Sligo Green Dragon Sports Karate Club have set such numerous high standards in the past that it would take something stupendous to equal just some of their previous achievements.
That is what happened, though, when a group of the club’s well-drilled martial artists, including newcomers and established fighters, represented Ireland at the recent World Traditional Karate Association (WKTA) World Championships in Viareggio, Italy.
The Sligo contingent, who were coached by Michael Sweeney, son of the club’s chief instructor, John Sweeney, swooped for an unprecedented array of medals.
In the individual categories, Sligo Green Dragon members secured 11 gold, nine silver and four bronze.
These 24 medals were spread across two disciplines – Points Karate and Traditional Kumite – and in various weight divisions.
The team events yielded further glory for the local fighters, as the Men’s and Boys’ ‘A’ teams both won their sections.
People in Sligo could get a chance to see a World Championships here in 2007 as the Green Dragon club have been provisionally awarded the WTKA World Championships for 2007, but now have to see if the necessary facilities and other infrastructure can be put in place.
The Sligo club holds the franchise for the WTKA in Ireland. There was no time to hold an elimination tournament for the World Championships this time but they hope to do so for next year’s World Championships, which will be held in Venice.
“We hope to run eliminations here [Sligo] for the Irish team and any clubs locally who wish to avail of the opportunity to let their people compete in these World Championships. The door is open because we a non-political body,” said coach Michael Sweeney.
“There are an awful lot of clubs in this region who have got good fighters, such as kata and shotokan fighters. There is a space for them to compete in the WTKA event.”
Because this was Sligo Green Dragon’s first time to compete at international level with the WTKA, Michael said that they went into the competition without really knowing what to expect.
The WTKA is new world body, which would be a lot bigger than the WKO, with which the Green Dragon club had been affiliated.
There are 30 countries represented in the new association. “The only standard of fighters that we knew about were the English,” he commented.
But the Sligo club returned with the biggest haul of world titles that they have ever taken back from a tournament.
Michael said that for the size and standard involved, it showed the calibre of competitors in Sligo.
“We might never achieve this again in a lifetime. But we have achieved it once, so hopefully we can do it again.”
There was a particularly impressive performance from his younger brother, Jonathan Sweeney, who won three titles.
He set a new record over the course of the tournament. He scored 81 points and there were only three points scored against him. Also very impressive were Tommy Elberse and Shelly Langan, who both won two world titles. Shelly Langanalso won two silver medals.
But so successful was the Sligo club that everyone that travelled won a medal of some kind.
Michael Sweeney puts their success down to the way that they train and prepare.
“We get new people in and we are always evolving and using new techniques.”
Bringing in new techniques is very important.
“If opponents from another country are faster or smarter then you must have something that they haven’t got. We are fantastic kickers. We work so much on flexibility and speed rather than power.”
Apart from Jonathon Sweeney, Shelly Langan and Tommie Elberse, others to take world titles were Ben Healy, Robert Harrington, Katie Clinton and Tommie Teape.
Silver medals were won by Shelly Langan (2), Ben Healy, Robert Harrington, Liam Codd, Katie Clinton (2), Ian Oates, Ciaran Devaney and Chris Byrne. The club’s bronze medal winners were Ciaran Devaney, Thomas Laffey, Ian Oates and Karol McDonnell.