Most famous Irish martial artist

Jason McCabe

Is there even one that could be considered that famous?

Chris89

http://www.joe.ie/sports/mma/grappling-with-success-irishman-heads-to-the-states-in-search-of-reality-show-glory-0030560-1

We wont have to wait very much longer anyway, East Coast Jiu Jitsu Academys head instructor Darragh O'Conaill will be representing Ireland in the coming weeks at LLOyd Irvins tournament in the US, which is being made into an internet reality show.

Anyone who is even remotely involved with the sport of Jiu Jitsu worldwide will hear about this tournament.

OLDMAN1

Barry McGuigan and katie Taylor

darced

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Dr Turk Turkelton

Jimmy Bennett(pronounced Benay)

/thread!

On phone so can't link but go to YouTube and type in Fatal Deviation.

EnjoyChoke

darced wrote: »

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If Chris beat Keenan, it would be put down to weight, if Darragh beat Keenan, it would be put down to awesomeness.

J0hnick

EnjoyChoke wrote: »

If Chris beat Keenan, it would be put down to weight

Chris didn't win double gold in both his weight class and the absolute at the British open multiple times just by being the bigger guy, in fact if memory serves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlECOIwKZoM

He beat Matt Stevens, former prop for the English Rugby team, back in 2009 when they were both blue belts.

EnjoyChoke

J0hnick wrote: »

Chris didn't win double gold in both his weight class and the absolute at the British open multiple times just by being the bigger guy, in fact if memory serves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlECOIwKZoM

He beat Matt Stevens, former prop for the English Rugby team, back in 2009 when they were both blue belts.

You're preaching to the converted.

Chris89

darced wrote: »

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why does he seem like a cocky git to you? I reckon hes earned the right to act however he wants!!

Also Darragh is a professional Jiu Jitsu Athlete, He is in a much better position to compete with these guys than Chris Bowe.

OLDMAN1

darced wrote: »

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Who are most people? i would consider boxing a martial art and all the people i know think the same...

darced

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darced

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Niall Keane

Outside of Irish Boxers, is anyone "famous" outside of their discipline? I never heard of any of the MMA lads above, bar O'Connell, id be very surprised if the casual stroller on Grafton Street who doesnt do MA would be able to name any fighters bar boxers.

If being known by MAists counts well probably Roy Baker, given the numbers that attend his "Irish Open", their site says 2,500 competitors over 29 countries, with 15000 spectators.

John Kavanagh's pioneering of BJJ and MMA here would make him a widely known figure in Irish Martial Arts.

That Krav Maga lad with the riduculous claims and agressive advertising campaigns who has been on TV an Radio is probably having his 15 minutes.

Theres probably a few more, and lots more who are well known in their disciplines internationally.

p to the e

Big Joe Joyce

Peetrik

OLDMAN1 wrote: »

Who are most people? i would consider boxing a martial art and all the people i know think the same...

I fully agree with you here. To me, boxing is clearly a martial art, but I remember there being a thread over an afterhours where it was a very grey area as to wether it was or not. A lot of people can't separate 'Martial arts' and Pajamas.

p to the e wrote: »

Big Joe Joyce

Haha you actually might be more right than you know, either him or "Simey '****e in a bucket"

EnjoyChoke

darced wrote: »

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Both are world class Brown belts.
Chris is a Super-heavy weight, Darragh is a middle weight. That's a difference of 20 kilos of muscle. That fight was not easily won, unless I was watching a different match. Both looked like professionals.
Keenan is also a middle weight, if Chris (or someone like Costello from the UK) beat him, weight difference would be a factor. It's always a factor.
If Darragh, being the same weight, beat him it would be pure skill v skill.
Grappling must be the last fight sport on the planet where a sizeable proportion of people think weight isn't a massive factor.

darced

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EnjoyChoke

darced wrote: »

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Size is always a factor. Always

The comp is not only for middle weights...

Anyways If you count MMA you have to count boxing, so it's Katie Taylor or Barry McGuiggan

Jason McCabe

Barry the blender

ants09

My ones

Roy Baker
Mick Doyle
Joe Canning srn

mugger

Is it most Famous or best

garrybergin

George Canning Sr
Barney Coleman

Mellor

darced wrote: »

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He's already in the finale. So he's has, at the very least, a 1 fight contract right now.

vasch_ro

John Brawn is Ireland's leading self defence instructor, so surely he would be well known !

Having been on the beat lately with Adam Nolan (Olympic Boxer) , I can tell you its like walking around with an A list celebrity !

yomchi

Where's Boru these days? he would get my vote having become a Samuarai and all that

Babybull

What about Big Joe's, Wee joe's Davy joe Joyce. Joe Rogan featured him on one of his podcasts, surely that makes you super famous if Joe Rogan is talking about you.

Lex Luthor

PADDY DOHERTY

http://thestar.ie/star/showbiz/paddy-lands-a-movie-deal/

SEANoftheDEAD

When it comes to famous house hold names, it goes to the boxers from this island.
I dont think any other MA has a house hold name...

So id go with Katie Taylor, Steve Collins, Barry McGuigan, Bernard Dunne...

siochain

outside of boxing I would agree with two posters above who said Roy Baker.

boxer.fan

Gary Hamilton

arybvtcw0eolkf

siochain wrote: »

outside of boxing I would agree with two posters above who said Roy Baker.

I'd have to agree with this one ~ Roy Baker.

Jason McCabe

If you include boxing it has to be Barry McGuigan

Outside of that would have to now be Norman Parkes with the TUF exposure

Roy Baker probably more so previously as freestyle kickboxing seems to he in decline

Connor McGregor is a man on the rise. Paddy Hologan isnt getting the credit he deserves I also think


John Kavanaugh deserves an honourable mention as well

siochain

Jason I would have thought freestyle kickboxing was on the increase, I'm purely basing it on the increase in adult & juniors competing in the various tournaments over the last 2—3 years.

Jason McCabe

siochain wrote: »

Jason I would have thought freestyle kickboxing was on the increase, I'm purely basing it on the increase in adult & juniors competing in the various tournaments over the last 2—3 years.

I could be quite mistaken. It's still a busy enough scene especially at junior level

Just seems less ppl at competitions than there was about 15 years ago.

Pride Fighter

Film martial artists

Your man from fatal deviation.
Mark Dacascos has some Irish blood.

Athletes

Norman Parke
Lisa Kearney
Did we have any other olympic judo players way back when? Something is telling me we may have had a couple back in the day.

COYW

Pride Fighter wrote: »

Film martial artists

Your man from fatal deviation.
Mark Dacascos has some Irish blood.

Athletes

Norman Parke
Lisa Kearney
Did we have any other olympic judo players way back when? Something is telling me we may have had a couple back in the day.

There have been a few throughout the years. Alonso Henderson (Moscow), Kieran Foley (LA), Ciaran Ward (Barcelona, Atlanta), Sean Sullivan (Atlanta), Keith Gough (Barcelona), Eugene McManus (Seoul).

thecommietommy

Johnathon " the Tallaght ladies man " Dargan

black dragon

Kieran Foley definitely deserves a mention (no relation by the way).
Kieran represented Ireland in the Olympics several year ago and won a veterans World title.
He's over 40 years in Judo and as far as I'm aware is still training.
I started my martial arts career in Judo 37 years ago and was fortunate enough to have trained with him for several years.