THE longest established Kenpo Karate club in Ireland is beginning its 45th year this month, on the Northside.
Senior Grand Master Brendan Walsh (10th Dan) founded Daigokan (Die Go Can) Kenpo Karate Ireland in November 1969 in Abbeyfield, Killester.
Mr Walsh, life President of the club, handed over the running of Daigokan in 2000 to Grand Master Kieran Devlin (10th Dan) who is now the chief instructor and Vice President.
The club, which has been based at the Le Cheile Community Centre, Donnycarney, since 2003, is run on a not-for-profit basis for the benefit of the community to teach the art of Traditional Kenpo Karate.
Daigokan Kenpo Karate Ireland held its annual children’s competition in Le Cheile last month.
On the night, awards were presented by Grand Master Kieran Devlin to the Junior Student of the Year, Senior Student of the Year and Black Belt of the Year.
The head instructor of the children’s class is 3rd Dan Black Belt Mr Eugene Malone who is supported by other senior black belts af the club. Eugene who was a latecomer to Karate, originally brought his two children down as students and he himself was encouraged to join the senior class. He joined the senior class and trained very hard and has now achieved the rank of 3rd Dan Black belt.
According to Grand Master Kieran Devlin, one of the main reasons for Daigokan’s success is due to the generosity of all the instructors who give their time for free to teach the art of Kenpo Karate.