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.