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A MARTIAL ARTS group from Tralee represented their country proudly last weekend by bringing home nine medals from the World Martial Arts Organisation Championships held in the town of Rugby in England.
Among the 35 strong Irish WMO team there were seven future stars from Tralee, who qualified from the Black Belt Martial Arts Academy based in the The Kingdom Kettlebells Club on Pembroke Street.
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Members of the Kingdom Black Belt Martial Arts Academy that won nine medals between them at the WMO World Martial Arts Championships were, from left: Caoimhe Tobin, Allie Guilfoyle, Tony Monaghan, Alan Guilfoyle, Sean Sookarry, Isabel Shaw, and Eva Kelly. Photo by Gavin O’Connor
The Tralee contingent brought home nine world medals between them. Other teams from all corners of the country including Abbeyfeale and Listowel formed the Irish Squad and in total won a massive haul of 43 medals.
“As this was our first time being successful in Qualifying for the WMO, we learned a huge amount from the Championships,” said Alan Guilfoyle of Kickboxing Ireland in Tralee.
“The level that some of our American, British and French counterparts are at is amazing and it all comes down to facilities and sponsorship. The athletes from our club here in Tralee showed that they have the heart, skill, fitness and determination to succeed by bringing home nine medals against all the odds and now we want to see can we help them further,” said Alan.
“We now plan on developing a Centre of Excellence in Martial Arts right here in Tralee and plans are well underway for the new year, with the aim of increasing the number of our athletes capable of competing in major international competitions like the WMO held in Rugby” he said.
The Kingdom Kettlebells and Kickboxing Ireland club on Pembroke Street, is now looking towards the future, in developing young Irish stars to compete at the highest levels, and is finalising plans for after-school programmes and martial arts classes for children and teens.
More information is available from www.facebook.com/KingdomKettlebells and by contacting Alan Guilfoyle on 0871462199
