By Utku Muratoglu
“Martial arts is often seen as an overly aggressive and macho pursuit, yet anybody can do martial arts,” says Thomas Gorman.
Thomas Gorman, a senior member of the Exiles Galway, says the club is trying to re-ignite forgotten martial arts traditions across the UK and Ireland. “We try and reinterpret some of the lost European martial art traditions. We lost a lot of those traditions, most of them are just forgotten.”
The Exiles Galway is a historical European martial arts club based in Salthill, Galway and they train every Wednesday.
Mr Gorman adds that “It is about self-improvement, fitness, and both body and mental health. We run as a social club and [we are] learning a little bit of history along with it.”
The Exiles Galway is also the host of the Morrigan’s Melee 2020.
Morrigan’s Melee 2020 is an event happening in Galway on 7 March that focusses on “celebrating swords-women in Ireland”.
“It’s a way of encouraging women into martial arts because once again it seems like a male dominant pursuit.”
Mr Gorman adds: “Anyone aged 16 or over is welcome to train with us, previous knowledge of martial arts is an advantage but not required.
“An open mind and positive attitude, along with a willingness to work hard- these are required,” he says.
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