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.

Christmas Demonstration and Seminar, 2011

On Monday, December 12th , 2011, Zanshin Karate-Do Kinnegad finish our year's activities with a demonstration by our junior students for their parents, showcasing some of what they have learned over the past year. The demonstration will take place in our dojo in Kinnegad GAA Centre between 7.00 and 8.00 PM. Cost is, as usual, €5 per student (parents and guests are free!). Please make sure that all students are at the club by 6.50 PM. We have a lot to get through and we would really like to finish on time.
From 8.00 - 9.30 PM, our senior students will have the benefit of training with Guro Donal Connaughton, a Guro Lakan Apat (4th level black belt) in armed and empty-hand Filipino Martial Arts. Guro Donal, who teaches Senseis Liam and Proinsias, is a personal student of Grand Master Ding Llanera, head of Llanera Fighting Systems, and is one of the highest ranked Filipino Martial Arts instructors in Ireland. We extend an invitation to all of our friends in Zanshin Kinnegad and Portarlingon, the Irish Shotokan Academy, Midland Martial Arts Centre and Mullingar Kyokushinkai Karate Club who wish to attend. The cost is €10 per person for over 90 minutes of expert instruction.
Finally, Liam and Proinsias would like to thank all of our parents and students who trained with us and supported us so enthusiastically through the past year. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! Training resumes in Kinnegad on Monday, 9th Januray 2012, and in Portarlington on Tuesday, 10th January 2012.

Dan Gradings in Midlands Martial Arts Centre

On 3rd December, Shihan Brett Halliday tested Renshukan instructors Sensei Gerard McCarthy, Alberto Candeias (Irish Shotokan Academy) and Proinsias Ó Fearghail (Zanshin Karate-Do)  as they attempted to reach their next level in Shotokan Karate. After a grading which ran from 2.00 PM to 4.30 PM, Shihan Brett awarded Shodan to Sensei Alberto, Nidan to Sensei Proinsias and Sandan to Sensei Gerry. He was joined on the grading panel by Senseis Liam Darcy, Gerard Walsh and Keith Walsh of Zanshin Karate-Do and by Sensei Liam Gorman of the Irish Shotokan Academy. The grading comprised assessment in fitness, kihon (basics) Kata, Kata Bunkai (applications), self-defence techniques and Kumite (sparring). Many thanks to Shihan Brett for his useful and constructive advice after the grading, and to Sensei Darren Hand who acted as uke for Sensei Gerry. The training continues as we try to improve! Here is a photo of the happy and relieved candidates with the grading panel.

Renshukan Tournament 2011

On 12 November, 2011, a squad from Zanshin Kinnegad travelled to the Renshukan (Ireland) U-18 tournament in the Midland Martial Arts Centre, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. The tournament was well-attended, with children and teenagers from Tullamore, Edenderry and Kinnegad dojos taking part. We started at 11.00 AM and finshed 5 hours later, after a busy day of sparring, individual kata and team kata.. We were delighted at the success of our Zanshin students, who won medals in 10 categories. As we have often said before, however, while it's nice to win medals, what we were really proud of was the spirit and discipline shown by all squad members - well done guys, we're VERY proud of all of you! Here is a photo taken at the beginning of the tournament - as you can see, it was well attended!

We were well-served with referees and officials on the day, with Senseis Liam Darcy, Gerry Walsh, Keith Walsh, Gerry McCarthy, Liam Gorman and Proinsias Ó Fearghail acting as referees, ably assisted by Zanshin senior members Fergus Fenlon and Peter Govan, who acted as scorekeepers and timekeepers. Thanks a million, gentlemen - it made all the difference! Thanks especially to Senseis Gerry McCarthy and Liam Gorman who made their purpose-built Martial Arts Centre available for the tournament, and to Sensei Darren Hand, who thoughtfully turned on the heat for us in the morning (we didn't need it as the day went on!) . Many thanks also to all the parents who drove our students to the venue and stayed to cheer us on - it's great to have that level of support. We all decamped to Burger King after the event, fot a well-deserved meal. Here is a photo of the Zanshin squad at the end of the tournament.

 Again, well done everyone! See you all on Monday for training! You can see more photos on our "Photos" page.

Renshukan Tournament Saturday 12 November 2011

All Zanshin Kinnegad members participating in the Renshukan tournament in Tullamore are leaving from the GAA centre at 9.15 AM on Saturday morning. Please bring your suit, mitts (if you have them) entry fee (€10), a packed lunch and drinks. We are LEAVING at 9.15, so please be there on time.We should be finished around 3.00 PM.

Hallowe'en Closure

Zanshin Karate-Do Kinnegad will be closed on Monday 31 October for Hallowe'en. Training resumes on Monday, 7th November. We will be training hard for the upcoming Renshukan tournament, so practice your kata during the mid-term. We will be having a "mini-tournament" in our dojo on the 7th to prepare for the main event! Enjoy the break, practice your kata and don't eat too many sweets!

Renshukan (Ireland) Under-18 Tournament!

We are hoping to enter the Renshukan (Ireland) u-18 tournament on Saturday, 12th November 2011. You can enter in kumite (sparring) , kata, or both. Cost is €6 for one event or €10 for 2. Please let Sensei Liam or Sensei Proinsias know if you are interested as soon as possible! The event will take place in the Martial Arts Centre, Tullamore at 10.30 AM. Adult members and parents who want to help with lifts etc, will be very welcome!   This will be a GREAT event, so please come along and support us! Thanks to Senseis Gerry McCarthy and Liam Gorman, who have made their dojo available to host this event!