Europe - Ireland - Kildare

Celbridge Kenpo Karate Academy

Professor Edward Downey - 8th Degree Black Belt Mr. John Burgess - 6th Degree Black Belt Mr. Richard Burgess - 6th Degree Black Belt Mr. Dave Byrne - 4th Degree Black Belt Mrs. Martina Downey - 3rd Degree Black Belt Mr. Eddie Maher - 3rd Degree Black Belt Mr. Derek Newsome - 3rd Degree Black Belt Mr. Ryan Fitzgerald - 3rd Degree Black Belt Miss. Aisling Byrne - 3rd Degree Black Belt Mr. Damien Kearney - 2nd Degree Black Belt Miss. Aisling Downey - 2nd Degree Black Belt Miss. Niamh Carr - 1st Degree Black Belt Mr. Will Hand - 1st Degree Black Belt Mr. Jim Sheridan - 1st Degree Black Belt Miss. Niamh Byrne - 1st Degree Black Belt Mr. Darragh Newman - Cadet Black Belt Miss. Stephanie Murray - 3rd Degree Brown Belt Mr Robbie Cuffe - Cadet Black Belt Miss Rachel Maher - Cadet Black Belt Mr Sean Byrne - Cadet Brown Belt Miss Olivia Murray - Cadet Brown Belt Miss Amy Kerr - Cadet Brown Belt

Address:	International Kenpo Karate Academy Unit 19 The Mill Main Street Celbridge Co. Kildare Ireland
Telephone:	353-1-627 0232
Fax:
E-mail:	eddiedowney@kenpokarate.ie
Web:	www.kenpokarate.ie

Class Schedule for Children and Teenagers
Monday	5.00 PM to 6.00 PM 5 years to 12 years	6.15 PM to 7.15 PM Junior Sparring Class	7.30 PM to 8.30 PM 8 years to 15 years
Tuesday	5.00 PM to 6.00 PM 5 years to 12 years	6.15 PM to 7.15 PM 6 years to 12 years	7.30 PM to 8.30 PM 8 years to 15 years
Wednesday	5.00 PM to 6.00 PM 5 years to 7 years	6.15 PM to 7.15 PM 6 years to 12 years	7.30 PM to 8.30 PM 8 years to 15 years
Thursday	5.00 PM to 6.00 PM 5 years to 12 years	6.15 PM to 7.15 PM Junior Sparring Class	7.30 PM to 8.30 PM 8 years to 15 years
Saturday	9.50 AM to 10.50 AM 5 years to 7 years	11.00 AM to 12.00 PM 7 years to 10 years	12.00 PM to 1.00 PM 9 years to 16 years

 

Class Schedule for Adults
	Evening Classes:		Day Classes:
Monday	8.30 PM to 10.00 PM		Tuesday	11.30 AM to 1.00 PM
Tuesday	8.30 PM to 10.00 PM		Thursday	11.30 AM to 1.00 PM
Wednesday	8.30 PM to 10.00 PM		Saturday	1.00 PM to 3.00 PM
Thursday	8.30 PM to 10.00 PM	New Members and Beginners Always Welcome.

*We are closed on Friday, Sunday and Bank Holidays.

 

Professor Edward Downey

Biography of Edward Downey

In 1973 Professor Edward Downey began his Kenpo career in the famous Fitzwilliam Street Kenpo Academy in Dublin his first instructor was the late Professor John Conway a 7th degree Kenpo Black Belt ranked by Grand Master Ed Parker. He later trained with Professor Maurice Mahon in Baggot Street, Dublin. Professor Mahon currently holds the rank of 8th Degree Black Belt and retired from active teaching some years ago. During the 1970s Professor Downey had a very successful tournament career in Ireland which included taking first place in the all Ireland Kenpo Karate Championships. Professor Downey was a regular member of the Irish National Team for many years and represented his country at European and World Championships. Professor Downey also competed and officiated at Ed Parker's Long Beach International Karate Championships for fifteen years.

During his Kenpo studies Professor Downey became a close personal friend of Grand Master Parker and having known Grand Master Parker since 1974. Professor Downey was the principal organiser of Grand Master Parker's numerous visits to Ireland and in 1981 after testing for his 1st degree Black Belt Professor Downey began training directly under the supervision of Grand Master Ed Parker. He subsequently achieved his second-degree black belt from Grand Master Parker in 1985 and his third degree black belt in 1988. Grand Master Parker appointed Professor Downey as a regional representative for the I.K.K.A. in Ireland and Professor Downey held this position until his resignation from the I.K.K.A. in April 1996 to take up a new appointment as the European Director of the American Kenpo Karate Systems (A.K.K.S.).

