A Rising Tide lifts all boats equally – an old adage often applied to the economics of entire countries but on this occasion used by a Muay Thai instructor to describe the benefit of the “Cork Martial Arts Promotions” Marquee at the Cork Mid Summer Show in Ballincollig this year.
Imagine a technology exhibition where different mobile phone companies set their stalls less than 10 feet from each other – Nokia beside Samsung, Alcatel beside Blackberry and LG beside Motorola. You can almost see the distain and disgust on the rival sales teams’ faces as they peer across at each other, pinching prospective clients from one another and sabotaging their neighbour’s promotional material.
How impressed would you be if one of the team leaders was able to stand back with the epiphany that as a collective group, the exhibitors were promoting the one product – the mobile phone. By joining forces, they could promote a friendlier environment, a more professional display, a more diverse demonstration of mobile technology and above all, provide an opportunity for prospective consumers to celebrate their individualism and differing tastes in design & requirements. Would you be impressed or shocked if that team leader were to say “A Rising Tide lifts all boats equally”?
It was Seamus Cogan of Spartan Muay Thai who quoted that adage to me as we shook hands on the morning of Saturday 19th June. I had trained with Seamus before and knew he was an open minded professional instructor so I almost expected that attitude from him but as he said it, I looked around to see that under the guidance of Leonard Coughlan and Cork Martial Arts Promotions, no less than 6 martial arts clubs/instructors were joining forces to show a united front in the presentation of the fighting arts. Each instructor took time to speak with the other, congratulate them on their students’ performances and ask about their individual experiences. Apart from the excitement of high impact and high energy demonstrations given on the half hour, the atmosphere of mutual respect between all martial artists played no small part in drawing crowds of awe-struck spectators.
I was the ‘karate guy’ (as I seem to be know in some online forums) and along with Joe-Tom Hayes, Aine O’Donnel and William ‘Wilverine’ Browne, we performed our demonstration in the time it took morning to become noon. We were followed by the Tae Kwon Do team lead by Mark Buckley, Pat Barry and Leonard Coughlan. Next up was the West Cork Kickboxing team led by Ian Kingston followed by the Kendo team organised by Vincent Long. Later in the afternoon, Spartan Muay Thai under the guidance of Seamus Cogan and John Kelly took to the ring and then closing the show was Greg and his team from the Shao Lin Centre in Ballyphehane with a Kung Fu performance. Music was expertly provided by DJ Ralph!
The marquee was very professionally presented. Leonard had the CMAP promo display towering proudly over the boxing ring, which provided the raised platform for the various performers to shine. Each martial art also had a display stand promoting its history and the club representing it. Weapons and trophies were posing like priceless museum pieces. 50” Plasma screens presented video clips from tournaments and seminars around the world and Instructors were on hand all day long to answer any questions onlookers may have had. As a participant, I was impressed but for those being introduced to the world of martial arts, I expect they were dazzled with expert displays of deadliness, beguiled by the discipline, control and dedication of the performers and truly warmed by the welcoming atmosphere fostered and promoted by Cork Martial Arts Promotions.
I would like, on behalf of all of the instructors and performers involved to express respect and gratitude to Leonard and his team for bringing the whole event together. No doubt, months of planning and buckets of energy went into the preparations. Money was obviously invested in terms of display material and above all else, abundantly wise foresight predicted that a group effort promoting many different martial arts would be the most appropriate format for the event at hand. Given the same opportunity, many clubs/instructors would have made the day all about themselves and their arts. As I understand it, Leonard even asked his colleagues from another TaeKwonDo club to hold that torch – Coz that’s just the kinda guy he is! Fair play my man!
For more information on Cork Martial Arts Promotions, you can visit their website at www.CMAP.ie. There, you will find links to all the participants listed above.
Liam-Og Griffin 