Welcome to Galway Karate Institute
The club founded in 1995 by Sensei Sean O’Riain. It is a club run
by volunteers who simply love the art of karate. The focus of the club is on developing skills in self-defence in real situations, through
the development of flexibility, strength and conditioning and Karate technique. A large component of each class is devoted to sparring at realistic distances
in order
to improve skills and reaction time
A typical class will consist of :
Warmup – stretching
Karate techniques (kicks, punches, blocks etc.) Sparring
Kata ( forms used to aid the student to practice techniques full speed and power)
Stretching and conditioning of core muscle groups
The class sizes are kept intentionally small in order to give students individual attention
We are open for new adult (16+) members – beginners or experienced Martial Artists
Where is the club located? The club is located in the Claddagh facing the waterfront and 2 doors up from
Claddagh Church. It looks like an ordinary house with railings outside it. It is in fact a
dedicated Martial Arts Centre. We are there every Thursday night at 8 pm. Just go through
the door and you will be most welcome! Do I need to buy the Karate outfit before I start? No – come along with loose fitting clothes – a tracksuit and a T-shirt is fine
Do I need special gear – gloves, gun shield etc.? Because we simulate ‘life on the street’ we have no
more than you would have on the street
Are there shower facilities? Yes, The ‘dojo’ has excellent facilities including separate changing rooms for
male and female and HOT showers. Do I need to be ‘fit’ to do the classes? Not particularly! As you practice karate you will find yourself loosing weight,
improving muscle tone and getting more aerobically fit. How much does it cost? The first few classes are free to see if the student likes our style. Thereafter the fees
are just to cover the cost of the hall, insurance etc. Are Female members Welcome? Women are most welcome – Karate is about the ‘weak overcoming the strong’. Am I too old to start? You are never too old to start – some of our members took up Karate in their late 40’s. It can be practiced by people well into their 70’s. How do I know if I am improving? Shotokan Karate operates a belt grading system. The grading is performed by an authorised external examiner and is recognised by the
Shotokan Karate Institute of Ireland which in turn has International recognition. Any Sparring? Yes the club believes in full contact sparring as the only way to build up
real skill and reaction time
How much practice do I need to do outside class? This is difficult to answer, as it depends on many factors. Typically, a student would want
to practice for at least an hour four times a week. Is it a very traditional Code of Behaviour? No – not particularly. Yes we use Japanese terms and we ‘bow’ at
the end of a class and follow etiquette throughout.
