'Karate is not just for young people it's for everyone'

Claremont Stadium early on a Thursday evening and the hall in the complex is buzzing with activity. Two members of Navan Kenpo Karate Club, Ronan Collins and his wife Jennifer, are conducting a class of youngsters. Around the walls sit parents on chairs chatting and watching as their children go through the various routines.

It's all part of a course the couple are running for the children. Ronan, who founded the club in 1982, is one of the most highly qualified karate coaches in Ireland. He has coached adults and children for many years. Jennifer too has carved out her own distinctive niche. She is, in fact, in a class of her own.

Earlier this year the mother of four become the only woman 5th Dan in the country under the aegis of the Irish Kenpo Karate Union. It's clearly rare that anyone should reach that lofty plateau and it suggests a gritty, commendable durability.

Not, she adds quickly, she could have obtained such lofty status without the support of her husband. "I wouldn't be here today and know all I know if it wasn't for Ronan because I came to the sport as a student and Ronan has thought me everything I know to this day."

Not that it was easy either - even with Ronan's support. Becoming a 5th Dan that is. Far from it. Jennifer, for starters, has been involved in karate most of her life. She has spent countless hours practicing and training, honing her skills, getting to know the various techniques at the different levels so they she can repeat them without having to think about it.

"I have been training for about 30 years, in and out, between having children, working full time (she's a special needs assistant), trying to help out with the club, going to competitions. I'm also a judge and referee at this competitions. It's been quite a busy life down through the years but I wouldn't have had it any other way."

Navan KKC she adds "is a family run club with numerous competitors having competed at national, European, World and Olympic qualifiers."

Like everyone involved in karate Jennifer started at a basic level. She then began to start moving up through the ranks attaining the belt colours as she progressed along they way. Those colours acknowledged her new-found status as he moved ever upwards and onwards - yellow, orange, purple, blue, green, brown before the summit was reached and the coveted black belt was attained.

She also progressed through the Dan gradings and, after years of practicing, improving, she achieving the coveted 5th Dan status. The mental and physical challenges she needed to overcome on the journey were considerable.

"When you become a second Dan, for instance you have a new set of techniques you have to learn and so on through third, fourth right up to fifth Dan status. As you move on you have to remember all the techniques you have learned along the way in the previous grades."

Not that kenpo karate has to be an onerous, arduous sport demanding a high standard from those who take part. It is, she insists, as difficult or easy, as you want it to be. It's also a sport that people of any age can pick up. "Karate is not just for men or young people it's for everyone," she adds with meaning.

Among Navan Karate club's most recent recruits are a group of women who have children with special needs who are also coached by Ronan and Jennifer.

"The women brought their children along and they felt that they might be too old to take up karate themselves. Ronan pointed out to them that karate is just not for the young, it's for any age and you do it to your individual ability."

Jennifer and Ronan have four children - Justyne, Cormac, Ciaran and Ruaidhri. They too have all become immersed in the sport and, like their parents, have tasted plenty of success on the international front since kick-starting their respective careers.

Jennifer Byrne grew up in Navan and it was through her involvement with the local karate club she met and married Ronan, a Corkman. Originally Jennifer had been encouraged to join the karate fraternity by a member of her own family. It was one of those very significant moments in a person's life; a turning point."My sister Sandra used to train with the club and she said to me to try karate and I did. I just loved the physicality involved and the social side too."

Jennifer feels strongly karate should be part of the school curriculum. She can't quite understand why more women don't sign up. Maybe it's the various pressures of life, jobs, children so on? Maybe it's something else. She just knows she feels a lot more comfortable going about knowing she has the skills to defend herself if needs be.

"Karate gives you confidence and ability that God forbid you were attacked you would be in a position to defend yourself," she adds.

Karate, she adds once more, has enriched her life in all sorts of ways.