Debbie Long from New Oak Estate, has just returned from Montpellier in France where she debuted for Ireland as a full international.
She has trained with Carlow’s longest practicing instructor, Colin Keating, for 20 years and has competed all over Europe and has fought three times in Japan. Although she has been a member of the Irish squad for the past few years, she finally made selection to full international after fighting in the European premier League K1 professional events in Paris and Rotterdam earlier this year.
She has upcoming fights in UK and Germany during the summer and may well be in line for selection for the WKF world championship in six months time.
There is only One Irish National Karate team and selection can only come through the national governing body for karate in Ireland, ONAKAI as recognized by the Irish Sports Council, the European Karate Federation, the World Karate Federation and the International Olympic Committee.
Debbie has her own club, Fudoshin Wado-Kai in Cox’s lane, Carlow where she trains kids and teens every Monday and Thursday at 7pm.
With thanks to Colin Keating on Facebook
