LIMERICK’S Pat Forde has been named Man of the Year at the USA All-Korean Karate Championships, hosted at the Tropicana Resort in Atlantic City.
Forde has been teaching Tang Soo Do in Limerick for over 25 years and is regarded internationally as one of the world’s leading instructors of the art.
His students have won hundreds of international competition medals in the USA and all over Europe.
At the banquet, it was detailed the impact Forde also has had working with young people outside of martial arts.
For example, he founded ‘Stop the Bully Ireland,’ and through this initiative has helped thousands of young people around Ireland deal with such issues.
“I was thrilled to be recognised for my work back in Limerick and around Ireland being awarded Man of the Year, it hasn’t really sunk in yet to be honest,” Forde said.
At the weekend Championships in Atlantic City Master Forde also came out of an 18-year competition retirement to take part in the Masters Division.
There were impressive showings from Limerick’s Joey O’Riordan and Stephen Cullen of Roscrea, County Tipperary.
