When Clonmel’s Shotokan Karate Club was first founded in 1973 it came to be known simply as “the karate club”. At that time very little was known about the martial arts in general and karate in particular. Black belts and knowledge were scarce. In time as other oriental martial disciplines became widespread the club came to be called “Shotokan Karate Clonmel” to distinguish it not only from other martial arts but also to identify the particular karate style practiced. Shotokan is the most widely practiced karate style today. 

Popular Club.

Since it’s foundation Shotokan Karate Clonmel has grown into a very successful, popular club with over 34 years history in the town of Clonmel. Along the way there have been many successes, including numerous victories in national and international competitions with more than 60 members graduating as black belts. Shotokan Karate Clonmel’s black belt graduates have established very successful satellite clubs in the surrounding districts adding to the standard of Shotokan Karate in the area. 

The Early Days

When the club began training in 1973 it was based in the Collins Hall in Market Street where Circles is now based. The instructors were brown belts Tadhg Murphy and Tom Abernethy from Cork. Over the years we have trained in nearly every hall in the town of Clonmel. Sensei Kato used to visit from the U.K. to conduct examinations and special courses. In the early days there were few competitions because of the lack of qualified judges and referees. And while members had plenty of enthusiasm the technical standards were sometimes poor so battles were hard fought and often led to injuries. 

Our First Black Belt

The instructing was taken over by Sensei Michael Ormond from Kilsheelan, the first club member to gain the coveted black belt, and his excellent basic training strengthened the club. Fifth Dan Black Belt George Reilly traveled from Dublin at weekends to help with the training, which made the club even stronger.  

Milestone.

One of Shotokan Karate Clonmel’s first big milestones came in 1981 when we came second in the Irish Karate Union National Championships. The following year, we went one better hosting the competition and winning it – a remarkable achievement at the time for a small inexperienced club. 

Improved Standards.

Members continued to improve throughout the eighties. New black belts included Larry Hogan, John Aylward, Denis Hogan, Brendan Fitzgerald, PJ Moloney, Kathleen Byrne, and Pat Doheny. Regular courses with Master Hirokazu Kanazawa from Japan who was head of the newly formed Shotokan Karate International Federation. 

First Internationals

Members began taking part in national and international competitions, gaining valuable experience. These included P.J. Moloney and Brendan Fitzgerald who traveled to the European Championships in Zurich Switzerland. Later P.J. was also a member of the I.K.U. Irish National team which lost out narrowly to Japan in the World Championships.  

Branching Out.

By the mid eighties John Aylward and Pat Doheny took over instruction of the club while other black belts have set up satellite clubs building a strong network of Shotokan clubs in the area. These included Piltown KC (Sensei Kathleen Byrne), Carrick-on- Suir KC (Sensei Denis Hogan), and Suishinkai Cahir (Sensei Michael Power).  

Competition Successes

Many other competition successes have followed over the years, including three individual Munster titles in 1993, one gold, five silver and two bronze medals in the National Championships the same year. A combined team from Clonmel and Carrick had the honour of winning the first Irish Karate Union Junior Team Championships. 

Japanese Team

In 1994 another major landmark came for the club when members trained with the visiting Japanese national team in Cork. Instructors John Aylward and Michael Power gained valuable experience training in Yokohama Japan with the Irish Squad prior to the Shotokan Karate International World Championships.  

National Champions.

In 1997 Shotokan Karate Clonmel again won the Irish Karate Union National Team Championships, while junior internationals Jonathan Aylward and Lisa Doheny competed in the World Championships in Milan Italy.  

Trophies.

Early in the 21^st century Pat Doheny participated in the veterans event in the World Championships in Bali Indonesia. In 2003 the club took home six trophies from the Irish Karate Union Munster Championships. By the end of the year we laid claim to no less than ten gold medals at the I.K.U. National Championships.  

Own Dojo

By 2004 after 31 years in existence the club finally secured their own premises at Bridgewater House on the Gashouse Bridge Clonmel. Brown belt John Quigley won a major O.N.A.K.A.I.  Kata event in Dublin.  At the annual Piltown karate tournament we took home a total of eighteen trophies including five first place positions. By the end of the year we had ten more black belts which included the instructor John Aylward grading for 6^th Dan.  

Sixty Trophies!

In 2005 we won sixty trophies which included seven Irish Karate Union National Championship titles, four O.N.A.K.A.I. Munster titles (in our club league debut) and two O.N.A.K.A.I. National titles. We also added another three black belts to our growing list of senior grades. 

Ten Black Belts.

In 2006 we achieved ten more black belt grades,  along with eight O.N.A.K.A.I.  Munster titles and one O.N.A.K.A.I. National title.  

Coaching Certificate.

In April 2006 we claimed 11 trophies in the annual Piltown tournament. Meanwhile the club coach John Aylward was presented with a level two O.N.A.K.A.I. Sport Karate Coaching Certificate through the N.C.T.C. Black belt club member Eamon Ryan competed in the Philippine National Championships while Derek Daly and John English competed with the I.K.U. National Irish Squad at the Shotokan Karate International Federation World Championships in Tokyo Japan. 

Continued Momentum

This year so far has carried on the momentum of previous years. Club coach John Aylward was appointed to the S.K.I.F. Ireland National Committee. In March we won five first place positions at the annual Piltown tournament, three first place positions in the I.S.K.A. Championships, while three more passed black belt exams. At the O.N.A.K.A.I. Club League Finals we had three Munster Champions, and one National Champion followed by two S.K.I.F. National titles. Five juniors and one veteran competed at the Shotokan Karate International European Championships in Sardinia in November.