Joël François is a native of Belgium and has been involved in the art of Martial Arts since the age six.

Having trained vigorously from an early age, he soon began competing professionally and obtained his Brown Belt in 1983 (Judo FNBJ, Federation National Judo).
Whilst still training and competing in Judo, he also began training in Karaté Shotokan in1981 and achieved his first Black Belt in 1988.

With continued intensive training and his reputation beginning to grow nationally, he then began to train in the specialised area of Japanese Ju-Jutsu (Takeda Ryu) in 1989. At this stage, he began to teach both children and adolescents in the skills of Martial Arts, having already acquired a National Certificate in Sports Monitoring.

Throughout the nineties, he continued to develop and improve his skills and travelled to many European countries, such as Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland, Luxemburg, Holland, Sweden and Germany, in his efforts to augment and improve his skills.

In 2002, he received his Sandan (3rd Black Belt in Japenese Ju-Jutsu) from the European Federation of Japenese Ju Jutsu. By this time, he had set up training courses in various centres throughout Europe, including France, Belgium and Luxemburg. Because of his increasing reputation as a skilled and dedicated teacher of his passion, Martial Arts, Joël’s classes proved to be enormously successful and popular, in every region.

During this time, Joël then began to notice an increasing demand for ‘relaxation-based’ exercises and as a result of this demand, he introduced, his clients to the area of stretching and relaxation techniques. These classes proved to be hugely popular when he taught them, in the Belgian Gym, ‘Vi-tonic’, where  he was now Manager. Such was the demand for them, that extra classes had to be run, to facilitate the large numbers wishing to avail of them.

In 2005, Joël came to Ireland on a short holiday and immediately fell in love with the country! Having travelled extensively for many years throughout Europe, he immediately decided that Ireland was the country he wanted to live in. On returning home to Belgium, he then began making preparations to relocate to Ireland.

In June 2006, he returned and began making plans for his new life here. During his short holiday here in 2005, he had realised the great interest that existed in Ireland, in physical fitness and within a short time, he had secured a position as a Gym Instructor with Olympic Physique in Galway City. During his time there, he introduced his clients to Yogi Stretching classes and once again, they proved to be enormously popular with members of both sexes and all ages. Sportsmen and women of all types of sport, have found these classes to be of great benefit to them, in their overall training regime.

Joël also conducted Personal Training for many members during his time spent in Olympic Physique and such was his popularity, that his schedule was constantly full. Following on from this, Joel then joined the team at French Vanoli Health Centre, Oranmore where he continued to increase his reputation as a high quality Personal Fitness Instructor.

Now, Joël feels the time is right to open his own Personal Training Gym and he is delighted to be operating this facility in the premises of Galway City School of Judo at 27 Oldenway Business Park, where he looks forward to both giving his classes and also conducting personal training with his previous clients and indeed, many new ones.

In May 2009 Joël passed his grading in Luxembourg to become a Tasshi YONDAN (4^th black belt) of Japanese Ju-jutsu,which is recognised by the Japanese Federation of Ju-Jutsu.

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September 2011 saw Joël leave Ireland shortly to visit Shihan Ron Aten Hachidan 8th Black Belt in Blue Mound, Illinois USA. After sharing a wonderful week of training, teaching and learning Shihan Aten conferred the great honour of the rank of Godan to Joël.

His official title and rank is now:

Shihan Joël François - Godan 5^th Black Belt

Graduate from Aiki Ju jutsu Budokan USA Federation

and recognised by Hombu Dojo Tokyo Japan.