Joe Sweetman

Joe Sweetman

5th Dan JKA

Joe has been practicing Shotokan karate for 30 years. He started at 18 years of age with the Karate Union of Ireland under Sensei Tommy McGrane, 8th Dan. He was part of the Irish squad for many years, achieving international success in both kata and kumite. He is continuing his studies of karate under Sensei Masao Kawasoe. Joe is the Honorary Head Instructor of JKA Shotokan Ireland and a JKA-SI kyu grading examiner. Joe was awarded his JKA 5th Dan at Windsor in 2014

Liam Murphy

Liam Murphy

5th Dan JKA

Liam started training in karate in 1989 in Dublin City University (DCU) karate club. In 1993, he was awarded his 1st Dan by Masao Kawasoe Sensei. In 2001, Liam moved to Japan where he lived for a year, training in the Japan Karate Association's headquarters in Tokyo. Here he had the opportunity to train regularly under some of the most highly regarded Shotokan instructors in the world, including Osaka, Tanaka, Naka and Ueki Sensei. While in Japan, he also studied the traditional martial art of kyu-do (Japanese Archery). In 2014 he obtained his JKA 5th Dan from a grading panel that included Toshinori Mori Sensei and Masao Kawasoe Sensei. In addition to his traditional training, Liam has also represented Ireland several times at European and World Championship level in both kata and kumite. Liam is also a JKA-SI kyu grading examiner. In 2024, Liam successfully graded to 6th Dan JKTI in Glasgow with Sensei Kawasoe.

Louis Tuttle

Louis Tuttle

5th Dan JKA

Louis began his karate training in DCU karate club in 1990. He was awarded his 1st Dan by Sensei Kawasoe in 1995. In August 2009 Louis was awarded his 4th Dan by Kawasoe Sensei. Louis obtained his 5th Dan JKA rank in Edinburgh in 2015.

Neville Reilly

Neville Reilly

5th Dan JKA

Neville Reilly began karate in DCU in 1990 under Sensei Joe Sweetman and held numerous positions on the DCU karate club committee as a student. Neville received his shodan (1st Dan/Degree black belt) in 1995 from Sensei Masao Kawasoe 8th Dan, the same year he graduated with a B.(Eng) in Electronic Engineering. Neville spent two years working in the semiconductor industry in southern Japan and trained with the Ogi Branch of the Japan Karate Association under Ken Fukushima Sensei 6th Dan in Kyushu for this period. On his return from Japan Neville obtained his Nidan (2nd Dan) in 1999 and his Sandan (3rd Dan) in 2008 from Kawasoe Sensei. Neville graded to 4th Dan JKA at the JKA Edinburgh Course in August 2012 with Kawasoe Sensei and a JKA panel including Mori Sensei and Naito Sensei. Neville obtained his 5th Dan at the JKA Windsor Spring Course in April 2017 with a JKA panel of Kawasoe Sensei and Mori Sensei. Neville is Head Coach of JKA Shotokan Ireland and is a JKA-SI kyu grading examiner.

Fran Meggs

Fran Meggs

6th Dan JTKI

After a brief introduction to Kenpo, Fran joined the DCU Karate Club in 1990. He held a number of positions in the club committee and participated in the running of the DCU Karate Intervarsities in 1993, graduating with a BSc. in Computer Applications in 1994.
Fran received his 1st dan from Sensei Kawasoe in 1996 and his 2nd dan in 2000 in Edinburgh. Fran worked in Tokyo, Japan for four months in 2001 and trained in the new JKA headquarters in Bunkyo.
Fran received his 3rd dan in 2008 in Edinburgh. Fran graded to 4th Dan at the JKA Edinburgh Course in August 2012 with Kawasoe Sensei and a JKA panel including Mori and Naito Sensei. Fran obtained his 5th Dan at the JKA Windsor Spring Course in April 2017 with a JKA panel of Kawasoe Sensei and Mori Sensei.
Fran is the General Secretary of JKA Shotokan Ireland and is a JKA-SI kyu grading examiner. He also runs and manages the JKA SI Honbudojo. In 2024, Fran successfully gained his 6th Dan with Kawasoe Sensei at the Endinburgh JKA WF England Summer Event.

