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.
