McLoughlin is the master of his art
Karate coach Aaron McLoughlin is the reigning Irish Senior Kumite 60kg champion.
It’s fair to say that Aaron McLoughlin leads by example; that he asks nothing of his students that he has never asked of himself. Or continues to ask of himself.
Not only is he a coaching extraordinaire in the world of karate, but Aaron remains one of the foremost competitors in the country. 2025 offered proof of that.
At the sport’s premier competition, the Irish International Open, which was held at the National Sports Arena in Blanchardstown last November, Aaron rolled back the years by winning the Male Senior Kumite 60kg title. It was a drop down in weight from when he also dominated at 67kg.
In karate, kumite is all about technique and skill, where opponents can use punches, kicks or takedowns, both defensively and offensively, from a standing position. And Swinford man Aaron has excelled to the extent that his roll of honour is concrete evidence that he’s one of the best exponents of that ancient sport of the Far East that Ireland has ever produced. Whatever the weight, whatever the age, whatever the grade, he has been a market-leader in Irish karate to the extent that as a former European Junior bronze medallist, Aaron remains one of only six Irish people ever to have medalled at International Federation level.
Significantly, he isn’t keeping all his years of experience on the World and European stages to himself and earlier this decade established the Mayo Karate Academy which, with Aaron as head coach, is already recognised as one of the most successful, progressive and influential karate clubs in Ireland. In fact, two of Aaron’s protégés are already following in his footsteps having been selected to represent Ireland at this weekend’s European Cadet, Junior and U21 Championships in Cyprus, where he is also coach to the Irish team.
Having previously ranked inside the top 10 in the world at junior and U21 level, Aaron is described as a fantastic role model for all his students and as someone who shows that with consistency, passion and perseverance, great things can be achieved both on and off the mat.
