Gardai to spend over €100,000 on martial arts suits for karate cops

An Garda Síochána is set to spend over €100,000 on three-piece karate suits for trainees taking self-defence lessons in Templemore.

Up to 720 of the traditional Japanese garbs will be required in each of the next three years as new recruits get to grips with martial arts, according to Garda authorities.

The suits, or karategi, comprise plain white jackets, pants and belts made of strong, breathable fabric that’s designed not to tear when grabbed by opponents during throws.

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Gardaí expect to spend €112,500 plus VAT purchasing the suits for trainees under a contract that is currently out for tender. The agreement will be for a period of one year with a maximum of two 12-month extensions.

Between 600 and 1,000 trainees are expected to attend the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary during each of those years.

They will be enrolled in the BA in Applied Policing programme, which is delivered over 33 weeks. The first 11 weeks are based at the college, while subsequent training predominantly takes place in Garda divisions.

During that 11-week period, trainees take self-defence classes and will be required to wear the karate gear purchased by the college.

In 2022, An Garda Síochána issued a tender for martial arts experts to train their instructors in the ancient Japanese fighting system of Taiho Jutsu, which features holds, grappling styles and takedowns developed from Judo.

The sophisticated system of non-lethal combat was first used by the Japanese Feudal Police in medieval times, and has since been developed to incorporate the use of a keibo or short baton.

More recently, Japanese police have adapted the system for the use of extendable batons, which gardaí routinely carry on their belts.

Interested parties have until August 12 to respond to the current tender for the supply of karategi suits. They will be expected to deliver the garments to the Garda College within 12 weeks of receiving an order. The next induction of trainees in Templemore is expected to take place in 2025.

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