Christmas Demonstration and Guro Connaughton Seminar

On Monday, 12th December 2011, Zanshin Karate-Do Kinnegad held their last class of the year. We started off with a demonstration by our junior members, who showed their parents what they had learned over the past year in kihon (basic techniques), kata (prearranged forms) and kumite (sparring). The juniors showed great spirit and technique, particularly obvious in the "death match" between Hari Paul and Matthew Darcy, to decide whether the juniors or seniors should get this year's Selection Boxes. Much to the disappointment of Liam and Proinsias, the juniors won (yet again)!
At 8.00, the senior class kicked off. The class was given by Guro Donal Connaughton, a 4th degree black belt in Filipino Martial Arts, and a personal student of Grand Master Ding Llanera, the only Filipino grandmaster currently resident in Ireland. Guro Donal teaches FMA in St. Etchen's School, Kinnegad, on Tuesday and Thursday nights, and has instructed Liam and Proinsias in FMA for almost 5 years now. He taught various ranges of combat, from empty-hand to empty-hand (mano-mano) , defences against knife attack and defences against club/stick attack. Despite a power-cut, the class was a great success! Apart from the members of Zanshin Kinnegad senior class, the guests included Darren Smith of Midlands FMA club and Sensei Ken Fitzpatrick and Senpai Ciarán Stapleton of Mullingar Kyokushinkai Karate Club. An informative and fun training session was had by all, and at the end, the club presented Guro Donal with a certificate of appreciation. Here's a photo of the senior class after the seminar!

Thanks again to Guro Donal for instructing, and for Sensei Ken, Senpai Ciarán and Darren for coming along. Junior and senior classes resume in Kinnegad GAA Centre on Monday, 9th January 2011. Again, a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all our students in Kinnegad and Portarlington, our friends in Llanera Fighting Systems, the Irish Shotokan Academy, Midland Martial Arts Centre and Renshukan Martial Arts International.Thanks also to all the parents who drove our members to and from training, seminars, gradings etc. all year. Finally, thanks to Alan and Kinnegad GAA centre for the continued use of their facilities.