About IKKI Karate
Welcome to the official website of Itosu-kai Karatedo Ireland, Karate & Kobudo Association. The association was founded in 1976 in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway. Itosu-kai karate caters equally for male and female students and classes are structured to cater for all ages and abilities. We are the Irish branch of Itosu-ryu Karatedo International Federation (IKIF)
We teach traditional Japanese-Okinawan karate & kobudo in our clubs. Our style of karate is an ancient and honourable art form stemming from the Shuri-te master Sokon Matsumura (1798-1890) through the 1st Soke, Anko Itosu (1830-1915) to the present day 4th Soke, Sadaaki Sakagami. Itosu-kai karate training can benefit your general health, well-being, fitness and become your self-defense. While our emphasis is on traditional karate, we also teach sport karate.
Kobudo (the ancient art of weaponry) is taught in all IKKI dojos in Ireland and we teach the traditional weapons of RyuKyu (Okinawan) Kobudo. Training entails the use of the following weapons: Kama, Sai, Nunchaku, Bo and Tonfa. Depending on age and karate skill level, students may be taught to use the Nunchaku, Bo and Tonfa, while a student must be a Shodan (black belt) to learn the Sai and Kama.
Leo Mulvany is the Chief Instructor of Itosu-kai Karatedo Ireland. He began his karate career in 1976 under Sensei Richard Hayes and was Richard’s first student to rank to black belt. This he did in 1981 when he ranked to shodan in Toronto, Canada under Shihan Kei Tsumura 8th Dan Karate-do, 7th Dan Kobu-do, Chief Instructor of Shito-Ryu Itosu-Kai, Canada. The IKKI has over 40 years of association with Canada which over time has developed a relationship of sport, friendship and family.
Mulvany Sensei holds the rank of 7th Dan in Karate. He has competed in kumite and kata at all levels during his career nationally and internationally including all Itosu-ryu World/International Championships since 2002, Tokyo, Japan (2002), Los Angeles, USA (2005), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2009) and Osaka, Japan (2013), Los Angeles, USA in 2016, Shanghai, China in 2017 and the IKIF 2020 International Virtual Karate Tournament.
Mulvany Sensei has served on the ONAKAI Executive in the past, achieved referee A status in both karate and kumite, qualifications as a coach in kata and kumite (WKF Karate Coach), coach tutor (Coaching Ireland) for over 15 years.
The IKKI are members of the Irish Martial Arts Commission (IMAC), the National Governing Body for Karate within the Irish Martial Arts Commission.
The aims and ambitions of the IKKI are to:
- teach the principles of and promote traditional Itosu-ryu karatedo
- provide a safe and secure environment for all our students
- provide high quality karate coaching for all participants
- ensure participants have positive learning experiences through their training
- encourage and motivate students of all ages to succeed in their karate
- coach students to the highest level capable of competing at National, European and World Championship level
Browse our website for more information about venues and class times in your locality.
Thank you for visiting the IKKI website. Sensei Leo Mulvany, Chief Instructor IKKI.
Contact Sensei Leo on: 087 4159858 or email: Sensei Leo Mulvany
IKKI Documents:
IKKI Child Safeguarding Statement 2022
Anti-Doping Policy (Sport Ireland)
Useful Links
Code of Ethics (Sport Ireland)
Sport Ireland Policy on Participation in Sport by People with Disabilities and women in Sport