrens party for all Tuam karate and Combat students and their families.
This is planned to be a fun party with childrens' disco, sweets room and Halloween games room. The party will be on in The Indigo Holistic Healing Centre at 3pm to 5pm on Sunday the 31st of October.
Please contact Marie for details on 087 2909194

Hokubu Dojo

Best Wishes to Dermott O Keeffe Sensei on the offical opening of his dojo today. We are sorry that we didn't get over to the east to celebrate with the Hokubu dojo.
We are very glad to see his dream become an offical dojo, this is a huge asset to JKS Ireland and JKS students.
Best Wishes and every success to all at Hokubu Dojo. Maybe someday we'll get to follow in your foot steps it's always the dream.
Now that Sensei O Keeffe has become a full time professional karate instructor it would be foolish to miss out on the opportunity to gain from his knowledge and experience. Sensei Dermott O Keeffe is the current World Karate 2011 Kata Champion. Therefore we will have him down on the west coast of Ireland with our sister club in Mayo on the 18th of December and host him in Tuam on the 29th of January and the 3rd of March.
These courses are essential in our karate progression and I would highly advise all students to attend.

JKS Autumn Championships

Tuam Karate Club Faolchú, travelled to Dublin to compete in the JKS Autumn Championships last Sunday.
JKS Irish Championships are of the most difficult to place and win in Ireland in my own experience but this did not deter our students and they where aware of the challenge ahead of them. Seven children from Tuam travelled along with Donegal Faolchú member Marty Boyle.
Several other countries and a large variety of clubs came on the day, making the event very large and competitive. All students progressed through several rounds, with Dean Rigney and Dylan Buckley making it into the 6th round on kata and Regan Warde making into the 5th round. This is a great achievement and in the majority of other Irish tournaments would see you win.
Kumite also proved a challenge, with Dean Rigney and Sarah Rigney loosing out to Black belts (one of whom is current world champions) and they didn't shy away either both fought their corner with determination and pride.
Jayden Murphy and Jadzia Murphy came within a whisker of 3rd place whenever they tied in their final round of gohan kumite but lost out by 2:1 on the judges decision.
Nathan Collins also barely missed out on the 3rd round of kata by the same judgement call.
Marty Boyle our only adult competing on the day, came 2nd in kumite and 3rd in kata, excellent result, well done.
We are exceptionally proud of all our competitors they really shone bright on the day and proved themselves honorable and very capable karateka. This was the first competition of this scale and at a national level for almost all of our Tuam Karate Students and they really did well.
A JKS medal has never been an easy achievement but one well worth earning.

CHARITY RESULT!!!!!

I am very pleased to say that all money has been returned from the Charity Kickathon and Charity Climbing of "The Reek".
We have an amazing total of €1663.
Handinhand West where given €1331 of the money raised and we have now started our squad fund with €332 that will be used to help out with students who want to compete.

JKS World Championships

Me with Sensei Masao Kagawa 8th Dan JKS Technical Director

Last month I travelled to the JKS World Championships in Edinburgh. The Irish Team consisted of 50+ members. We had an eventful competition managing to place 8th overall on the medal league table taking back 15 medals.

Unfortunately I was only able to compete in Kata as I sustained torn ligaments in my ankle and some bruised ribs while grading for my Nidan (2nd Dan) on the Friday. I was successful in my grading and I was very happy with my performance in Kata making it into the last 16 (semifinals).

Congratulations to all the team for a memorable trip and giving everything they had.

Thursday Juniors Student of the Month Awards

Well done to two of our new students Joshua Giblin and Max O Connell on receiving their awards.

Senior Students of the Month Awards

Senior Student of the Month Awards went to Dean Rigney on Friday and sisters Cathy and Sinéad Mullins on Wednesday.
Well done to all students the awards where well deserved.

Kickathon

Tuam karate students where really up and kicking on Saturday morning with many of our students coming out at 09:30 to endure the 100's of kicks and punches for the sponsored kickathon in aid of Hand in Hand West, the children's' cancer charity.
There was a great buzz on the day and the spirit and determination of the Children was out standing.
All money has not yet been returned but there is currently €1600 been raised, 80% of which will go directly to the charity and the other 20% is the beginning of our squad fund. The squad fund will be used to fund the Faolchú students who would like to enter tournaments.
A huge thanks to all parents and children donations have been exceptionally generous.

September Student of the Month

Tuam Karate Student of the Month Awards have been awarded this week. Well done to Alana and Leo Doherty, a brother and sister who never fail to impress.
And our fighter and kickboxer Daragh Glynn, who has well deserved his Student of the Month.

