WITH the eagerly awaited remake of the cult classic The Karate Kid to hit the big screen in the coming weeks, you get the feeling that it may just lead to a resurgence of the martial arts discipline once again.

One local dojo that undoubtedly will hope to benefit is Corrib Karate Club, which was formed by Galway City duo Frank McDermott and Gerry McSweeney in 1995. At present, it boasts 25 seniors and approximately the same number in juniors. It’s a close knit club.

“You get some clubs, and they just push for grades, grades, grades. That is not really what we are about though,” says McDermott, as he and McSweeney relax in the Carlton Hotel (Dublin Road), where they base their classes.

Indeed, both are very much men of principles and these are reflected in the running of the club. They believe in making their club accessible to the many and, consequently, they endeavour to keep costs down to a minimum for their students and their families. This means no annual membership fees while there is also no requirement for beginners to purchase karate suits.

They insist no one should be deterred from any sport because of financial pressure and stress that sport of any kind should be a fundamental element in any young person’s development. They say, for example, a sport like karate teaches control and restraint, while the skills students accumulate can help them through life long after their sporting careers conclude.

“About 15 years ago, we started,” outlines McSweeney. “We just had a notion to go start a club with our own class of principles, which were more sport and family orientated. We also wanted the club to be varied.”

“I had seen from other clubs that individuals couldn’t train as often as they would have liked because they didn’t have the money,” continues McDermott. “It never seemed sound logic to me that if you had someone who was part of a club that he should be sitting at home because he couldn’t afford it.

“So, we started the club with the principle of no one should not be able to train because of lack of funds. That is why we have very reasonable rates. We have very good family discounts. It is €3.50 per night per junior but if there are two in the class from the one family it is a ‘fiver’. If there are three in the family, it is still only a ‘fiver’. If we were to charge them what other clubs are charging, then families couldn’t do it, which is wrong.”

“And the drop off rate is already so high,” adds McSweeney. “You are only going to lose out on good students along the way, but I imagine that is the same with most sports.”

No doubt, the duo have seen it all down through the years. Both took up karate in their mid teens – training under long serving karate exponent and international competitor Johnny Moylan – and they reaped the rewards of their dedication and commitment by claiming numerous podium finishes on the international scene and securing a plethora of Irish and provincial titles over the years.
Among those honours, McSweeney has won the All-Irela

nd freestyle on three occasions, while McDermott has also inscribed his name on the same trophy the once.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.