Saturdays · 11:00–12:30

Open Mat
in Cork

Saturday mornings, 11:00am to 12:30pm, in Ballyvolane. No instruction, no curriculum — just mat time and whoever turns up.

Aontach members train free. Grapplers from other Cork clubs, and anyone passing through the city, are welcome to drop in.

 (01) · What it is

No coach, no plan

An open mat is unstructured training. The mats are open, people warm up in their own time, and everyone finds their own rounds. Some drill a position they’ve been stuck on all week. Some roll for the full ninety minutes. Some sit at the side and talk about it.

Gi or NoGi — wear whichever you prefer, and pair up with whoever’s in the same. It’s the most relaxed session of the week and usually the most useful, because you choose what you work on.

Visitors

Dropping in

Training at another Cork club? Come anyway. Visiting from abroad and want mat time while you’re in the city? Same answer.

Message ahead so we know to expect you, wear whatever your own club wears, and leave the affiliation politics at the door. Everyone rolls with everyone here.

The rules

Mat etiquette

  • Clean gi, clean rash guard, nails cut short
  • Shoes off on the mat, shoes on off it
  • Skin infection or open cut — sit it out
  • Ask for the round, don’t assume it
  • Match your partner’s intensity, not your ego
  • Tap early, let go immediately

See you Saturday.

Ballyvolane Commercial Park, Unit 24, Ballyvolane, Cork, T23 E685. Free parking on site, ten minutes from Cork city centre. First class on us — message ahead so we know you’re coming.

083 465 1592 · aontachjj@gmail.com