David explained "This year's camp was the best yet, with over a hundred students from all over Ireland coming along to train with top instructors.  For me personally it was a fantastic experience to coach along side top Welsh martial artists Stephen and Cedric Wellington and two of their instructors, David Godfrey and Andy Morgan.  These guys are right up there with the world's best when it comes to kumite. They come from the Vic Charles stable of world beaters."

The camp was hosted by Sensei Patsy Whelan and as always was a great week for all participants, many of whom moved up a grade at the end of the course.

The training was very tough, with Andy (nick-named The Torturer) making sure that no one tried to get into class late.  If they did they were made to do press-ups.   However we still had time for fun, especially for the junior students who enjoyed working in small groups with the instructors to lean more skills in Kata and Kumite. 

Many of the local Carnalea karate students are hoping to travel back to Carlow at the start of October for the international event, where once again they will be aiming to collect more silverware. Others will be using the event as a warm up for the forthcoming World Junior Championships which is taking place later that month in Hannover .

Junior students in the club are training hard for the next grading which is scheduled to take place shortly at Carnalea.

New starts are welcome to our club at this time of the year, especially Duke of Edinburgh students and parents.

Photographs from the event