Members

Members Profiles Shihan Joe Hughes 7th Dan Joe (49) has been involved in Jiu-Jitsu for more than twenty seven years. He achieved 1st Dan on 28th November 1987 and achieved his 6th Dan Shihan in 1996. He is one the foremost authorities on Jiu-Jitsu fighting systems in the world today. He has a high level of commitment to the Art and is a brilliant caring Sensei. Amongst his great pleasures is seeing his students achieve their Dan grades. He has represented his Country many times and has given demonstrations and seminars throughout Ireland and in Germany. He is a commissioner on the national executive council and specialises in formalising the requirements for all gradings and syllabi examinations. He is a Sport Ju-Jitsu Silver medal holder from the World Ju-Jitsu Championships held in Doncaster, England in 1993. His main hobby for relaxation (after Jiu-Jitsu) is motor cycling. Shihan Ken Byrne 6th Dan Ken Byrne (42) started his career in martial arts at age 14. He achieved a brown belt in Kempo Karate in 1983. He joined Jiu-Jitsu in 1986 and achieved his 1st Dan Black belt on 19th May 1992. Declared Shihan at 5th Dan achieved on 20th April 1997. promoted to 6th Dan Shihan on 16th May 1999. He has represented Ireland in Europe and in the United States. He is a gold medal winner from the United States Karate-do Karate and Jiu-Jitsu Open Championships held in Peoria, Illinois, USA in July 2000. His present position on the National Executive Council is International Liaise Officer and Commisioner. He has assisted in establishing links for Jiu-Jitsu Ireland, through international seminars and courses, in the USA, France, Italy, Poland, Germany Belgium, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. He is involved in the successful completion of the formal Training Manual for Jiu-Jitsu Ireland. A long time goal was been to record the required knowledge from Beginner to Black Belt and ensure that the system can proceed forever. His greatest moment has been achieving the rank and title of Shihan Grade. He is accomplished Instructor and enjoys watching his students progress through their well-deserved grades. His other personal achievements include: Diploma in Architecture Technology 1986 League of Ireland Football for Dundalk 1985-86 Shot first Stag 1999 (his principle hobby outside of Jiu-Jitsu is hunting and shooting) Skied first Black slope - Italy 2002 Married a wonderful woman in 2005. Became an adoring dad in 2008. Shihan Justin Gough 5th Dan Justin (38) has been practicing Jiu-Jitsu for almost 20 years. He achieved his 1st Dan on 27th July 1993 and his 5th Dan in May 2001. He was declared Shihan at that time. He has represented Ireland several times over the years and is a European medal winner from the IMAF Jiu-Jitsu Championships in 1998. He holds a winners gold medal from the USKK Open Karate and Jiu-Jitsu Championships held in Peoria (Chicago USA) in 2000. He has been involved in Seminars, Courses and demonstrations in many parts of Europe (including France, Germany, Italy, Greece and the UK) and in the United States. He is the National Liaise Officer for Jiu-Jitsu Ireland and is a Director of the JJI Academy at Julianstown, Co. Meath, Ireland. Justin is a dedicated serious martial artist with very skilful knowledge and an excellent teaching rapor. Shihan Geoff O'Toole 5th Dan First took up Jiu-jitsu in June of 1989 and soon became an addict to the training and the now legendary Jiu-Jitsu Ireland “social scene”. Received shodan status in august 1993. He made contact with and trained with Jiu-Jitsu exponents in Australia when he resided there in 1993/1994. On returning to Ireland helped Shihan Ken Byrne to establish the Glasthule, South County Dublin Dojo, which was the mainstay of Jiu-Jitsu in the South Leinster Region. Geoff has been a mainstream player in Jiu-Jitsu Ireland affairs since he first joined in 1989. He formed part of the International Exhibition Team which travelled to several Countries including Poland, Germany, Italy and the United States. He was graded 4th Dan (Yondan) in February 2002. Officiated at European Jiu-Jitsu Championships held in Dublin in 2002. Has been involved in Jiu-Jitsu Ireland at administrative level having served on the National Executive Council as Chairman and was a  member of the Jiu-Jitsu Ireland Commission. Geoff was awarded his 5th Dan and declared Shihan in January 2006 in appreciation of his many years of dedication and commitment to Jiu-Jitsu Ireland. He greatly appreciates and holds great  pride in seeing his fellow martial artists represent their Country on a regular basis overseas. Achievements outside of martial arts: Honours degree in geography and sociology, Trinity college Dublin. Played representative Handball for Dublin. Worked as chef in award winning restaurants. Other interests: Deer hunting, fishing, ornithology, rugby, football, swimming, reading, theatre and movies. Shihan Don (Donald) W Dike 5th Dan Donald started his martial arts training in 1967 in Udon Thani, Thailand under Sensei Millon R. Smith, a nidan judoka from the Kodokan. Mr Dike achieved sankyu in 1968. After training in TKD for several years, Mr Dike started training in Karate and kobudo under Hanshi Phillip Koeppel (8th dan) in 1983. In the summer of 1988 Don was introduced to 10th dan Master Yuichi Kuda (Mr Koeppel's Sensei) and began receiving instruction from him at Mr Kuda's yearly seminars. One of Master Kuda's senior american students, Kenneth L Penland, (8th dan karate-10th dan jiu-jutsu) took an interest in Don and has been his tutor in karate, kobudo, and jiu-jutsu since 1989. In 1990 Don became the only person in USKK history to achieve the rank of shodan in kobudo before attaining that rank in karate. In 1993 Don started training in Shinto Yoshin Ryu under Sensei Alan B. Cromer. Mr. Cromer was a fellow instructor at Mr. Koeppels karate Dojo and introduced Don to Master Douglas Grose, 10th dan, of the AJKA. In the summer of the year 2000, Hanshi John D. Lupton brought the a Jiu-Jitsu Team from Ireland to the USKK National Championships to compete. Don befriended the JJI team and Johnny Lupton in particular, which resulted in Don traveling to Ireland on a regular basis. Don has established his Jiu-Jitsu creditials in the United States and left the USKK (despite being a life member) in order to build his own Dojo. He has achieved that ambition. Don is also a member of the International Shorin-Ryu Karate Kobudo Federation and American Ju-jutsu Karate Association. Jiu-Jitsu Ireland - Distribution of Black Belts Recognised and licenced Dan Grades for Jiu-Jitsu Ireland: Julianstown (HO) Justin Gough Marcy Weldon Breffni Gaffney John Cunningham Barry Reynolds John Kiely Stuart Waters P.J. Collins Barney Cunningham Dave Rooney (Deceased) Philip Browne Darren Ferguson. Ciaran Roche Dublin Glasthule Ken Byrne Geoff O'Toole Katrina Bouchier Ed Hick Margaret Bouchier Ultan Lacey Bredagh Moran John Cowap Shane Breslin Portrane Joe Hughes Siobhan Wolf Jim Bannon Willie Doyle Damien O'Shaughnessy Ashbourne Gerry Flanagan Kevin Monks Limerick Joe Nix Podge O'Brien Derry O'Malley Alan Power Shannon Robert Adrian Pat O'Connell Julian Kelly Conor Murphy Ennis Frank Duffy Castleblayney Tim Byrne Westport Adrian Noonan Waterford Michael Murphy Hong Kong Nigel Slattery Chicago (USA) Don Dike Germany Reiner Gabriel (Deceased) Jorg Kaspari