Sensei Malcolm takes 2nd Dan

Well done to Faolchú Tuam Karate Sensei Malcolm on passing his 2nd Dan at the JKS World Championships in Scotland. Kagawa Sensei and Yamaguchi Sensei held classes in Scotland before the JKS World Championships as part of a long weekend of karate.
Tweleve students where trying for 1st and 2nd Dan at the same session as Sensei Malcolm's grading. From early reports the required standard was very high as is to be expected from such distigushed Instructors. Nine karateka tested for 1st Dan with 2 achieving the grade and Sensei Malcolm was the only of the 3 testing for 2nd Dan to pass. A huge achivement and well deserved.

Karate World Championships JKS 2011

Best of luck to Team Ireland who are travelling to the JKS World Championships, which is held this year in Scotland. A team of 50 from all around the country are travelling tomorrow for a weekend of seminars and competition.
Best of luck to all our friends and our own Sensei Malcolm.
OSS.

Tuam Karate is keeping Active.

Tuam Karate kids and adults where kept busy this weekend with the visit from Sensei Dermott O Keeffe in Tuam's Total Fitness Solutions gym on Saturday.
Sensei Dermott instructed classes for 3 1/2 hours of both technical and physical training. All students had a great time and really enjoyed a personal lesson, where Sensei Dermott made sure that everyone was included and engaged.
On Sunday morning Sensei Malcolm went down to Ballina to train with MVF at their squad training session. Malcolm enjoyed (and suffered) a very active 3 hours of technical points and continuous kickboxing. I'm sure he'll enjoy bring the drills back to the Tuesday Combat class.
(Photo is of senior class on Saturday)

A Busy September

Everything is buzzing and busy again for September with karate in Tuam.
On Saturday Sensei Dermott O Keeffe will be coming to Tuam to hold a class for Faolchú, all junior students should attend at 11am and Senior students karate training will be at 12:30.
This week the Kickathon is being launched within the karate club and combat class. Our worthy cause this year is the Galway charity "Hand in Hand", the Children's Cancer Charity for the West. Hand in Hand are a vital resource in the West of Ireland. Their purpose is to help support the families of children who have childhood cancer. We feel that this is a very deserving charity and close to home for us in Tuam. Due to our large numbers we can make a huge difference if we can all raise a little.
The kickathon will take place on the 1st of October in the palace grounds at 10am. Karate kids took great pride in the event last year, It will be a fun event for all who take part!
Hoodies are now available to view and order, if you would like to get one before Christmas time please get your orders in before The 1st of October.Sensei Dermott O Keeffe
Their are also t-shirts and karate suits (dogi) in stock for anyone who would like to order or buy before Christmas.
Faolchú buy karate equipment and karate suits in bulk and can provide embriodered suits and other protective equipment to their members at prices that are cheaper than in Irish shops.

Jks Karate Championships

On Sunday the Jks held their Irish squad training,Club Championships and Free Course with Sensei Robert Steggles, Sensei Scott Langley, Sensei Dermot O Keeffe and Sensei Palma Diosi,
Tuam Karate students where well represented with 13 members training across the day and 8 club champions competing.
After a 2 hour gruelling squad training session (the final All Ireland Squad training before the World Championships)the JKS Tuam Karate Club Champions had their opportunity to shine.
Faolchú were represented on the day by Regan Warde, Alyssa Fahy, Jayden Murphy, Joe Mullan, Ben Ronan, Nathan Collins, Dylan Buckley and Aaron Quinn.
All students performed fantastically and we are exceptionally proud of them all. As we are the youngest of all JKS Ireland karate clubs at the moment we had a difficult challenge. Out of our 8 competitors 4 came in 1st place. Well done to everyone.

Tuam Karate Students Travelling to Moate

Karate classes in Tuam tonight have been full of questions about the Club Championships and JKS Free course on Sunday. Most importantly "where is it exactly?" Those travelling to Moate on Sunday from Tuam, go to Athlone (via motorway or cross country) then get on the motorway to Dublin stay on it until you see the exit for Moate. That will bring you to the town, on the Main St. look for this guy on the right he's at the entrance to the community center.

