The national governing body for martial arts in Ireland, and linked closely to the Irish Sports Council, IMAC has been central to the recent explosion in interest in martial arts in Ireland. Organising coaching courses, ensuring the adherence to high standards, and providing a centralised body through which policy can be discussed in the often closed world of martial arts, it has played a great role in the development of the arts. With representatives from all the affiliated styles it has brought a level of professionalism to what were admittedly hitherto fairly hodge-podge relations. Of course, it hasn’t solved all the problems. Though it probably never will. Egos are such great things!