Medals galore for Tullow Jiu-Jitsu gym
Proudly showing the hard won medals
Tullow kids had to grapple with success at the weekend when they competed at the Dublin Fall International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship 2025.
Eight out of the nine students of Keith Jordan’s Jiu-Jitsu training centre in Tullow were awarded medals at this year’s European championships on 8 November at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Blanchardstown, Dublin.
“For them to out on that big stage… we’re so so proud of them”, said Mr Jordan.
His Ninja Cubz troop began training for the event around four months ago, attending five sessions per week to get into shape. “For kids to have that dedication, it’s absolutely brilliant”, he said.
Jiu Jitsu is a newly recognised sport in Ireland which is “all about controlling your opponent without striking them”, explained Mr Jordan. It has many transferable skills to self-defence, said Mr Jordan, as you must wrestle your opponent without hitting and try to pin them to the ground.
He has been teaching the sport for 10 years and set up his own gym in Tullow over six years ago. He has found Jiu-Jitsu is “fantastic” for kids, because of discipline, confidence, problem solving and self-belief they learn, all while making new friends.
The team’s dedication was evident as they took home 4 silver and 4 bronze medals at the weekend.
When they returned to the gym on Monday there was a “brilliant atmosphere”, said Mr Jordan. One team member had a fractured collarbone but still turned up to support his friends at training, demonstrating the firm bond made in the course of their training.
“It’s fantastic to see that drive in the kids, we’re all so proud of them.”