In 1990 when Grand Master Parker suddenly passed on, Professor Downey requested Senior Professor John Sepulveda to become his Instructor and for the last twelve years Professor Sepulveda has visited Ireland on a regular basis to guide and train Professor Downey and his students in Kenpo. In 1992 Professor Downey tested for his 4th Degree Black Belt in Long Beach, California. In 1996 Professor Downey was honoured to test for his 5th Degree Black Belt with the American Kenpo Senior Council board of examiners. The testing panel featured some of the worlds most respected Kenpo Masters listed below are the panel members:

Sigung Stephen LaBounty - 9th Degree Black Belt,
Master Tom Kelly - 9th Degree Black Belt,
Master Richard 'Huk' Planas - 9th Degree Black Belt
Master Bob White - 9th Degree Black Belt
Master Ron Chapel - 9th Degree Black Belt
Master Frank Trejo - 9th Degree Black Belt
Professor John Sepulveda - 8th Degree Black Belt
Professor Paul Dye - 7th Degree Black Belt.
Grand Master Lou Angel - 10th Degree Black Belt
Gojo Ryu (Guest Examier)

Professor Downey achieved his 6th Degree Black Belt in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA in the year 2000. He was graded and promoted by the A.K.K.S. International black belt board of examiners which included Steven Le Bounty 9th degree, Huk Planas 9th degree, Lee Wedlake 8th Degree, Brian Heins 7th degree, Paul Dye 7th Degree and Jeff Speakman 6th Degree. Professor Downey was honoured to receive his new rank from the board. Professor Downey was prepared and recommended for his new rank by his instructor Senior Professor John Sepulveda 8th Degree Black Belt.

Professor Downey has focused his Kenpo career on providing fair and honest leadership to his students and has worked tirelessly to learn and promote the Ed Parker Kenpo System with his member schools and students in Ireland. It has been a life long goal of Professor Downey to develop the Kenpo system in Ireland and Europe as envisaged by the late Grandmaster Ed Parker. Professor Downey has united Kenpo students in Europe under the European Kenpo Karate Association (E.K.K.A.) and travels extensively throughout Europe teaching and developing the Kenpo system. Professor Downey is the European Director of the American Kenpo Training System (A.K.T.S.) and works closely with Professor Sepulveda to promote the association.

Mr. John Burgess

John Burgess - Kenpo training history from 1981 to 2003.

Club: 1981 to 1992
Sarsfield Kenpo Karate School, Dublin
(Student).

Club: 1992 to 2003
International Kenpo Karate Academy, Celbridge.
(Assistant Instructor)

Mr. Burgess's Kenpo Instructor and coach is Professor Edward Downey 7th Degree Black Belt.

1981
Begins Kenpo studies in the Sarsfield Kenpo Karate School, Dublin.

1989
Tested for 1st Degree Black Belt
Time taken: 8 years -
Venue: Dublin.

1992
Tested for 2nd Degree Black Belt
Time taken: 3 years
Venue: Dublin.

1996
Tested for 3rd Degree Black Belt
Time taken: 4 years
Venue: Celbridge.

2000
Tested for 4th Degree Black Belt
Time taken: 4 years
Venue: Celbridge.

2004
Tested for 5th Degree Black Belt
Time taken: 4 years
Venue: Celbridge.

History of International Kenpo Karate Academy - Celbridge.

The International Kenpo Karate Academy was founded by Edward and Martina Downey in the town of Celbridge, Co Kildare in the year 1988. The academy was officially opened by Kenpo Grand Master Ed Parker 10th degree Black Belt. The Academy was initially based for the first four years in Celbridge Mill Sport's Centre and in 1992 moved to it's own purposed built Martial Arts Academy within the Mill Community Centre complex in Celbridge. Professor Downey was tested and promoted to 3rd Degree Black Belt by Grand Master Ed Parker in 1988 in the city of Pasadena, California and has since that period he has studied Kenpo extensively training under some of the world's most respected and qualified Kenpo Instructors.

In 1992 Professor Downey closed down his old Kenpo club 'Sarsfield Kenpo Karate Club' in Dublin and dedicated his efforts to developing his full time academy in Celbridge. Two of his Sarsfield black belts Richard and John Burgess then moved to continue their studies with Professor Downey in the International Kenpo Karate Academy in Celbridge. Since the establishment of the International Kenpo Karate Academy its black Belt graduate students have established ten affiliated schools throughout Ireland.

Professor Downey has been a respected student of Kenpo for the past thirty years and as a Kenpo instructor is renowned internationally for his teaching ability and Kenpo skills. Professor Downey has instructed Kenpo in the following countries: France, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Spain, Italy, Greece, England, Jersey, Portugal, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. The International Kenpo Karate Academy has continuously worked to promote and develop the Ed Parker's system Kenpo throughout Europe and the world and Professor Downey has dedicated his life's work to this aim. The International Kenpo Karate Academy in Celbridge hosts regular visits by prominent world-renowned Kenpo instructors and Professor Downey travels extensively to attend, participate, and support the Kenpo community throughout the world.

If you would like to study Kenpo with Professor Downey you are welcome visit and train in the International Kenpo Karate Academy in Celbridge. Alternatively Professor Downey is available to travel to your school to teach and instruct the Ed Parker's system of Kenpo Karate to you and your students.