Who would have known we would have developed and retained such great kenpo relationships after our martial arts friends from Ireland attended the Gathering of Eagles (GOE III) and the Kenpo Hall of Fame on June 22nd and June 23rd in 2007?
When the Ireland squad from over the pond, reached our shores here in America, they instantly charmed all those they came in contact with. They officially appeared at our Midlothian studio in Illinois on Friday night for a get together with GGM Al Tracy, along with part of their squad.
Maurice Mahon, Peter Coyle, Barney Coleman and Shay Paget were our special guests. Tommy Jordan, the first kenpo student in Ireland, was not able to attend this trip.
The Ireland gentlemen were held in high esteem by GGM Tracy and other Kenpo masters and groups. Their seminars were well attended with much enthusiasm and energy, as they gave attendees a look into the Ireland Kenpo they have fully embraced and kept alive for so many years.
Then, later in the year in October 2007, we were invited to Ireland to take part in a seminar filled and activity filled week ending with a special banquet and award ceremony. The event was called, “The Gathering of the Clans”. Those who were invited were, GGM Al Tracy, wife Pat Tracy, Tom Saviano and wife Theresa, Greg Mattson and Becky Mornar. We were honored to be there and experience the essence of Ireland Kenpo and share our Kenpo with them. We will always remember our trip and are thankful for their graciousness.
The following is taken from an article Becky Mornar wrote for the Art of the Warrior magazine, Volume VI, Issue I in 2008.
It is titled, “The 2007 Gathering of the Clans in Ireland”, to record the great event:
The good people of Ireland had no idea what was in store for them as John McSweeney came upon their shores in the early 1960’s. John McSweeney, a black belt in the first group of black belts of Ed Parker’s American Kenpo System, taught kenpo karate to the eager future kenpo martial artists, starting a wave of kenpo that still exists strongly to this day.
On a historical night, on Saturday, October 6, 2007, The Gathering of the Clans was held at the Royal Dublin Hotel in the city of Dublin where kenpo had it’s beginning in Ireland. A group of masters and stylists, gathered together in a genuine effort that unified different factions of kenpo. The top names in Ireland kenpo, along with top masters in other systems were in attendance.
Back row Left to Right, Peter Coyle, Tom Saviano, Barney Coleman, Greg Mattson, Dave Quinn.
The same masters who traveled to the United States and were honored and inducted into the 1st Kenpo Hall of Fame near Chicago, Illinois in June 2007, were re-honored “The Ireland Way” at the Gathering of the Clans banquet. These illustrious gentleman are Tommy Jordan, John McSweeney’s first student in Europe, Maurice Mahon, who was the youngest black belt awarded in Europe at the time, Peter Coyle, now President of the Irish Karate Association and also President of O.N.A.K.A.I (the official Nation Amateur Karate Association of Ireland), Shay Paget, original High Street instructor and Barney Coleman, original High Street Instructor as well.
This group of genuine and hardworking martial artists were recognized as the highest ranking kenpo martial artists in Europe. They were presented with certificates by Grand Master Al Tracy, from the Kenpo International Yudanshakai, recognizing their high status and for their untiring efforts to keep the kenpo that was taught and passed down to them from the late Grand Master John McSweeney, thriving in Ireland and Europe.
Tommy Jordan, Maurice Mahon and Peter Coyle were honored with 10th degree black belt certificates. Shay Paget was honored with a 9th degree certificate and Barney Coleman with an 8th degree certificate.
Among those honored at this banquet were masters from America to share in this experience. Grand Master Al Tracy of Tracy’s International System of Kenpo, (also in the first group of black belts of Ed Parker), his wife Pat, Master Greg Mattson and Master Becky Mornar (two of Mr. Tracy’s longtime students), Master Tom Saviano (who is a direct connection to John McSweeney), and his wife Theresa were honored and treated like royalty during the whirlwind trip to Ireland.
Their Irish hosts could not have been more gracious and generous during their eventful trip. Irish instructors held in esteem who also attended the banquet included, Paddy Kennedy, Michael Reilly, Alan Corrigan, Alan Kenny, Paul Coleman, Jimmy Poland, John Redmond and Alan Mulcahy. Many other kenpoists were in attendance as well as long standing Ireland Shotokan devotees, brothers Tommy and John McGrane.
Just prior to the Saturday night banquet, was a day of seminars lead by Grand Master Tracy and Master Tom Saviano. History and theory of Kenpo was covered by Grand Master Tracy followed by John McSweeney’s Power Strikes seminar, taught by Tom Saviano of White Tiger Kenpo Karate and longtime student of Mr. McSweeney.
The Ireland participants, consisting of high ranking black belts and lower belts as well, listened intently to Mr. Tracy during his seminar and eagerly asked questions, which were expounded upon and sometimes demonstrated by Mr. Tracy and a willing participant.
Grand Master Tracy, founder of the largest system of Kenpo, with over fifty years dedicated to kenpo itself, and is toted as the “kenpo historian”, had much information and many stories of actual events to share with the seminar group. Even on break, Mr. Tracy was always surrounded by any, imparting his knowledge to all who were receptive and eager to learn.
