O.N.A.K.A.I.
NGB for Karate in Ireland
NGB for Karate in Ireland
We are very sorry to inform you of the sad passing of Sensei Richard Bruton, a longtime member of ONAKAI. Richard served on our refereeing panel for many years and officiated at numerous championships over the years. We extend our sincere sympathies to Richard’s family and friends at this difficult time. May he rest in peace. RIP Sensei Richard Bruton
A huge congratulations to all senior athletes selected for the upcoming European Championships in Frankfurt this May. We are proud to see you represent Ireland and wish you the very best in your preparations and competition — let’s go Team!
Cadet, Junior & Senior competitors — get ready! The National Championships 2026 will take place on Sunday 10th May Tallaght Leisure Centre, starting at 10:00 AM. New this year, there will be Mixed Team Kumite categories – Cadet, Junior & Senior. · 4 members per team · 2 Female & 2 Male · Team members DO NOT need to be from the same club. There also will be Team Kata Cadet & Junior Male Cadet & Junior Female Senior Male Senior Female Closing date to register: Sunday 3rd May Register online now through Sportdata
Our Women in Sport Conference in Dublin was a huge success What a fantastic event it was, bringing together females and males of all ages from across our karate community for a day of learning, connection, and empowerment. Check out the highlight video on Instagram.
We are thrilled to share the upcoming schedule for Carla Burkitt’s kumite seminars this May. A former England and Great Britain international athlete, Carla competed at the highest level for over a decade and finished her international career as British No. 1. Her achievements include Commonwealth titles, WKF Karate1 Series A and Premier League finals appearances, along with European silver and bronze medals, bringing a wealth of elite experience to athletes attending these sessions.
A massive well done to our Guardian Girls instructor Silvia who on Mother’s Day, celebrated the occasion by delivering our first official GGK session in Dublin. The morning was filled with energy, passion and lots of laughter! Silvia provided participants with the opportunity to learn the practical skills of self-defence while enhancing their confidence in a safe and welcoming environment. Silvia even treated the group to her own wonderful catering after the session and a chance to build further connections; all a vital part of what this programme is about! We are very much looking forward to continuing delivery of the programme in Dublin and across the island of Ireland. Thank you to Kaizen Dojo for use of their venue and to Sport Ireland for their continued support of the programme. We caught up with Guardian Girls instructor Silvia la Madrid Marquez to hear all about her first class "I only have words of gratitude for ONAKAI and Guardian girls karate. I delivered the very first official GGK Session in Dublin. It took place in Kaizen Dojo ( My second home ) I enjoyed it immensely. Willing to learn and help women and girls to empower themselves"
Sports First Aid Course Fully certified for 2 yrs on completion. The course covers : Sport first aid, CPR AED, Asthma, Allergies, Anaphylaxis, Wounds, Bleeding, Haemorrhage control, Strains, Sprains, Fractures, Epilepsy, Seizures, Concussion Identification and Management. Blended learning. One part can be completed on line. In person for the practical session on Saturday 11th of April. Venue Ballinasloe. Spaces filling quickly pls contact Marie Dolphin if interested in attending on wis@onakai.ie For females over 18yrs
Saturday, April 4th welcomes back Coach Keri for an important athlete development presentation delivered as part of our Female Strength & Conditioning session, focused specifically on helping our female athletes improve performance through smarter training and better recovery. This presentation is designed to give athletes a deeper understanding of how to manage the demands of training, recognise early warning signs when the body is under stress, and build habits that support long-term performance and resilience. Key areas covered will include recovery management, understanding important red flags that should never be ignored, identifying the primary keys that underpin consistent athletic progress, exploring acute recovery modalities, and learning practical strategies for injury prevention. The aim is to equip athletes with knowledge they can apply immediately to training, competition, and daily preparation so they can perform at a higher level while reducing injury risk.
We are delighted to welcome Dara Clifford back for an afternoon session where he will share his expertise and lead a reformer session. Dara is a chartered physiotherapist, sports injury specialist, and STOTT Pilates instructor, with extensive experience in injury rehabilitation, movement efficiency, and athletic performance. This session, funded through Women in Sport, is open to female athletes aged 16+ and will provide a valuable opportunity to learn how reformer-based training can support strength, mobility, and performance in karate. Bookings will open through our Women in Sport Group on Spond once date is confirmed.
