How old were you when you started martial arts?
Keri: 8 years old.
Explain to our readers what your martial arts journey has been like so far?
Keri: My kickboxing journey has been the most amazing journey! From WAKO finals and World Cup first places to training in my kickboxing hall in Tallaght with my kickboxing family. If it wasn’t for kickboxing, I don’t know what I would be doing with my life at this moment. I got to travel many places with this sport and meet so many amazing people. That’s what I love about it.
Photo Credit: Em's Photos UK
How have you kept fit during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Keri: I have been training with my sister Jodie, who is also a kickboxer. We have been doing padwork in our home and have kept up some kickboxing fitness. I have a spinning bike which I am doing my cardio on and have weights for weight training. The past few weeks I have been training with Top Ten Germany team on Zoom and also on Zoom with my own club, Tallaght Martial Arts. My sister and I have also picked up sparring in my dad’s local gym since restrictions have been raised a bit.
Tell our readers all about your club...
Keri: My club have not only been training partners and supporters, they have been a family to me for most of my life. I have met the best people and some of them are my best friends now outside of the sport. We at TMA are hard-working, we are a motivated club who you will see top the podium and the results table at some of the most competitive competitions. The coaches we have are top class coaches and fighters themselves, winning many WAKO titles between them. I think it’s the best club to be a part of.
Talk us through the journey of a Kickboxing Ireland athlete, how do you get selected, train for and represent your country?
Keri: The best thing about kickboxing is getting to represent our country. To get onto the Irish team isn’t an easy achievement. For a junior fighter, there is a national competition where you must place first/second in your weight and age section. After that, the Irish squad have squad training sessions nearly every weekend right up until the WAKOs. There is also a weekend training session full of intense training that we must attend. For a senior fighter, it is pretty much the same but senior fighters have two national competitions that you must fight and win first place in the same weight section. There is one at the start of the year and one in April/May. If you win one competition and lose the other there’s a fight off with the person who won the other. That fight off will select the person that attends the WAKOs. If you win both competitions you automatically have a spot on the team so long as squad trainings are attended during the year.
What has been your best/favourite achievement to date?
Keri: There is so many that stick in my head that make me happy! From winning the Irish open in 2013 to making many WAKO finals as a junior fighter. In my senior career, winning two bronze medals at the senior WAKOs and making the Women’s Grand Champion semi-final at the Irish open 2020! That last one was a big deal as I could show what I have as a fighter against the top of the top.
Photo Credit: Em's Photos UK
Who would you say has been your toughest opponent to date and why?
Keri: Tina Baloh, who I fought recently at the Irish open 2020. Her kicking is out of this world and is tough to get around. I am a short person, which was a disadvantage in this fight. It is something I have to work on in the future.
What are your plans in the sport going forwards?
Keri: My plans are to win a WAKO World or European title in the next 3 years and to get another Irish open title under my belt.
Thank you Keri and good luck with your plans!