Milestone for Cloughjordan Martial Arts duo

Cloughjordan Li Ching Wu Club marked an important milestone last Saturday with the Black Sash grading of two long-standing students, Eve O’Connor and Aiden Fitzmaurice.

Both students, now age 18, have trained for twelve years, making them among the club’s most dedicated practitioners. Family, friends, and local community members came together to watch a demonstration of both practical combat skill and the graceful movement at the heart of this martial art.

The afternoon began with a seminar taught by instructors from the Dublin branch, previous black sash students, and club Sifus.

Their grading included demonstrations of forms, trapping, self-defence, sparring and combinations, along with a demanding ShortFist section too.

ShortFist is a close-range combat format particular to the club’s syllabus, involving improvised wrist-to-wrist exchanges, which culminate in throws, takedowns and neutralisation techniques.

The grading itself showcased the broad spectrum of Li Ching Wu martial arts, from the traditional to the combative. Other displays included Sanshou sparring and close-range striking sequences such as Chi Sau and Nuk Sau, hailing from this style’s Chinese roots.

Despite the formidable techniques on display, the club’s non-violent ethos remained clear - expressed through presence, mutual respect, skill, and the deep connections formed over years of training.

The ceremony concluded with the awarding of their hard-earned Black Sashes by Sifu’s Patrick O’Connor, Aaron Bailey, and Karl Graham of the Dublin club. The event celebrated not only these achievements but the deep friendships and personal growth forged over twelve years on the mats.

Footage is available on www.youtube.com/@lichingwukungfu and on Instagram @cjlichingwu. Classes are on Thursday’s in St Kieran’s Hall, Cloughjordan and are open to children aged 6+, teens and adults. See Instagram or Facebook for contact details.