Tuam Charity Calender for Cystic Fibrosis

This Charity Calendar in aid of Cystic Fibrosis is to raise funds to build a day care unit on the grounds of Mayo General Hospital. Over 40 volunteers from many counties around Ireland tastefully bared all for this project.
Cystic Fibrosis is Ireland’s most common life-threatening inherited disease. Approximately 1 in 19 people are carriers of the CF gene and where two carriers parent a child together, there is a 1 in 4 chance of the baby being born with Cystic Fibrosis. There are in the region of 50 families who have one or more Persons with CF in the Mayo, North Galway area who attend Mayo General Hospital.
The Charity Calendar is in the style of Calendar Girls! ;) Featuring brave men and women from not only the Tuam area..but also countrywide!

I will be taking these calenders to classes all week and they will be at the sign in book, they are only cost €10 and support a very worthy and local cause.
Click HERE for info

Faolchú t-shirts and Hoodies

Tuam Karate Club Faolchú will be starting September with our much requested t-shirts back in stock! Apologies for being sold out over the Summer. T-shirts will cost €8 each (€15 for two) with 10% of each t-shirt sold going towards the start of our squad fund.
Hoodies are now available to order, please ask to see sizes available.

Sensei Dernott O Keeffe seminar in Tuam

Sensei Dermott O Keeffe will be teaching a course in Tuam on Saturday the 17th of September. This course is highly recommended and all Faolchú karate students should attend. Sensei O Keeffe has a wealth of experiance and while running a full time dojo, still has time to compete and win on an Internation and World level. All karateka are welcome to attend and can call Marie for further details.Sensei O’Keeffe has been studying Shotokan Karate-Do since 1979, just two months before his sixteenth birthday, and it was then that he saw the man that would impress on him the true secrets of success and achievement in Shotokan Karate… Good attitude and hard work. This man is Sensei Andy Sherry, 8th Dan.
Sensei O’Keeffe started training in Shotokan in 1979 under KUGB, graded to 1st Kyu under various KUGB Instructors including Sensei Eneoda.
Teaching from 1982 until 1993 and then again in 1997 to present. Sensei’s career to date has brought him to train with some of the worlds best Instructors and has gained great experience from them. Sensei O’Keeffe has been described as having a unique method of teaching, using traditional training methods as well as modern, to ensure that everyone who trains with him gets the best of old and new.
Sensei is a qualified fitness instructor/Personal trainer (NCEHS) and Neuromuscular therapist (NMT). He is also a certified Level 2 Coach with the NCTC. With this experience and knowledge of anatomy and physiology, it means those who train with him learn how to practice karate techniques properly, thus reducing the risk of injury due to bad practice. His only regret is that all too often, politics in Karate prevent Shotokan Karateka from training together as friends,regardless of affiliation.
If this was possible we could improve the development of Shotokan Karate in Ireland make us one of the best nations competing on the International stage.
Bio:
1982 My instructor broke away from the KUI. Took over as Chief Instructor of the Red Dragon Karate Club.
1982-87 Trained and competed with various instructors from different styles, Wado, Goju Ryu, Tae Kwon Do, Kick-boxing. During this time won many All Styles tournaments.
1987 Won the WAKO World All Styles and Kickboxing Championships.
1988 Approached Sensei Tommy McGrane with the view to returning to a recognised Shotokan Karate Organisation JKA.
1990 Received Shodan under Sensei Andy Sherry.
1990 Competed in the World Shoto Cup in Sunderland. Also competed in the ESKA Europeans Championships in Italy.
1992 Graded Nidan under Sensei Andy Sherry.
1993, August Tore medial collateral and damaged Anterior cruciate knee ligaments.
1994 Returned training and ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
1997 Returned training. At this time there had been a split in the KUI.
1999 Graded Sandan under Sensei Andy Sherry.
2001 Re-opened the Red Dragon Shotokan Karate Club.
2004 Graded Yondan under KUGB panel: Sensei Sherry, Sensei Poynton & Sensei Naylor.
2006 Joined Japan Karate Shotorenmei.
2007 Won JKS World Kata Championships.
2008 Graded Godan under JKS panel: Masao Kagawa Sensei JKS World Technical Director
2009 Won Veteran Kata in 10th All-Japan National Championships.
Over the years Sensei O’Keeffe has trained with visiting instructors like Enoeda Sensei (Chief instructor for JKA Europe), Ohta Sensei, Kawasoe Sensei, Kagawa Sensei, Kanazawa Sensei and Sensei Andy Sherry and Sensei Frank Brennan and many more. He travels regularly to Japan, to train in the JKS Hombu dojo under Sensei's Kagawa, Yamaguchi,Kanyama,Ishimine & Inada to name a few.Sensei O’Keeffe hopes to pass on as much of this experience to his students for many years to come.

Updated Events List

I have updated the Events List with some exciting karate events in Tuam and we will put together a handout for all students of the important events to attend in the coming months.

