Welcome to the home page of the Ophir Karate Association, Northern Ireland

The association was founded by Siobhan Leckey (nee Brunton) and Martin Campbell. They both began training in 1977 and, in 1994, having secured premises belonging to the scout troop at Ophir Gardens (hence the name) off the Cavehill Road in North Belfast, they formed the current group. Siobhan, with her vast international experience on the mats, was appointed chief instructor.

After five years, they decided to join up with the renowned Sensi Derek Desmond(photo), the national fighting coach for Ireland, based in Dublin with the  Wado kai Karate Association of Ireland. WKAI have received their charter from Japan conferring on them the status of 'country headquarters' - THE official body for Wado in Ireland. 

That move paved the way for membership of the all Ireland governing body, the Official National Amateur Karate Association of Ireland - ONAKAI - and with it, the opportunity for Ophir members to participate in high level competition and coaching courses, many with senior Japanese instructors such as K. Sakagami Sensi and Harakawa Sensi.

While we do not see ourselves as fixated with winning trophies, we nevertheless encourage students to participate in a wide range of competitions.  Over recent years Ophir members, senior and junior, have lifted a number of national titles and have been involved in competing with the Irish squad at home and abroad.

Sunday 27 April, the Ophir Junior Squad travelled to Letterkenny, County Donegal to take part in the finals of the ONAKAI Junior League. With participants from Nth Donegal to Cork, and Galway to Dublin taking part, our young karate-ka came away with an amazing haul of FIVE Gold medals. Three in Kata and two in kumite. All the hard work is starting to pay off!!

                APRIL 2008 -  FIVE GOLD MEDALS IN ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE FINAL

Since 2004, O.N.A.K.A.I., the governing body for karate in Ireland, have hosted a nationwide karate league for children. Fixtures are held on a provincial basis, with the majority of the Ulster fights being held in Newry. In the autumn of each year, the winners of each age/weight category from all four provinces meet to decide the All-Ireland champions. 

Ophir Killyleagh junior, Niamh Cunningham,(right)  who won Gold at the recent - 21 June 2008 - Wado Invitation Championships   held at the ALSAA Sports Stadium, Dublin.   Niamh is the daughter of the former, highly successful international fighter, Tom Cunningham who is currently training with the Ophir  Killyleagh club and acting as assistant coach to the Ophir Junior Squad.          Niamh is typical of many of the youngsters currently training with Ophir: highly dedicated and highly motivated to succeed in all aspects of the art. 

  Ophir Junior squad, with coaches Martin Campbell and Tom Cunningham  and referees Darren Brown and Siobhan Leckey  at the ONAKAI Junior National  Championships at the ALSAA Stadium, Dublin.

Siobhan Leckey, Martin Campbell and Darren Brown in Ophir Headquarters,  North Belfast.                      Between them, they have over eighty five years of experience in Wado karate including competition at World level and officiating at European level.

With an emphasis on kata training, Ophir is intent on retaining the traditional aspects of the art form. With considerable time spent on the practice of basic techniques and the exploration of kata, Ophir sees karate not as a pastime, or something to do for a couple of evenings a week, but truly as a "way of life".

Martin and Siobhan with Brian Delaney, from the Northern Ireland Sports Council, at the Award in Coaching presentations held at the Lansdown Court Hotel Belfast. It was attended by twenty martial artists from throughout the Greater Belfast area.

  below -        Multi-discipline Martial Arts coaches

Lansdown Court Hotel, Belfast. Awards ceremony. Monday 20 March 2006

PRESS ARTICLE

It’s not often that Northern Ireland sports can claim to be ahead of the game but 23 Martial Arts experts from all over Belfast proved sport in Ireland leads the way in Coaching Excellence. The 1st ever Award in Coaching Studies Programme available to a group of martial arts coaches from different disciplines in Northern Ireland was made available due to the foresight and determination of the North Belfast Sports Forum, with the assistance of course facilitator from Coaching NI, Martin Rice. Some of the top Martial Arts coaches in the country came together to work tirelessly to ensure the success of this prestigious accreditation. Last night at the Lansdowne Court Hotel, Brian Delaney, Community Sports Education Development Officer for the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, was on hand to award the certificates and to pay tribute to the coaches, “In my experience there are very few sports coaches who can compare with the levels of determination and dedication that is intrinsic in Martial Arts coaching,” said Mr Delaney. “The importance of instilling respect, self development at all levels is something other sports struggle to instil in participants, but something that these coaches do as a matter of fact” All 23 martial arts coaches from a variety of disciplines including Karate Jutsu, Judo, Karate, Taekwondo and Jujitsu found that working towards the ACS was an excellent way to share good practice and contribute to their continuous professional development as coaches. 

Latest News: On Saturday 8 April, Siobhan and Martin were awarded a further Level 2 coaching award by the National Coaching and Training Centre in LImerick, as part of the National Coaching and Development Programme. They are now members of an elite group of only sixteen karate ka in Ireland who have received this coveted award.

Martin, Darren and Siobhan pictured at a recent training  course in Dublin with a group of the most senior Japanese Wado masters.

Ophir senior instructors at the Masters' Sports Karate Seminar in Dublin. Hosted by ONAKAI, the two day course, featured world -class coaches Angel Delgado Pozo and Antonio Olivia Seba and Chairman of the Referee Council of the World Karate Federation, Tommy Morris. It was attended by around fifty senior karate-ka from throughout Ireland and Scotland. 

Through our membership of the national governing body, we are proud to be associated with the World Karate Federation.

Member of the International Alliance of Martial Arts Schools. We offer a warm welcome to any visiting martial artist. 

Members of ONAKAI. The Official National Amateur Karate Association of Ireland. The All Ireland Governing Body for karate.

Members of the European Karate Federation

 YOU CAN CONTACT US @ :: admin@ophir-karate.co.uk

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