The following seminar of power strikes led by Mr. Saviano was fueled by desire and filled with high energy. Sounds of hearty kiai’s and loud smacks of the focus pads filled the air. All participants were working at top capacity throughout the seminar activity.
Following the Saturday seminars and banquet, were Sunday seminars, headed again by Grand Master Tracy and Master Saviano. Added to the agenda were Greg Mattson leading the group with some Tracy System of Kenpo techniques followed by various katas performed by Becky Mornar and analyzed by Mr. Tracy.
To round out the martial arts weekend, was a black belt test of Gavin Coleman, 8th degree Barney Coleman’s son, held at the High street Kenpo Karate Club in Dublin. He performed with heart and intensity before a large group of invitation only black belts representing various factions of kenpo and karate.
After his test, Gavin was awarded his black belt from Maurice Mahon and also received a congratulatory speech from Mr. Tracy who later presented Gavin a 1st degree black belt from the Kenpo International Yudanshakai.
Gavin Coleman is the first Shodan to be awarded from the Yudanshakai.
Ireland’s history goes deep into the hearts of the Irish. The kenpo karate history in Ireland began it’s roots with the late John McSweeney. In fact, almost all kenpo in Ireland and Europe has been started by Mr. McSweeney who planted a seed of hard training and no nonsense fighting. It was he who on February 26, 1963, opened up the first Kenpo Karate School in Europe while studying at Trinity College in Dublin.
The legacy began. The location at 40 Upper Fitzwilliam Street in Dublin became “home” to many future kenpoists who are still alive today. With Mr. McSweeney at the helm, four students, beginning with Tommy Jordan, set the stage for all to follow. Along with Tommy Jordan, were Maurice Mahon, James Rice and the late John Conway. Mr. McSweeney’s first degree black belts, whom were graded in 1965 to first degree black belts by the late Ed Parker, American Kenpo System founder, had the honor of becoming the first Kenpo black belts in Europe.
Bold, strong and hard training became their trademark, creating a reputation of striving for excellence, to reach the higher goal at all times. After Mr. McSweeney left Ireland in 1964 to return to the U.S., three of his top students, Mr. Jordan Mr. Mahon and Mr. Conway took over the reins of the Fitzwilliam Street Club.
As time went on in the 1980’s, Mr. Parker revamped the system to include more techniques and movements. Some followed this new change, but many in Ireland decided to follow what was originally taught to them by Mr. McSweeney. Tommy Jordan stayed with his teachings from Mr. McSweeney and went on to become the chief instructor for the Irish Karate Association, with Peter Coyle as President, both still holding those designations.
Now located in the Rathgar Kenpo Karate Club, which was actually started by Dave Quinn and Peter Coyle, the club is active and training hard with much integrity. Mr. Mahon opened his own club in 1967 naming it the Harcourt Street Karate Club. Hard work and strong performance were required to earn ranking along with honoring the art and your master.
Among the first dan’s coming out of his club were, Jackie Shelton, first generation and Shay Paget and Barney Coleman as second generation. From then on, the branches of the tree spread across Ireland and Europe.
Mr. McSweeney was chosen to inspire and impart knowledge of real life self defense. Realizing the need for protection against the rough and tumble pub fighting of the day, he trained good solid technique through kenpo karate to his students. As Mr. Tracy points out, part of the tradition, the heritage of the clan are the head butts that Mr. McSweeney was fond of and passed on to others for real use in the crude fighting in the pubs. This was taught and demonstrated at various seminars, with a door actually being cracked by his head butt! That’s some concentration and power with no injury to himself.
Tommy Jordan, still thinks the same way as Mr. McSweeney had thought years ago that, “Emphasis should be on streetfighting”. That is still a top priority. It was truly designed as a martial art. Again, going along with Mr. McSweeney’s early inspirations, Mr. Jordan feels how necessary self defense also is in this day and age.
It is essential for both males and females to learn because of situations where they will encounter many people in various stages of drinking and drugs. Along with many other top martial artists, Mr. Jordan insists on emphasizing learning proper technique to get out of real life holds and grabs and to develop speed and accuracy.
Maurice Mahon started kenpo karate in 1963 as well. His respect and admiration of Mr. McSweeney, who became his role model, is as strong today as in years past. He speaks of a time where others tried to accuse Mr. McSweeney of unfounded accusations against him. Mr. Mahon personally witnessed this years ago, and still tells how Mr. McSweeney defended himself through his deep passion and love for his art. He did this with much integrity, which still stays in the hearts and minds of many to this day.
The same hard work ethics of training that he originally learned from Mr. McSweeney are still foremost in training his own students. Practical experience is very much needed along with solid technique. He says, “When your comfort zone is being comprised and walking away is not an option, you have to get on with it.”
