Club profiles: Tae Kwon Do

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Tae Kwon Do

Tae Kwon Do is one of the most widely practised martial arts in the world. It is both a style of combat and international sport of Korean origin. As one of the most successful Tae Kwon Do clubs in the country, we are consistantly turning out national and international competitors. Looking for competitive glory, to get fit, or to meet people and just have a good time, come join the NUI Galway Tae Kwon Do club today.

History

The NUI Galway TaeKwon-Do Club celebrated its 20th year as a University club in 2014. We are a member of TaeKwon-Do Ireland.

Our head instructor Mr. Spelman is the first IV Dan Black Belt of TaeKwon-Do in our club and has been a member of the club since he joined as a white belt 16 years ago. Our other instructor Ms. Fitzpatrick is a II Dan Black Belt and is currently training for her III Dan Black Belt. She has been a member of the club since she joined as a white belt and is celebrating her 10th year in the club this year. 

Achievements

Intervarsities 2015:

  • Sarah Prendergast: Gold in Individual Sparring & Silver in Team Sparring
  • Javan Neves: Gold in Individual Sparring & Silver in Team Sparring
  • Sean Feeney: Gold in Patterns, Bronze in Individual Sparring & Silver in Team Sparring
  • John Kinsella: Bronze in Individual Sparring
  • Joao Albuquerque: Silver in Patterns & Silver in Team Sparring
  • Steven Fox: Bronze in Patterns
  • Jade Casey: Bronze in Patterns & Silver in Team Sparring

November 2014 Semester One Grading

Promotions:

  • Colm Duffy, Blue Tag
  • John Kinsella, Green Belt
  • Kealan Moore, Yellow Belt
  • Joseph O'Connor, Yellow Belt
  • Sean Feeney, Yellow Tag
  • Emma Linnane, Yellow Tag
  • Steven Fox, Yellow Tag
  • Javan Neves, Yellow Tag
  • Emile Cunha, Yellow Tag
  • Joao Albuquerque, Yellow Tag
Special Congratulations to Emile Cunha who won the Grading Award on the night.

October 2014 Connaught Championships

  • Mr. Joshua Byrne, 3rd place Black Belt Sparring.
  • Chris Walsh, 3rd place Blue-Black Tag Patterns.
  • Sean Feeney, 3rd place White-Green Tag Patterns & 3rd place Light-Weight Sparring.
  • Javan Neves, 3rd place White-Green Tag Patterns & 3rd place Middle-Weight Sparring.
  • Henrique Campos, 2nd place White-Green Tag Light-Weight Sparring.
  • Emmanuel Antunes, 1st place White-Green Tag Middle-Weight Sparring.
  • Joseph O'Connor, 3rd place White-Green Tag Middle-Weight Sparring.
  • John Kinsella, 2nd place White-Green Tag Heavy-Weight Sparring.
  • Ross Duffy, 3rd place White-Green Tag Heavy-Weight Sparring.
  • Kealan Moore, 3rd place White-Green Tag Heavy-Weight Sparring.
Out of the 10 competitors from NUIG TKD, 12 medals were achieved, Including, one gold, two silver and nine bronze.

May 2014 Annual BlackBelt Grading and Awards Night:

  • Mr Adrian Lawless Awarded his 2nd degree blackbelt
  • Mr Peter Spelman promoted to TKDI Examiner
May 2013 Annual BlackBelt Grading and Awards Night:

  • Mr.Peter Spelman, Head Instructor, Awarded his 4th degree black belt.
  • Mr. Joshua Byrne, Awarded his 1st degree black belt and also won the TaeKwon-Do Ireland Competitor of the year award.

July 2013 Summer Colour Belt Grading:

  • Chris Walsh Promoted to Red Belt
  • Brandon Wiles Promoted to Red Tip
  • Padraig Reilly & Johanna Stock Promoted to Green Belt
  • Maja Rajkov Promoted to Green Tag

Intervarsities

Intervarsity Success for NUIG TaeKwon-Do Club
by Steven Fox

 

Saturday 21st saw NUI Galway Taekwon-Do attend the Irish Intervarsities in Tralee, Co. Kerry.

The competitors were very successful in their winning of medals.

In the White Belt to Green Tag category, Sarah Prendergast (White Belt) and Javan Neves (Yellow Tag) took gold medals in the female and male Sparring respectively, with Sean Feeney (Yellow Tag) taking the bronze in the male category. In the Green Belt and above category, John Kinsella (Green Belt) took home the bronze medal.

In the Patterns, NUIG swept the medals for the male White Belt to Green Tag category, with Sean Feeney (Yellow Tag), Joao Henrique Albuquerque (Yellow Tag) and Steven Fox (Yellow Tag) taking gold, silver and bronze respectively. In the female category, Jade Casey (White Belt) came away with bronze.

In the Team Sparring events, the male team of Javan Neves, Joao Henrique Albuquerque and Sean Feeney, and the female team of Jade Casey and Sarah Prendergast both took silver, losing out to the DIT teams.



Pictured L-R are: Joao Albuquerque, Steven Fox (Secretary), John Kinsella (OCM), Javan Neves, Sean Feeney (Treasure), Jade Casey, Christopher Walsh (Captain). Missing from the photo are Sarah Prendergast and Sarah Counihan.

Total medal count on the day for NUIG was 13 medals including, 3 Gold, 6 Silver and 4 Bronze.

Overall, a great day was had by all, and we would like to extend our gratitude to our drivers on the day.