Page 16 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 103

16 Issue #103 August 2021 www.sportsenergynews.com

Brought to you by Ming & Associates KARATE KOMMENTS
Athlete of
Athlete of the Month
the Month

Liam Bourbonnais By Jim Riddell,

Age: 10 Seaway Karate Club
Grade: 5
Hometown: Casselman
School: Pavilion Sainte-Paul Summer Drills
August’s Athlete of the Month, Liam he sporting world has been a busy place this past month. Considering
Bourbonnais, is a fourth-year defensive-back for
the Cornwall Wildcats Football Club, a position Tjust the NHL, we saw the Tampa Bay Lightning defeated the Montreal

he’s been training for since his first year as a Canadiens in five games to win back-to-back Stanley Cups, the Seattle
tyke player. “I love the drills, discipline, and Kraken have now formed much of its initial team in the Expansion Draft,
making touchdowns,” he says. and Owen Power was claimed as the first overall pick by the Buffalo
“My sporting goal is to be a good team player for the upcoming 2021 National Sabres in the entry draft. The Olympics also got underway the last week
Capital Amateur Football Association season,” he explains. “My most notable of July and by the time that you are reading this Karate will have made
accomplishment is assisting the Cornwall Wildcats coaches with developing the its debut as an Olympic trial sport.
tyke players’ skills and knowledge of the sport.”
Liam also plays Rep B hockey for the Casselman-Embrun IceDogs as a Like many martial arts schools, Seaway Karate shuts down during July
defenseman, and he trains in various skill camps hosted by the Cornwall Wildcats and August to allow our club members the opportunity to participate in
Football Club in the off season. other activities, returning to class in September rejuvenated. During our
final class each June we provide a few drills that our club members may
want to consider working on over the summer. These drills take only a
minute or two, can be practiced alone, and can either help to maintain or
even improve present skills.

One of the advantages of this type of training is that it provides the
Maxwell Ming - P.Eng, CFP ® opportunity to focus on an area of need so that’s where we will begin:
Financial Planner 1) Work Your Weakest Technique: For most students this would be a
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particular kick that you may find more difficult to execute so you tend
613-932-7526 • Max@mingassociates.com not to use any more than what is required during class. The objective here
is to do this drill daily until class starts back up in September. By then it
may no longer be your weakest technique. The first step is to ensure that
you have a complete understanding of the mechanics of the technique
which most often will be a kick. If you have any questions, contact your
instructor or if that’s not possible, find a video that provides a breakdown
of that kick. Every day of the first week, do only the chamber portion
of the kick slowly, concentrating on proper technique each repetition.
Hold for 2 seconds at the highest point of the chamber. Do 3 sets of 15
repetitions each day. On the second week and beyond, add the full kick,
but do each repetition in slow motion to work all the muscles involved in
the kick. This drill only takes a couple of minutes to do but needs to be
done daily to begin getting it ingrained into your muscle memory.

2) Water Training: This drill is a favourite for many martial artists as it’s
fun and the resistance from the water can provide an excellent workout.
Standing neck-deep in a body of water any of your kicks, strikes, blocks,
or kata can be practiced. It’s also another opportunity to work your
weakest technique.
3) Tennis Ball Jab and Catch: Standing on a hard surface take a fighting
stance with your left hand up protecting your chin. Holding a tennis ball
in your right hand, bounce it off the floor catching it at eye level with a
left jab. Repeat this movement for a total of 25 jabs.

4) Tennis Ball Cross Catch: Take a fighting stance with your right hand
up protecting your chin. With the tennis ball in your left hand bounce it
off the surface, catching it at face level with a properly executed right
cross. Repeat this action for a total of 25 repetitions.

5) Balance Drill: Since we are focusing on our weakest kicking technique,
this drill will compliment Drill #1. Take a left leg forward fighting stance
and slowly execute a front kick, followed by a sidekick, followed by a
roundhouse kick, followed by a back kick. Complete this combination
Photo by Robert Lefebvre, icelevel photography
without setting your foot down between kicks. Complete 10 reps with
To view or purchase photos go to www.icelevel.com each leg.

Keep in mind this karate quote…sore today, stronger tomorrow.