Black Dragon Kickboxers Celebrate National Champions
Tipperary’s Black Dragon Kickboxing Club is celebrating the dedication and hard work of its members that include Erika Ryan’s 1st Dan Black Belt grading and her success winning the under 18 teens, – 55kg Irish Championship and Antonio Rea becoming the newly crowned the I.K.F. Irish Full Contact Kickboxing Champion.
The Premier caught up with Head Coach and Proprietor Mark Price to discover the club’s achievements.
Congratulations to Erika Ryan who passed her 1st Dan Black Belt grading A+ Grade. Erika is from Monard and joined the Black Dragons when she was 11 years old. Now the 17 years-old St. Anne’s secondary school pupil is a 1st Dan Black Belt instructor and teaches the Little Dragons Class and the Junior Kickboxing Class with Head Coach and proprietor Mark Price. “The club has been open eight years and Erika is my first Black Belt student to come through the club,” said Mark. “Well done Erika, super proud of you and thanks to Patrick Ryan 3rd Dan Black Belt for overseeing the grading and Black Dragon Kokuryu Kai Association, World All Styles Combat Association for the official certificate.”
Molly Price started at age 5 in the Little Dragons Kickboxing class and moved up to the junior Kickboxing class last year. Molly, from Tipperary Town, is now 9-years of age and earned grading for her Yellow Belt.
“Molly continued her training during the lockdown and has improved so much over the years. I’m super proud of her and her Grandfather Billy Boy Price would have been so proud of her too. Well done Molly Price,” added Head Coach Mark.
The Black Dragon Kickboxing club enjoyed great success at the recent IKF Irish National Kickboxing Championships held in Galway. Erika Ryan had two tough fights on the day. Both fights were 3-rounders and Erika won both fights to become the under 18 teens, – 55kg Irish Champion. Antonio Rea had four
tough fights on the day, Antonio won all his fights to become the under 14 teens, +50 kg Irish Champion.
“I am so proud of both of them, they are great role models for everyone in the gym. To say I’m over the moon for both of them is an understatement,” said Mark.
The Black Dragons continued to breath fire at the Paul O’Brien Kickboxing show held in Limerick in June.
Tipperary Town’s Antonio Rea was newly crowned the I.K.F. Irish Full Contact Kickboxing Champion. Mark says, “I am super proud of Antonio on how he conducts himself in and outside of the ring. A true champion. And well done to Antonio’s opponent Alex Cooke.”
“Alex Roche had a great fight against Niall Power. Both lads showed great kickboxing skills with Alex obtaining the win but well done to Niall too – excellent fight lads.”
“Dylan Ralph had a tough fight, and his opponent Bohdan Stek took the win. Congratulations to Bohdan and well-done Dylan. I am super proud of my three lads… you did great.”
“All our students that win championships, fights and are graded train regularly and put in countless hours of training for these gradings. They have a great attitude in class and a great attitude outside of the club. They show a great respect for the martial art they are learning, and this is very important to
keep standards high in the club,” added Mark. The club held Introduction to Kickboxing classes with participants from second year and TY students from St Ailbe’s Secondary School and also a Self-Defence class with participants from the Knockarawley Resource Centre.
Thanks to Erika Ryan, Aisling, Alannah and Carragh for helping in both classes.
For information on classes and enrolments contact Mark Price: 087 127 3094.