North East Mugendo (Forkhill, Lordship & Newry) Kickboxing Students travelled to Cookstown last weekend to take part in the M.A.I (Mugendo Association of Ireland) black belt grading weekend. After attaining their second brown belts students are eligible to be nominated for their first Degree black belt. After nomination they must attend a Summer seminar (which took place in Sligo last year) and a two day grading weekend in January.

The students Paula Murchan (Forkhill), twin brothers Connor and Glenn Murphy (Lordship), Katelyn Cumiskey (Lordship), Dylan Murphy (who frequents Forkhill, Lordship & Newry) all performed very well in their first degree grading while Sensei Pierce McGeough (Newry) also successfully completed his second degree. The average time to get to a black belt in the M.A.I system is about 10 years continued training. The grading took part over two days where the students had to perform syllabus work which accumulated over their martial arts lifetime.
M.A.I has seven clubs throughout Ireland. Bodyshots (Newtownabby), Champions (Larne), Cookstown Mugendo (Cookstown), North East Mugendo - (Forkhill, Lordship & Newry) and Sligo Mugendo (Sligo). These clubs come together multiple times throughout the year to host gradings, seminars and the Mugendo Open kickboxing championships. As part of their training students must have first aid, complete a referees course, senior students must also complete a child protection course, an IMAC level 1 coaching course in kickboxing and complete Irish Garda Vetting.
If you would like to try kickboxing at any of our clubs contact Sensei Pierce McGeough on 07547786810 or checkout our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/north.east.mugendo.kickboxing


