Shane Fitzgibbon is a Strength and Conditioning coach, based in Galway, Ireland. He is a professional, 7th degree Master Black Belt, martial arts instructor and, as a retired athlete from this field, is a 6-time World Champion in Taekwondo and Kickboxing.
Holder of a B.Sc. from National University of Ireland, Galway, Shane has always had a passion for exercise and qualified as a gym instructor with ITEC in 2001. In the years that followed, Shane has been busy coaching his martial arts students as well teams and individuals from other sports. Besides obtaining National Certificate in Strength and Conditioning, Shane is Functional Movement Screening (FMS) certified and a member of the prestigious Register of Exercise Professionals Ireland (REPS Ireland). Shane is, also, a member, in good standing, of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) in the U.S., and the European Fitness Network (EFN).
Shane coaches numerous adults, and has a particular vocation for coaching young athletes. He was voted International Youth Coach of the Year 2015, by the International Youth Conditioning Association (IYCA), making history as the first winner outside of North America. Shane is currently a Youth Fitness Specialist Level 3, Speed and Agility Specialist, Kettlebell Instructor, Olympic Lift Instructor, Youth Nutrition Specialist, Resistance Band Instructor, and High School SandC Coach, as certified by the IYCA.
Connacht Taekwon-do Academy was founded by Shane in 1993, and was the first Taekwon-do school opened in the West of Ireland. Based in Galway, City of the Tribes, Shane runs weekly classes at his full-time centre, where he caters to students in classes for children age 5-7 years, 8-12 years, teen and adults. In 2012, Shane authored the highly acclaimed book, “Training and Optimal Health for Sports”, which is available from Amazon,. In it, he has shared more than twenty years of experience, training and competing at the highest levels of his sport, as well as the secrets of his longevity, not having retired from competition until 38, a double World Champion that year.