Sensei John McGrane started his martial arts career over 50 years ago, when in 1967 he began training in various styles in the Greater Manchester area in the United Kingdom. John became a member of the Martial Arts Commission of Great Britain and began training in styles such as Jiu~jitsu and Kung Fu amongst others.
On his return to Dublin in 1969, John began looking at the martial arts landscape in Ireland. He tested the waters, training in Kenpo, Wado and Shotokan which were all gaining notoriety in the country at the time in various clubs around the Dublin region. It was in 1974 when John joined Church St. Shotokan Club that he really began dedicating himself to the martial arts. The standard of the club absolutely blew him away and it was as this point that he wanted to build a career in the martial arts. In the years that followed John was graded in Shotokan by renowned names such as Enoeda, Kato, Tomita, Pointon and Sherry. In his early days, John also had the pleasure of training in Kenpo with Tommy Jordan and Peter Coyle, both marvellous instructors also. After gaining experience and grades to his name, John then embarked on opening his own karate club in the early 80’s, The Red Dragon Karate Club of Whitehall. In his time here, John produced European and World champions whilst also continuing to build on his own knowledge, training in various styles himself. Dans in the Karate Union of Ireland, the JKA and a Masters in Muay Thai all followed. John also had the pleasure to train with the world renowned Thomas D. St. Charles in the Chinese Okinawan Kempo Association and with close friend and first class instructor, Professor George Canning in Mugendo.
Once again striving to improve and grow, John started his own association, the Oriental Martial Arts Academy (OMAA). Within this academy, John once again produced European and World champions. The club also spawned many future world class instructors like Sensei Brendan Donnelly who are now passing on John’s great wealth of knowledge. One of John’s proudest moments came when he was chosen to train the Irish Police Force in Templemore and the Phoenix Park. John personally trained 5 members of the force in Kumite who then went on to represent An Garda Siochana at the World Police Games in Vancoover in 1988. The team went on to win a bronze, silver and a gold medal at the games. On the team’s triumphant return, John was awarded a medal from An Garda Siochana for his fine work.