Grand master Ed Parker once said to Shay McNamee, "Keep it simple, Shay - Kenpo is simplified sophistication". Shay never forgot those words and they formed the basis of way he now teaches Kenpo himself some 50 years later.
It was in the early 70's when Shay McNamee first found himself in the Fitzwilliam Kenpo Karate studio studying under John Conway Snr and Jim Rice - a little knowing then the influence that Kenpo would have on his future life and career. This was a time when Bruce Lee films had exploded interest in Kung Fu into a frenzy and it seemed like everyone was learning some type of Martial Arts. By the end of the 1970's things were different, and those who only had a superficial interest in the Arts had moved on to the latest craze, leaving only dedicated students. In 1979 Mr McNamee received his 1st Degree Black Belt and thereafter 2nd Degree (1983) 3rd Degree (1985) under Mr. John Conway Snr and Mr. Jim Rice (Completing his grading with Mr Paul Dowling on each occasion at the Fitzwilliam Street Studio, Dublin ) In 1988 both were graded to 4th Degree at Professor Conway Snr studio in Newhall California USA.
Mr McNamee competed in the Ed Parker's Internationals in Long Beach for several years representing Ireland in Forms, Technique and Freestyle division in both team and individual events.
Mr McNamee continued to teach at the Fitzwilliam Studio as an instructor and traveled to Los Angeles each year for personal tuition with Professor John Conway Snr and Grand Master Ed Parker in preparation for for taken his 5th Degree, Mr McNamee traveled with Mr. Parker on his final and most memorable European tour throughout Ireland, Germany, the UK and Greece 1989. Sadly in December 1990 Grand Master Ed Parker Passed Away and Mr McNamee continued his training with Mr John Conway Snr and Mr Conway Jnr and was graded to 5th Degree in March 1991 By Mr John Conway Snr, Mr John Conway Jnr and the Committee of the intercontinental Karate Federation at Mr Conway's Studio, Santa Clarita, California USA.
He was then appointed by Mr. Conway Snr as the European Director for the Intercontinental Kenpo Karate Association and in this capacity, He then spent a year in Los Angeles teaching in Mr. Conway's school in Newhall where he met and trained with many of the great names in U.S. Kenpo - Frank Trejo, Larry Tatum, Huk Planas, Jeff Speakman, Chris Adrian, Angel Diaz and "Benny the Jet" Urquidez - to mention but a few!
Upon returning to Ireland, McNamee was determined to open a full-time state-of-the-art studio in Dublin and this dream was finally realized in the form of The Martial Arts Academy which opened in 1991 and continues with great success.
Promoted by Committee of The Intercontinental Karate Federation:
6th Degree - 1999
7th Degree - 2009
8th Degree - 2017
In March 2019 Mr McNamee was promoted to 9th Degree Black Belt under Grand Master Mr John Conway Jnr & the Committee of the Intercontinental Karate Federation, Santa Clarita, California, USA.
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