The Beginnings of our Name Board

Tuam Faolchu Dojo will soon have a very proud Japanese Karate Name Board, thanks to Paddy Mc Loughlin.

Tuam Karate Classes for Children and Adults

Tuam Karate Classes for Children and Adults are back. We've had our small break, recharged the batteries and now we're all craving the next challenge and training companions.

Dust off your dogi, clean your gumshields and we're looking forward to seeing you next week

January Student of the Month

Well done to our Little Wolves and combat student winners of Faolchú student of the month.

Well done Cathal Mc Hugh and Sander Mullar, Little Wolves and Ciarán Fleming our Combat class student.

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)

Yamaguchi Sensei at the JKS Scotland Hombu Dojo

When Scott Sensei informed me a couple of weeks ago that Yamaguchi Sensei would be coming over from Japan to teach in Scotland I immediately started looking for flights.
Yamaguchi Sensei is one of those inspirational instructors that you really don't want to miss out on training with. I had seen many you tube clips of him instructing and for years now, I have been looking for the chance that he'd be within reach!
Needless to say I was not disappointed.
I was very happy to see Koike Sensei when I arrived in the Scotland Hombu Dojo was also in attendance. Koike Sensei proved to be invaluable on the day, as he is more fluent in english and provided translation throughout the class and weekend.
The Scottish where very welcoming with Paul Sensei arranging for me to be met and collected at the airport by Ann. (Thank you Ann:).When I arrived at the Hombu Dojo, classes where already underway for kyu grades (and Sensei Dermott O Keeffe, who stayed on the floor once their was any class on).
The black belt class was a two hour session which was focused on Asai Ryu katas, Kakuyoko Shodan, Kakuyoko Nidan and Junro Godan. A challenge to take all on board!
Yamaguchi sensei moved swiftly through the class, accommodating those of us learning the kata and the more experienced karateka by going through bunkai for each kata by demonstrations and partner work and including training drills for both individual and partner work.
I look forward to having the opportunity to train with Yamaguchi Sensei again but I've been left with plenty to work on and develop in the mean time.

Combat Class Summer Break

The combat students had their last class on Tuesday, most of whom train regularily in the karate classes so we'll not miss you too long! Well done to all our guys who have been training hard this year, keep practising over the s.ummer holidays.

Tuesday Classes Student of the Month

Well done to Little Wolves Student of the Month Dmitrijs Cigulovs and Combat Class student Regan Warde.