Advice on where to train in Dublin

turbot

Hey Guys,

I'd really appreciate your advice on good places for me to train, to get back into Martial Arts.

I live in Ballsbridge, near Jury's hotel, and work for myself often working long hours.

I'd like to find some regular classes and/or one on one training that is reasonably accessible to me, preferably meaning I can walk there, or alternatively, get there quickly from a Dart station.

Me; right now I'm 28, about 2 stone over my optimal bodyweight (bodyfat!) and while I could run two miles, or do an hour on a cross training machine with the settings on the highest level, I'm nowhere nearly as fit as I used to be. I've got good co-ordination / balance.

Martial-arts wise, apart from stretching and informal shadow boxing, I'm out of practice or training for 7 years.

Prior to that, I took up a style called Saikaido / Tekk-Aido with really good instructors in London, and trained 2-3 times a week in small, intense classes (usually with < 10 people) for 4 years. Tekk-Aido can be most easily understood as Tae-Kwondo slightly updated and IMO, made more practical... meaning; the kicks were the same, but you'd punch like a boxer. I also did NinJitsu for 18 months, which for us, was more scenario based drills. So I became a very fit Red-Belt and I didn't realise how good my training was, until when I moved to Ireland, 9 months after having not trained at all, I agreed to be on the Trinity Kickboxing team so they could make up 5 people for a group tournament. We got to the tournament late and the groups part was finishing.

I was talked into entering the singles-event, reluctantly (because I felt I was out of practice), and of the 35 people who entered, I won 4 fights in a row, and then narrowly lost in final. So I trained with the Trinity Kickboxing Guys for a while, who mostly had a background in Kempo.

So:

I'd like to find some fun, local classes/one on one training, to get back into martial arts, get fit again, improve my skills and learn and develop more. Accessibility is a big factor for me, as if its too far, the time to get there will make it a no go.

I'm more interested in learning from someone who really knows how to fight, and is genuinely really good, and is a good teacher, than the name of the style(s) they use to label what they do.

Your advice and insight about good places to train will be much appreciated!

Thomas

paddyc

how you doing thomas

what way do you travel around, car bke moped etc etc... I'd recommend Bridgestone over on dorset st if you can make it across town


theres appraently a tough ickboxing gym on Meath St in town



or.... and i have to get a plug in here you might try SBG and chupasart out in rathcoole for normal classes or privates.... again depending on how far you want to travel


thanks paddy

Roper

Hey Thomas,

www.sbgnorthside.com the Dart stops (I'm told, I drive:)) about 2 minutes walk away at Howth Junction. There's a comprehensive timetable on the website.

FiannaGym.com

The two city centre places I would recomend would be:

Hercules Club, on Lurgan Street, which is near Cineworld/UGC/DIT Bolton street. Of all the gyms in the country this probably has the highest callibre in terms of genuine meaningful world rankings. Its a wrestling gym. Open as a gym all the time, Wrestling on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Bridgestone Mauy Thai, again Dublin 1 about 5 minutes walk from the garden of rememberance. Top gym, great training open Mon - Thur & Saturday AFAIK

You could take the Bus out to lochlanstown and go to Next Gen. Thats coached by Dave Jones, diamond geezer, great coach. Might be a bit out of the way for you.

While I'm plugging I should say, try and make it to Spartans in Firhouse (run by Colm the Mod of this board).

SBG of course deserves a mention, in Rathcoole, worth making the trip when you can though!

And last and possibly least there's my place, Fianna Gym. Its 5 minutes from the kilmacud Luas stop so its fairly handy if you get to the Luas. I liv ein ballsbridge and cycle to Fianna, it takes 15 minutes.

Oh yeah, I think there is a boxing club in Sandymount (maybe Im thinking of Booterstown?) that might be handy?

Peace

gymrabbit

If you're a graduate of trinity you can join ducac for about 150/200 euro and train with any of the martial arts clubs there. If you enjoyed the kempo club (not my thing to be honest) may as well stick with it.

Dyr

I work right across from jurys..small world

Brendan Dowlings lot do aikido on baggot street which isnt that far from jurys. Theres a fencing club around ballsbridge somewhere too, it seemed pretty pricey though. Also escrima in the city centre thursdays and saturdays. there might still be tai chi on baggot street too.

martial arts inc seems popular too

Colm_OReilly

For good martial arts training, with realistic applications, and a fun fitness orientated atmosphere, MMA gyms are the way to go.

Fianna is underplugging himself. Despite dissing me at Baggot St on Friday he runs an amazing club.

If you want to pop to train with me, that's cool. Check my website in my sig.

Bridgestone Thai, no one has ever come out of that place claiming they were full of sh*t. Everyone is impressed with the training they do there.

Colm

Niall Keane

Allright Thomas,

If you're interested in Sanshou or Shuai Jaoi. We run a class on Wednesday nights 8-10pm in the Ranelagh Nondenominational National School, beside the Luas Stop. Wednesday's Class focuses on chinese wrestling and fast throws, and is given by Paul Mitchel, current IMAF Shuai Jaoi (-80kg) World Champion. There's usually between 4 - 8 people there so you'd be getting a direct transmission.
Other classes more sanshou orientated run in Drumcondra Mondays & Tuesdays, another one will be starting soon in Rathgar / Rathmines. Another Sanshou class runs in Belfield on Saturdays.
To get an idea of what we do you could check out our site, on the Sanda / Videos page you'll find a link to footage of us training and competing:

www.freewebs.com/sanshou

gymrabbit

Niall is that chinese wrestling jacket wrestling? or topless?

Niall Keane

"topless" ???? well there there are these girls who come down from time to time....

Shuai Jioa = Jacket Wrestling
Tui Shou = No Jacket

edges

The Martial Arts Academy off Pearse St, across from the Dart has a Variety.

You can choose from Kenpo, Kickboxing, Filipino Martial Arts, 5 Ancestor Kung Fu, Iaido and Tai Chi. If any of that takes your fancy give them a shout or PM/email me.

Best of Luck

Dave
www.wildgeesema.com

paul moran

Hello,

If you are interested in trying out a week of Shaolin Kung Fu, you are welcome to come along to Newpark Sports Centre in Blackrock (few minutes on the bus).
We have classes each mon, wed and thurs.

Email me on pm@ymaa.ie for more info

My advise is to try a bunch of the classes and decide what's best for you at this time. You have recieved plenty of invites so you have no shortage of skillsets and styles to choose from

Best of luck with the hunt,
Paul Moran
http://www.ymaa.ie
http://www.ymaa.com

ernieb

I train in martial arts inc on brunswick st over near the smithfield luas stop. The place is open 7 days a week. If you want to get your fitness, sparring, technique back to speed you should defo give em a shout.

You'll get more info on http://www.martialartsinc.com

turbot

Thanks everyone for your advice.

I'll investigate the reccomendations that are accessible and practical.

*T