Ballymena club hosts NI martial arts championship this Saturday

Estelle Wallace of Shrink Fitness presents a sponsorship cheque to Ernie Johnston of Ballymena Jan Ling Club for the International Martial Arts team event, featuring teams from England, Scotland, Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, which will be held in Ballymena North in September 6. INBT 25-174CS

Over 250 competitors from all over the UK & Ireland will descend on Ballymena North Business & Recreation Centre to compete in what has become the biggest floor tournament of its kind in Northern Ireland.

This year kickboxing legend Alfie Lewis will travel from Liverpool, bringing his Mushin Kai team to compete in N.Ireland for the first time.

Joining the English guests will be a variety of World Champions and over 25 teams from Northern Ireland & Ireland which Jan Ling coach Ernie Johnston describes as “the best array of points and light contact fighters that’s ever assembled in this country”.

“We are all excited to see all these World class athletes compete against each other,” added Ernie.

For the first time the tournament will include an International Team Event Challenge.

This event was kindly sponsored by local fitness guru Estelle Wallace from Shrink Complete Fitness.

The £500 prize money she has sponsored for the winning team has attracted interest from some of the best clubs in Ireland like Hurricane & Tallaght Martial Arts Clubs.

Northern Ireland will be represented by two teams on the day and also England will be represented by the Mushin Kai team.

Also performing on the day will be 8 year old Forms sensation JJ McParland who has recently returned to Northern Ireland after acting in her first movie the Martial Arts Kid to be released next year.

Coach Ernie said: “We run this tournament each year to promote martial arts and our town but also to raise money for charity and this year we are supporting ‘Friends of the Cancer Centre’ which is the leading local cancer charity based in Belfast City Hospital.

The action will begin at 10am and will include a mixture of Pointsfighting, Light contact kickboxing , Forms , Kata & Patterns.

The club would like to thank a number of local companies for their support: Shrink Complete Fitness, Core-X Nutrition, Shuttlevision, B&H Contractors, Mels Sandwich Bar, the Carson Project, Moby Chip, Chillipepper Tattoos, Ballykeel Mace, Fullerton Arms & Patsy’s Barbers.

If anyone would like more information on the event contact Ernie on 07826528200.