Kaizendo Fitness is Unique

It is the unique combination of the expertise of Frank and Catarina Murphy, together with a growing team of expert martial arts instructors, which makes Kaizendo Fitness such an enjoyable, motivational and effective activity. It will get you fit, relieve stress as well as give you the benefit of some valuable self defence both physically and psychologically. For more details about us please read below.

Our Instructors

Many of our instructors are certified Black Belts in Kaizendo Fitness and Taekwondo by Frank Murphy.  Our instructors have undergone a thorough, in depth Instructor's course, or equivalent, under the guidance of Frank and Catarina Murphy, together with constant updating of their skills. They are passionate about getting you to achieve the fitness goals you always wanted. We are also fortunate to have a growing team of expert martial arts coaches and instructors, who offer a rich knowledge base, constantly developing and improving Kaizendo Fitness.

Catarina Murphy, is a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo and Kaizendo and holds a Masters Degree in Physical Education with Loughborough University . Through her studies with Loughborough University, she gained expert knowledge about adult learning, personal development and how to research and improve teaching and coaching practices. She also specializes in Children's Curriculum and teaches the 'Safe Martial Arts Tuition Practices' part of the Instructor Qualification Course. Her other areas of expertise include nutrition and health having originally qualified with an Honours Degree in Food Science and Nutrition and was certified in Sports Massage Therapy.

Steve Sharkey has been practicing martial arts since 1976. He holds black belts up to 4th Degree, in various martial art styles, including Taekwondo and Kaizendo Kickboxing and has an enormous experience and study in a range of martial arts including Judo, Kung Fu, Karate, Thai Boxing, Boxing, Tai Chi, Jeet Kune Do...and the list goes on! His early career started in the Irish Guards and this eventually led him to becoming a police officer, where he served for 5 years with the Metropolitan Police in Soho in Central London, and later transferred to Merseyside Police as a uniformed constable for 8 years. He ended this career as a detective in Special Branch where his experience qualified him to become a Police Bodyguard where he protected VIP's like Her Majesty the Queen, former Prime Minister Tony Blair and His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

With all this experience, he devised two contemporary self-defense programmes, ‘Street Fighting Strategies’, and ‘Ladysafe’ specifically for women. Famous American martial arts guru Master Greg Silva conferred upon him the status of Professor for his contributions to the martial arts. After Joining the British Combat Association, he further qualified under the legendary Geoff Thompson in Level 1 Self Defense Instructors Diploma. His knowledge of ground fighting has him in constant demand. More recently, he has been teaching  Dr.Paul Lams Tai Chi for Arthritis programme and continues to run martial arts classes throughout Liverpool for all ages.

Markku Parviainen is a professional WTF Taekwondo instructor from Finland. He currently lives in Sweden, Huskvarna and has a WTF Taekwondo school in the city of Göteborg. He has a website and blog www.markkuparviainen.com to help Taekwondo and other martial arts students with their training. He has been studying Martial arts for over 30 years, coached athletes of the Finnish Olympic National Team, been a personal trainer and owns a martial arts school. He holds the National Coach Qualification from the Finnish Sports Institute.

Kenneth Ahearne is a 1st Degree Black Belt in Kaizendo and is also a student of traditional martial arts such as Karate. He completed a 2 year course in Sport and Recreation including Soccer and GAA Coaching, Health Related Fitness, and certified in Occupational First Aid. He is also Kickstart 1 FAI Certified and is hoping to do Sports Psychology in the next school year. At present, he is training St. Catherines U10 Camogie girls and teaches Kaizendo Fitness in Fermoy in Adair Hall every Wednesday evening.

Christine Goulding is a 1st Degree Black belt in Kaizendo and has a club in both Mallow and Mitchelstown which she runs with her husband, Patrick.  She is fully qualified to Fetac level 5 in Gym Instruction which includes qualifications in Spinning and Kettlebells. She has a great interest in all types of training, with a particular interest in Tai Chi which she is pursuing at the moment as well as training for her 2nd Degree Black Belt in Kaizendo.

Patrick is a first Degree Black belt in Kaizendo and has a club in Mitchelstown and Mallow which he runs with his wife Christine. He is fully qualified to Fetac level 5 in Gym Instruction which includes qualifications in Spinning and Kettlebells. In the past he has run Marathons and played Soccer and Rugby and at the moment is training for his second degree Black Belt.

Petra Stumpfova is a 1st Degree Black Belt in Kaizendo and Taekwondo. She was a former World Power Lifting Champion in her category and held this title 9 times. She trained as a fitness instructor and personal trainer and has undergone a course in Fitness for Children.

John Canty has been involved in the martial arts for the last 30 years.  He currently holds a Sixth Degree Black Belt in ITF Taekwondo and runs both a Taekwondo club for children and a Kaizendo club for Adults in Carrigaline. He is an alround fitness enthusiast.