Clubs

Tae Kwon Do

The University of Galway TaeKwon-Do Club celebrated it's 25th year as a University club in 2018/19. We are a member of Taekwondo Ireland, but welcome students from all organisations and taekwondo affiliations.

Taekwon-Do is one of the most widely practiced martial arts in the world. It is both a style of combat and international sport of Korean origin. As one of the most successful Taekwon-Do clubs in the country, we are consistently turning out national and international competitors. Looking for competitive glory, to get fit, or to meet people and just have a good time, come join the University of Galway Taekwon-Do club today.

History

The university of Galway Taekwon-Do Club celebrated it's 25th year as a University club in 2018/19. We are a member of Taekwondo Ireland, but welcome students from all organisations and taekwondo affiliations.

Our head instructor Mr. Spelman is the first IV Dan Black Belt of Taekwon-Do in our club and has been a member of the club since he joined as a white belt nearly 20 years ago. Our other instructor Ms. Fitzpatrick is a III Dan Black Belt. She has been a member of the club since she joined as a white belt. A new addition to our instructors are Ms O'Loughlin, Ms Rzeznik, Mr Ó Murchú and Mr Croke who are all I Dan Black Belts and still students at the university.

Achievements

TI World Championships - Birmingham - July 2017

Well done to Agata Rzeznik, Aaron Croke, Nathan Deane-Huggins, Lorcan McCarthy and Roisin O'Loughlin who traveled over to Birmingham to compete as part of the Irish TKDI team at the Taekwon-Do International World Championships. This was a huge competition, with competitors travelling from as far as the USA and Australia.

Our members were unlucky in the patterns section of the competition, but did very well in the sparring part of the tournament. 

Results:

• Agata Rzeznik, bronze in individual sparring
• Nathan Deane-Huggins, silver in individual sparring and gold in Ultimate Striker
• Lorcan McCarthy, silver in Ultimate Striker
• Roisin O'Loughlin, silver in Ultimate Striker

(Pictured: Mr Jordan Lacey, Lorcan McCarthy, Agata Rzeznik, Nathan Deane-Huggins, Ms Roisin O'Loughlin, Aaron Croke)

May 2018, Annual Black Belt Grading and Awards Night:

• Ms Roisin O'Loughlin awarded her 1st degree black belt.
• Agata Rzeznik won the Taekwondo Ireland Senior Competitor of the Year Award.
  

Spring Grading 2018:

Promotions: 

• Aaron Croke, Red belt
• Agata Rzeznik, Red tag
• Nathan Deane-Huggins, Blue tag
• Lorcan McCarthy, Yellow belt
• Stephen Hughes, Yellow belt
• Luke Coughlan, Yellow belt
• Deborah Malone, Yellow belt
• Emmet Devaney, Yellow belt

Thanks to Master Burke who traveled up from Cork to grade everyone.

T.A.G.B. Birmingham - November 2017

Well done to Agata Rzeznik, Aaron Croke, Nathan Deane-Huggins and Roisin O'Loughlin who all went over to Birmingham and competed in the T.A.G.B. British Championships. This was a massive competition with over 1500 competitors that was held in the Barclay Arena in Birmingham. 

Our members were unlucky in the patterns section of the competition but did very well in the sparring part of the tournament. 

Overall, it was a fantastic experience and a great time was had by all.

Results:

• Agata Rzeznik, silver in tag sparring and bronze in individual sparring
• Nathan Deane-Higgins, bronze in individual sparring
• Roisin O'Loughlin, bronze in individual sparring

November Grading 2017:

Promotions:

• Cathal Ó Mhurcú, Red belt
• Aaron Croke, Red tag
• Agata Rzeznik, Blue belt
• Darrough Tock ,Blue tag
• Nathan Deane-Higgins, Green belt
• Regine Reineke, Green belt
• Deborah Malone, Yellow tag
• Stephen Hughes, Yellow tag
• Lorcan McCarthy, Yellow tag
• Trevor Hyland, Yellow tag
• Emmet Devaney, Yellow tag
• Owen Higgins, Yellow tag
• Brian Fox, Yellow tag

October 2017 Connacht Championships

Very well done to all of those who attended Connacht Taekwon-do Championships today! Especially to all of the new members of the club: Reg, Lorcán and Emmet 

Results:

• Roisin O'Loughlin, Gold in patterns & gold in sparring
• Cathal Ó Mhurcú, Silver in sparring
• Aaron Croke, Gold in patterns and silver in sparring
• Agata Rzeznik, Silver in patterns and silver in sparring 
• Regime Reineke, Gold in sparring 
• Nathan Deane-Higgins, Gold in patterns and gold in sparring
• Emmet Devaney, Bronze in patterns and bronze in sparring 
• Lorcan McCarthy,Bronze in patterns and silver in sparring. 
  

Congratulations to you all.

May 2014 Annual Black Belt Grading and Awards Night:

• Mr Adrian Lawless Awarded his 2nd degree black belt
• Mr Peter Spelman promoted to TKDI Examiner

May 2013 Annual Black Belt Grading and Awards Night:

• Mr.Peter Spelman, Head Instructor, Awarded his 4th degree black belt.
• Mr. Joshua Byrne, Awarded his 1st degree black belt and also won the Taekwon-Do Ireland Competitor of the year award.

Meetings

We train in the Kingfisher Sports Hall at the following times:

Monday 8 - 10 pm, Hall 3

Wednesday 7 - 9 pm, Hall 2

Thursday 8 - 10 pm, Hall3

Saturday 12 - 2 pm, Racquetball Court 

Training is Free of charge to all registered NUIG students, Staff and Alumni

Keep an eye on our Facebook page for all recent updates.

All updates and links to training sessions are regularly posted on our Facebook page. 

Contact Us

You can get in touch with us through our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/nuigalwaytkd), by contacting us on our snapchat (nuigtkd), by instagram (University of Galway Taekwondo Club)  or by emailing us at taekwondo@clubs.nuigalway.ie 

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