BANNER MARTIAL ARTS & FITNESS - ANNUAL OPEN MARTIAL ARTS COMPETITION

13TH OF NOVEMBER 2011

RESULTS

ITF International Instructors Course October 2011, Cork - [REPORT]

Instructors Connor & Sarah Donovan from Banner Martial Arts & Fitness, and their student Nathan D'Arcy had the privilege to study for three days under a famous Korean Grand Master of Taekwondo.

Grand Master Choi Jung Hwa, president of the 'International Taekwondo Federation', visited Ireland recently to instruct an International Instructors Course. This prestigious event was held at the Mardyke Arena at UCC in Cork, and was hosted by Independent National Organisation, 'ITF Eireann'.

Grandmaster Choi Jung Hwa was accompanied by several well-known ITF Masters: M. Norman Creedon, M. Robert Wheatley, M. Trevor Nicholls, M. Pierpaola Lecca, M. Tarcision Martella, M. Steve Zondag . 100 Black Belts converged from France, Holland, Afghanistan, Germany, Italy, England, Scotland, and Ireland, all eager for the opprtunity to train under the son of the 'Father of Taekwondo'.

The 'Father of Taekwondo', General Choi Hong Hi was born on November 9th, 1918 in Korea. In his youth, he was frail and quite sickly. He was taught Taek Kyon, the ancient Korean art of foot fighting, to help build up his body. And so began the creation of the art we know today as Taekwondo. Choi was rapidly promoted through the ranks of the Korean army and was responsible for teaching his martial art to the Korean soldiers, constantly developing and improving on his style as an effective form of military self-defence.

Technically, 1955 signaled the beginning of Taekwon-Do as a formally recognized art in Korea. On the 11th of April, the board summoned by Gen. Choi, decided on the name of Taekwon-Do. In 2002, Grand Master General Choi Hong Hi passed away. His son, Grand Master Choi Jung Hwa took the lead of a new 'International Taekwondo Federation' to carry on his father's mission of spreading the art of Taekwondo worldwide.

'ITF Eireann' is honored to be the Irish National Organisation under Grand Master Choi Jung Hwa. This visit was a wonderful opportunity to learn the values and theory of true ITF Taekwondo, and to continue the development of ITF's Black belt Instructors throughout Europe. Connor & Sarah Donovan are honored to provide instruction in ITF Taekwondo at their school, the only school in Co. Clare which is certified under Grand Master Choi Jung Hwa himself. Mrs. Donovan is also a board member of 'ITF Eireann'.

ANNUAL SCION TAEKWONDO COMPETITION 2011

This weekend a group of "Banner Martial Arts & Fitness" students travelled to Cork to compete in the Annual Scion Taekwon-do Competition. 14 Banner Martial Artists competed amongst over 200 Martial Artists from across Ireland. Meagan O'Connor is only 4 years old and this was her first competition ever. She won First Place in her Pattern Division and 2nd Place in her Sparring Division. A special team of girls worked very hard together to choreograph and rehearse their own Musical Pattern Performance and have won 1st Place for the second year in a row! Natalia Fankulewska, Caitriona ni Riordain, Alice O'Brien, and Shauna Enright. Other acheivements include Michael Neylon winning 1st place for his Pattern Division, Paul Kirwin winning 3rd Place for his Pattern Division, Aaron Kelly 2nd Place in Sparring, James McNamee 3rd Place in Sparring, Caitriona ni Riordain 3rd Place in Patterns, and Natalia Fankulewska won 1st Place in both her Pattern and her Sparring Divisions! Instructors Mr. & Mrs. Donovan are very proud of the accomplishments of their students and of all the training and practice put into preparing for this annual event.

Multiple Successes for Female Martial Artists!

Banner Martial Arts & Fitness is honoured to announce the recent success of several female martial artists all in one week! Last weekend, two young Ennis ladies travelled up to Dublin to compete in the Best of the Best Open Martial Arts competition, and both brought home great results! Natalia Fankulewska (age 10) achieved Third Place in her Sparring division and Third Place for Patterns. Shauna Enright (age 12) achieved Third Place in her Sparring division. Less than one week later, Roisin O'Neill (age 17) travelled to Cork to compete in the annual ITF Eireann Emerald Cup competition, where she cleanly won her weight division in sparring. And to top off a week of victories: Banner Martial Arts Instructor, Sarah Donovan, achieved her Third Degree Black Belt in the Korean Martial Art of Taekwon-do. Sarah undertook her belt test in Cork under a distinguished panel of ITF Eireann senior martial artists and head Examiner Master Robert Wheatley. The future of women in County Clare looks bright with achievements like these!

2010 ALL IRELAND TAEKWON-DO CHAMPIONSHIPS

Our school had awesome results at the All Ireland Taekwon-do Championships in Dublin the weekend! 19 of our Taekwon-do students competed and proudly returned with 10 All Ireland Medals!

Alanna Gleeson, 3rd place Patterns & 3rd place Sparring

Conor Clohessy, 2nd place Sparring

Aine Murphy, 3rd place Patterns

Claudia Burke, 1st place Sparring

Patrick McLoughlin, 3rd place Sparring

Alex O'Doherty, 3rd place Sparring & 2nd place Patterns

Joseph Connaughton, 3rd place Sparring

Shauna Enright, 1st place Sparring

2010 KINSALE COMPETITION

Congratulations to all who travelled to Rivertsick to participate in Kinsale's annual event. We had 19 competitors on the day, and brought back 15 trophies! Good job, everyone!

KINSALE RESULTS:

Charlie O'Grady: 2nd Place Sparring

Aoife O'Neill: 1st Place Patterns

Paul Kirwin: 1st Place Patterns

James Daly: 2nd Place Sparring

Cillian O'Riordain: 3rd Place Sparring

Hannah McCormack: 3rd Place Patterns, 2nd Place Sparring

Martin McCormack: 2nd Place Patterns, 2nd Place Sparring

Rian Boylan: 2nd Place Sparring

Natalia Fankalewska: 3rd Place Patterns, 1st Place Musical Patterns

Caitriona ni Riordain: 2nd Place Patterns, 2nd Place Sparring, 1st Place Musical

Shauna Enright: 2nd Place Sparring, 1st Place Musical Patterns

FOR OLDER RESULTS SEE OUR PHOTO GALLERIES!