Proper technique and basics are also emphasized by Peter Coyle. He feels getting back to the roots with practical and effective technique is absolutely essential. Focusing on basics, repetition of basic blocks, strikes, etc. need to be emphasized. Techniques in sparring and kata are just “window dressing” without the proper basics. He says, “If you can punch stronger and faster than the next person, the rest of it is just padding.”
Grand Master McSweeney engrained very practical technique in his students, including quality punches and kicks that could be quite effective in a defense in a fight where it would make a difference in protection of one’s self. He has noted that some, nowadays, rely and stress instruction focusing on the intellectual, rather than the physical aspects of karate. They could be thought of as “kenpo theorists”.
Even though theory plays an important part of kenpo practice, “they need to get back to the roots and practicality and back to common sense”. They need to find out what really works and what won’t work on the street is a priority. He mentions, “If you haven’t got strength of delivery and speed and you’re not well grounded in your stances, you won’t be terribly effective.”
Even though Mr. Coyle has experience in other martial art forms, he still comes back to kenpo. “Kenpo is much more and is all embracing.”
Along with Mr. Jordan, Mr. Mahon and Mr. Coyle, Mr. Shay Paget stresses the importance of basics. In fact he says, “The most critical thing about kenpo, is that you need basics. That’s the key.” He feels that power principles and family groupings are not taught by many nowadays. The training was a lot tougher years ago…no hand or foot pads were used. Training was hard.
He notes that in new systems, the training doesn’t seem as hard. Things have become more modernized. Years ago, the training was seven days a week, including many hours of basics and technique. Even though greatly entrenched in the old hard way of training, Mr. Paget realizes the benefits of analyzing to understand the principles of logic and reasoning behind the movement.
Barney Coleman has also seen the changes in the older to newer karate. He doesn’t see the same passion and loyalty of older times. He remembers classes led by Mr. Mahon and Mr. Paget, that demonstrated breaking tiles and boards. This was done on a constant basis every week. He remembers, “We were in the forefront. We were known very well as the Demolition Brigade.”
Practical training was commonplace back then at a time when many did not have any idea what kenpo or karate for that matter was all about. Newer students don’t seem to bond like before, and many have a different view of loyalty. Proudly referring to the original group teaching kenpo in Ireland as true samurai, he says “That’s the way we teach. It’s like the procedure…If I’m with you in battle, I’ll die with you. That’s our code.”
Honored American guest, Tom Saviano also stresses hard training. Fitness is so important in self-development. He thinks that students taught in Europe and Asia have more patience. The same commitment isn’t so apparent in the U.S. Too many want black belts in just a few years of training, and some are awarded at the tender age of ten or less, before real life experience and maturity can develop.
It begins with the instructor being honest with their students by relaying to them that black belts are awarded through hard training, much personal effort and…time. He feels that, “Kenpo is a total, very practical martial art. Kenpo is repetitive motion.” Again, like the others, you need to be prepared, to the highest degree, against any situation where you are being attacked.
There is a common thread of hard training and loyalty from all of the masters honored at the Gathering of the Clans. It’s quite simple….there are no huge mysteries, no ancient secrets….just good hard work, strong desire, integrity, loyalty and the desire to share the knowledge honestly and fairly with all willing to learn.
The Gathering of the Clans in Ireland, was an important step to begin to join the factions of kenpo that have developed over the years, together under the same umbrella. The now top kenpo people, would like to see a unification of kenpo karate where all will be able to work in harmony. As Mr. Coleman remarks, “The front line is responsible to help make progress and move forward, for those who want to move forward.”
At the Gathering, there was a showing of mutual respect for each other and a desire to see growing and continued respect. Cooperation, cohesion and interaction were apparent and important stepping stones for the future. Grand Master Tracy sees that the direct lineage started by Grand Master John McSweeney in the early 1960’s at the Fitzwilliam Street location, goes back many years. These men have always maintained a fierce loyalty.
The clan has hugely expanded throughout all of Europe, beginning with Mr. McSweeney and some tough, eager, serious minded men who took their instructor’s teachings to heart. As Mr. Tracy mentions, “With the exception of myself, my two brothers and about 2 or 3 others, this group of kenpo men in Ireland are SENIOR to all other kenpo stylists in the world.
This original group (still active), started with John McSweeney in 1963. Almost all kenpo in Ireland and Europe can be traced back to John McSweeney.”
The Gathering of the Clans in Ireland and The Gathering of the Eagles in the U.S. were both truly great events, where various factions in Ireland and America joined in unity, appreciation and respect for a shared vision for kenpo.
Side notes: The official, original Yudanshakai chosen by GGM Al Tracy himself, consisted of: Greg Mattson, Becky Mornar, Ted Sumner, Bart Vale, Peter Coyle, George Lim, Pat Tracy, Mark Tracy and Joe Rebelo.
We still have the original tape recordings of the Ireland gentlemen utilized for their interviews. Great to replay to hear their voices!
We were happy to have accompanied our instructor and mentor, the late GGM Al Tracy, on such a momentous and important historic occasion.
More to come………….