Success in Europe
The following was released on the Kendo Na hEireann website. Well done to Jason and Robin from Cork and Martin from Dublin.
Well done to the Irish squad for coming third again at Kurasawa. This is the second year in a row an Irish team has come placed at an international competition (and there were teams from UK, Spain, Germany, Italy, Andorra etc. and more). This is also the second time ever that an Irish team have been placed at this particular taikai, next year we will be the seeded team again!
The competition was much harder again this year, but the team did great and were highly respected and praised by all the sensei and sempei there including the 3 hachidan. The Irish squad fought 5 teams (including the German team) and had 15 fights and 1 encho. We won 11, drew 3 and lost 2. We scored 23 ippon and had 7 scored against us.
The Irish had the best attitude, strongest kiai and seme and perfect etiquette during the whole taikai.
During the taikai Martin awed the audience and stole the show with his kiai and spirit (no surprises there) and received the fighting spirit award (which was awarded to the Castro team last year), which was a trophy almost as big as the cup, at least a foot tall!!!!! His techniques were sharp and straight and every single person he fought was intimidated and overpowered by him.
In special note Jason fought a breathtaking encho on the quarter finals where he sealed the deal with the most amazing Kote-men. He then became sempei (for the following days seminar) and had people queueing for him (6 deep)at keiko 
. Jason also had the best keiko with the hachidans (at the sempei only keiko at the end of the seminar), where he had an amazing fight and beat sensei with seme men and was then rewarded with a killer never ending uchikomi. But in true fashion Jason kept going with excellent uncompromising kendo and won a standing applause from the crowd.
I cannot emphasis enough what these guys have done on behalf of Irish kendo and on behalf of the ordinary members. By acting as an envoy of Irish kendo they are putting us on the map at their own expense and effort. We should all salute their achievements and thank them by trying our best to follow in their footsteps with good spirit, politeness and proper kendo! If you have a chance practice keiko with these guys don’t try to beat them, try to learn from them. If you are in class with them, watch them and practice how they practice and what they practice.
Well done to the guys and the Irish team, it was a privilege to fight with ye. Rob
PS special kudo’s go to Africa who helped us out so much with translation, directions and general help. Well done to her also for her 2 wins and 0 losses at the taikai!