Shane first set foot in a Dojo (martial arts training centre) when he was just 8 years old and this was to be the start of a life-long virtual obsession with the martial arts. He has come to appreciate the many facets of the martial arts that have since become a way of life. In recent years, he has worked tirelessly to promote the Kokoro Mixed Martial Arts System and his take on MMA and the martial arts as a whole are widely published on the web. Shane’s work in publishing material, freely available on the world wide web, and his entire approach to his own training are indicitive of his dedication to the martial arts.

In 1998, Shane relocated to Germany and it was here that he was, at long last, fortunate enough to find a school, system and trainer with which he was truly satisfied. After a lifetime of searching and not quite finding what he was looking for, he began training under Charley Herwig (3. Dan Kyokushin Karate, 3. Dan Kyokushin Budokai) early in 2004. Finally, he was able to study and practise full contact striking, takedowns, grappling and submissions (Kyokushin Karate, Judo and Jiu Jitsu) and these arts combined as one complete all round fighting system (Kyokushin Budokai). It’s fair to say that he took to full contact mixed martial arts “like a duck to water”.

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Shane’s began his love affair with Mixed Martial Arts competition through his training in the full contact all-round fighting system known as Kyokushin Budokai. This is a system that combines, at the fundamental level, the techniques and syllabus of Full Contact Kyokushin (popularised in the UFC and K-1 by George St. Pierre, Bas Rutten, Sem Schilt and Andy Hug) and Judo (popularised in the UFC by Karo Parisyan). The term MMA wasn’t used in Germany at this time. The term “Free Fight” was used and his training was 100% geared toward Free Fight competition. During “freefight” matches, all submission and strikes are permitted (as with the UFC).

Three of the grades awarded to Shane, as both a practitioner of Kyokushin Karate and Kyokushin Budokai (All Round Fighting & Free Fight), were received directly from Jon Bluming (Royal Dutch Marine, President of the International Budokai, 10. Dan Kyokushin, 9. Dan Kodokan Judo). After just 18 months of full contact training his Sensei (Charley Herwig) and Kancho Jon Bluming approved Shane’s application to participate in the infamous Kyokushin 30. Man Kumite (one of the pre-requisites for a Kyokushin Budokai black belt).

Shane’s training was interupted due to his relocation to Ireland in August, 2005. At this time, Kancho Jon Bluming of the International Budokai authorised Shane to promote Kyokushin Budokai (Free Fight & All Round Fighting) in Ireland and appointed him as IBK Branch Chief of Ireland. At just 31 years of age, this was a tremendous honour and is testimony to his dedication to All Round Fighting, Mixed Martial Arts, the martial arts as a way of life, and his knowledge of multiple functional fighting systems.

Shane is active as a professional Mixed Martial Arts Fighter in Ireland and Europe, and serves as a referee, judge and competitor of the Elite Fighting Revolution.

He is currently ranked 1. Dan Judo, 2. Dan Kyokushin, 2. Dan Kyokushin Budokai (All Round Fighting), 2. Dan Ronin All Round Fighting and 3. Dan Sensei of the Sei Budokai (World Martial Arts Association, Japan).

In August 2007, Shane completed the infamous “50 Man Kumite” (Full Story). This is a test of skill and endurance usually reserved for 4. Dan Black Belts. Despite this, Shane chose to participate whilst still a 1. Dan Black Belt.

The kumite involves 50 bareknuckle rounds of two minutes, allowing full contact strikes to all targets, against 50 fresh fighters with no rest periods. The event was held in Croatia, under the mid-day sun, with temperatures exceeding 38 degrees and was hosted (and validated) by K-1 Grand Prix World Champion, Shihan Semmy Schilt. Having witnessed Shane’s achievements and figthing spirit on that day, respected fighters and coaches throughout the world began to refer to him as “The Suburban Samurai”.

Shane is an avid practitioner of submission wrestling and, in an effort to ensure that his submission wrestling skills are of the highest possible standard, Shane sought out a mentor in Submission Wrestling. In October 2008, Shane began to train under World Submission Wrestling Champion and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Black Belt, Braulio Estima (link). It’s a new relationship but one that will ensure that Shane consistently pushes himself to reach the very highest of standards in all aspects of his Martial Arts.

If you would like learn more about Shane, please vist www.kyokushinbudokai.org and take a look at Shane’s old Training Diary. It’s very much dated at this stage but will certainly afford an insight into his personal approach to the martial arts!