Shane Fitzgibbon, one of Ireland's best known exponents of taekwon-do, was recently promoted to sixth degree black belt.
His promotion was ratified by the International Taekwon-do Federation.
Fitzgibbon began his training in 1987 in Tralee under Master Don Dalton. Since that time he has captained the Irish team in numerous international competitions and world championships including such countries as Nigeria, Korea, Ghana, and Canada.
In 2000 Fitzgibbon won the AIMAA World Martial Arts Championships and went on to obtain the Grand Champion title by defeating all the other winners of their respective categories. In his illustrious career Fitzgibbon has become WKA kickboxing world champion, ITF European champion (2006 ), and in 2007 captained the Irish team to their first ever gold medal sparring win in the ITF World Championships in the NIA, Birmingham.
The Tralee man has been instrumental in spreading taekwon-do throughout Galway and the west of Ireland and is a member of the executive committee of the Irish United Taekwon-Do Federation.
Mr Fitzgibbon is a graduate of NUI Galway’s faculty of science and is also a qualified sports instructor with ITEC. He is the host of the annual Connacht championships and has also instructed a number of students to win medals at world level. In 2006, 2007, and 2008 Shane Fitzgibbon was selected to become a part of ITF Team Europe for the prestigious ITF Intercontinental Cup. In each of the three events (Cork, Lagos, and Accra ) he was selected as captain and Team Europe was victorious. Four-time Irish Competitor of the Year, Shane Fitzgibbon has dedicated his life to the art of Taekwon-Do, he has travelled the world fulfilling his dreams on the way.
Fitzgibbon looks forward to further success in the years ahead and helping to establish the Pagodas Temple Martial Arts Centre as the best martial arts academy in the west of Ireland.