Jerome Dupuch

Jerome Dupuch

6th Dan

Jerome Dupuch is a fifth Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate-Do as well as a fully qualified ITEC Level II Fitness Instructor and a certified Personal Trainer. He started Karate in 1987 at 14 years of age in France, his home country & became a black belt in 1993. Jerome moved to Dublin in 1999 & started training as well as teaching in UCD Karate Club in 2000. As well as training in UCD, he was also attending specific Black Belts sessions three times a week in another club located in the former Pulse Gym in Dublin City Centre. He was graded to 2nd Dan in the WSI (World Shotokan Institute) in 2001 by Sensei Kawasoe, 8th Dan. This was after quite an intense four-day training seminar involving Sensei(s) Nishiyama, Shirai, Naito & Kawasoe in Windsor, England. In 2003, he obtained his third Dan from Sensei Kase, 9th Dan, during a training course in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2013 Jerome obtained his 4th Dan at the JKA Windsor Spring Course with Sensei Kawasoe. Jerome obtained his 5th Dan at the JKA Windsor Spring Course in April 2017 with a JKA panel of Kawasoe Sensei and Mori Sensei.

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Bryan McDonald

4th Dan JKA

Bryan Mac Donald joined Dublin City University as a lecturer in Mechanical Engineering in September 1997 and started karate in DCU karate club at the same time. Bryan has been the President of DCU karate club since 1998 and was awarded his 1st Dan (black belt) by Kawasoe Sensei in Windsor, England in April 2001. He travelled to Japan and trained briefly at the JKA in 2001. He was awarded his 2nd Dan in August 2003 and his 3rd Dan in August 2006 in Edinburgh by Kawasoe Sensei. He spent six months in Milan, Italy in 2009 training under Sensei Rosario Maffei and attended a number of courses with Sensei Naito and Sensei Shirai. He is currently a Senior Lecturer in the School of Mechanical Engineering at DCU. Bryan obtained his JKA 4th Dan at Windsor in 2014

Bill Hayden

Bill Hayden

4th Dan JTKI

Bill started training in UCD in 1979 with the Karate Union of Ireland under Sensei Brendan McGrath 3rd Dan and S ensei Tommy McGrane 8th Dan. During his student years he competed in both kata and kumite and was part of the UCD squad to compete in a memorable tour of Zimbabwe in 1992. Since returning to Ireland Bill has trained under Sensei John Hosey 4th Dan and Sensei Joe Sweetman 4th Dan and remains a regular instructor in the UCD Karate Club. He was awarded his Shodan in 1993 by the JKA in Crystal Palace under Keinosuke Enoeda Sensei, Yoshiharu Osaka Sensei and Tabata Sensei. Bill was awarded his Nidan in 1998 and his Sandan in 2010 both under Masao Kawasoe Sensei. Bill is currently the senior instructor at UCD Karate Club. In 2024, Bill successfully gained his 4th Dan with Kawasoe Sensei at the Endinburgh JKA WF England Summer Event.

Darragh O'Kelly

Darragh O'Kelly

3rd Dan JTKI

Darragh's first years of training were with Brendan McGrath while still in primary school. He began training with UCD Karate Club in 1991 and has maintained a close involvement with the club since. He now shares responsibility for instruction in the club with Bill Hayden. All of Darragh's Dan-gradings have been with Kawasoe Sensei, from Shodan in 1996 through to Sandan in 2010. Darragh is currently Affiliation and Licensing Officer of JKA Shotokan Ireland and is an Instructor in UCD Karate Club.

Donal Phelan

Donal Phelan

3rd Dan JKA

Donal first started training in UCD in 1982 with the Karate Union of Ireland under Sensei Brendan McGrath and Sensei Tommy McGrane, grading up to brown belt under Andy Sherry Sensei and Keinosuke Enoeda Sensei of the KUGB. Donal's work life meant taking a break from karate for a number of years but in 2002 he restarted his training in UCD Karate Club and then moved to Tanden Shotokan Club with Jerome Dupuch. He was awarded his Shodan in 2009 by Hiroshi Shirai Sensei. Donal graded to Nidan in 2011 and to Sandan in 2015 under Masao Kawasoe Sensei and Mori Toshihiro Sensei at the JKA course in Windsor. Donal now instructs in UCD Karate Club and also in SVJ Karate Club in Fairview. Donal is currently the Chairman of the JKA SI Committee.