40 Years on....

40 Years on....

JIMMY BOYLAN - KENPO KARATE

I started training in March 1967 in Blessington street with Jim Rice and John Conway, I then moved after 6 months to Fitzwilliam street. I then left and joined the club in Dun Laoghaire and was first to be awarded brown belt. I got my 2nd and 1st brown belt under also in the Dun Laoghaire club, I then opened the Ballybough club in 1973 and trained there for 25 years. I was the first person to grade to black belt in I.K.A headquarters and my got 2nd degree there, I did my 3rd degree in the Ballybough club.
I taught in the Ballybough club for 25 years and Killester for 10 years. I was vice president of the I.K.A for over 20 years. I was involved on the committee for the start of O.N.A.K.J and trained with Ed Parker and John McSweeny (Father of Irish Karate) and more Kenpo practitioners. Visited California in November 07 and saw many styles there, it really opened my eyes to the various styles and I enjoyed my training there. Whilst in California, I trained in Kickboxing, Tae Kwan do, Kung-fu and of course, Kenpo, I returned with some great street-fighting techniques which I have incorporated into my teaching and training methods.
I will certainly be returning to the USA.