I hope you are all continuing to train hard and please check the new class times and structure and confirm which classes you will be attending.

Back to Regular Karate Classes

Tuam Karate Faolchú and Faolchú Combat classes will be returning to regular weekly times from Tuesday the 6th of September. Classes must be pre-booked as places are limited to maximise best instruction.
Times are:
Tuesday in Indigo Holistic Healing Center 18:00 Little Dragons (4-7yrs)
Tuesday in Indigo Holistic Healing Center 19:00 Combat Class (6yrs+)
Wednesday in Total Fitness Solutions Gym 18:00 Children's Karate (8-15yrs)
Wednesday in Indigo Holistic Healing Center 20:00 Adults Karate
Thursday in Indigo Holistic Healing Center 18:00 Little Dragons (4-7yrs)
Friday in Total Fitness Solutions Gym 18:00 Children's Karate (8-15yrs).
Really looking forward to getting stuck in to regular training we've loads of things happening between now and the end of the year.

Chosen Charity for 2011

Like last year we have chosen a charity to support with an event later in the year. Our charity is "Hand in Hand" a West of Ireland charity supporting children with cancer and their families.

We will post later with details of the event but please visit their site http://www.handinhand.ie/ or search for them on Facebook.

JKS Karate Free Course

Tuam Karate Club Faolchú will be travelling on the 11th of September to Moate for a very active day of karate.

The JKS Ireland plan FREE a seminar open to all with a guest instructor annually. This years guest is Scottish Sensei Robert Steggles, 5th dan. Having previously trained with Sensei Steggles, I can highly recommend this course. Robert has the ability to train his students very hard whilst keeping a smile on your face!

Tuam's Karate Club Champions will all be travelling on the day to represent Tuam and Galway JKS, in the All Ireland JKS Club Championships and would love to receive the support and backing of the fellow Faolchú students.

All this will be preceeded by the final squad training for the Irish JKS Karate Team before the go to the World Championships which will be held in Scotland this year.

The time table for the day is as follows:

10:30-12:30 Squad training (open to all).

12:30-13:30 Club Championships.

14:00-16:00 Seminar with Sensei Robert Steggles.

JKS Hombu Dojo Competition

On the 21st of August Hombu dojo Dublin will be holding a training and competition event. It is open to all JKS Ireland members and squad member or not, everyone is encouraged to attend. It will provide an opportunity to test your skills and help improve yourself for competition. Any Faolchú students who wish to attend, please contact you sensei for further details.

Summer Karate Squad Training

Squad training will be on in Total Fitness Solutions, Tuam on Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 28th of August at 10am.
Squad training is open to all Faolchú students who wish to train and will benefit kata and kumite in general but is strongly recommended for those who wish to compete. The JKS Club Championships will be on in September and the JKS Autumn Championships will be on in Dublin in October.

Tuam Karate Nunchaku Course

We had great fun on Saturday at our Tuam Karate Nunchaku Beginners Course. Sensei Stephen Kelly kindly came down to Tuam to instruct the course. We started with a mix of ages where we covered basic holding, catching and throwing to get familiar with handling the weapon. As the day progressed Sensei Stephen helped us all develop all the basic strikes, blocks and the movement of the nunchaku.
After a small break all of the younger children finished up and the adults and teenagers where introduced to some more difficult aspects of movement with nunchaku. We covered Kihon Nunchaku Kata, with Sensei Stephen taking time and care to demonstrate movements and applications within the kata and through partner work. Everyone had a wonderful time and there was a buzz from the small children all the way up to the adults class.
A big thanks to Sensei Stephen Kelly and all students who participated on the day.

JKS Club Championship

Our Tuam Karate Champions for the JKS Ireland Tournament have now been confirmed. The Championship will take place on the 11th of September in Moat. There is no fee for entering the competition. Representing Tuam and JKS Galway are:
Alyssa Fahy; age 5 - 7 kata,
Joe Mullan; age 7 and under gohon kumite,
Jayden Murphy; age 5 - 7 kumite,
Aaron Quinn; age 9 and under gohon kumite,
Ben Ronan; age 8 - 10 kumite,
Dylan Buckley; age 8 - 10 kata,
Nathan Collins; age 11 - 13 kata,
Regan Warde; age 11 - 13 kumite.
Congratulations to all our Champions, keep training hard!
There will be squad training sessions in Total Fitness Solutions at 10 am on the 13th and the 28th of August. These squad training sessions are for all students and not just those competing in the Club Championships.