Local coach gets national job

NORTHSIDE coach Jon Mackey has been appointed assistant national kickboxing coach for Kickboxing Ireland.

The appointment was made at the recent WAKO European junior kickboxing championships in Poland, where Lauren Bradshaw of Mackey’s Red Star kickboxing gym in Cabra became European Champion.

A long time coach in the sport of Taekwon-Do and Kickboxing, Mackey got the nod from Kickboxing Ireland president, Roy Baker, during the championships.

The position was agreed on after a meeting between Baker, director of coaching for Kickboxing Ireland, Micheal McDermott and national coach, Ian Kingston.

“I got called to control table where the officials were congregated,

? recalls Mackey.

“I was met there by Roy who put his hand out and said ‘it’s time you stepped it up, you’ve been around a long time, your fighters are good and we want you working with Ian helping him develop the light contact division’.

“I wasn’t sure what to say other than thanks very much!

“We had a chat about the future of kickboxing in Ireland and across the world with WAKO working hard for IOC recognition.

?

Later that day, Mackey met with McDermott and Kingston to discuss ideas and a plan for a light contact calendar for Kickboxing Ireland which stands as Ireland’s only Government recognised Kickboxing organisation with recognition from the Irish Sports Council through the Irish Martial Arts Commission (IMAC).

“I just want to say thanks to Micheal McDermott who spotted the work I was doing, and to Ian Kingston,

? said Mackey.

“Ian is one of Ireland’s leading kickboxing coaches with a plethora of European and world champions training out of his gym in West Cork. I look forward to working with him and learning from him in the future.

?

Mackey has a number of international fighters training regularly at his Red Star Kickboxing gym, based on the Ballyboggan Road between Cabra and Finglas.

Amongst them is current WAKO junior champion Lauren Bradshaw who is also a uITF double world champion, former ITF European champion (Bulgaria 2012 and Croatia 2009) and World TKD Festival (Korea) gold medalist.

Mackey has also trained Neidin Coulahan, current uITF world champion, former European ITF champion and World TKD Festival (Korea) gold medallist and Dylan Russell, national Kickboxing champion (KBI 2011/12).

Any coaches interested in getting their fighters involved with the light contact squad for Kickboxing Ireland can contact Mackey at [email protected] or phone 086-4661661.