Page 36 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 105

36 Issue #105 October 2021 www.sportsenergynews.com

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

Anne Robinson By Jim Riddell,

Age: 14 Grade: 9
Hometown: Cornwall Seaway Karate Club
School: Saint Joseph’s Catholic Secondary School
I have been playing hockey for 11 years and don’t plan on stopping anytime
soon. I play center on my team and love my coaches and teammates. Hockey is
my life and my passion; it’s never been anything less than that.

I love the first step you take on a new cold sheet of ice and feeling the take
off and excitement from friends and family when you’re on a breakaway. I love Back Into the Dojo

that feeling you get when you fire a top corner shot from the slot or when you any martial artists have not had a real class for the past eighteen
score the winning goal for your team. All of it makes me feel so incredibly grateful that I’m even able to play this Mmonths - it was March of 2020 when the COVID-19 Pandemic
sport. Right now, my goal is to continue playing hockey and give it my all until I hopefully get a scholarship. impacted the way we live and forced the sporting world to a complete halt.
One day, I hope I can make it to the Canadian National Women’s Hockey team. Playing in the Olympics has always Many things have returned to what may be considered the new normal
been one of my biggest dreams and I want to pursue that dream until I finally make it a reality. For now, my plans

for education are to study hard and continue to try my best, no matter how hard the work gets. My goal is to get while with others, there may still be as many questions as there are answers.
the best grades I can achieve and pass Grade 9. Over the long haul, I will graduate from high school and see where
my hockey career will take me. The Pandemic and being away from martial arts for such a long period
One of my most notable accomplishments is winning the OWHA provincial title with the Atom Cornwall Typhoons of time has impacted athletes in different ways. Some students may be
in 2018. It will always have a place in my heart and will always make me push forward. fully engaged and ready to return but having been somewhat inactive and
Hockey is Canadians’ national identity. When people think of Canada, they think that hockey is a big deal to us. the lack of training has resulted in a lower fitness level and a diminished
Many of us have ice rinks in our backyards, I grew up skating in my backyard. If someone asks me to go play on the
ODR (outdoor rink) with them, I will never turn down the offer. Canada is the Great White North, and we will always skillset resulting in a higher risk of injury. Being away from the class
be up to playing a couple rounds of hockey. environment can make some students feel removed from the sport and
the social benefits that it brings. Students who have had a friend/family
member that has contracted COVID may feel reluctant to return to class.
During this long period of inactivity some dojos were eventually forced to
close permanently, with others offering online classes to keep their students
engaged. That approach worked well in the short term but couldn’t compare
Maxwell Ming - P.Eng, CFP ®
Financial Planner to training in a class with your fellow club members. Many dojos, Seaway
Financial Planning • Investments • Insurance Karate included, have been doing outdoor classes and this approach has
worked quite well during the spring, summer, and autumn months. Safety
613-932-7526 • Max@mingassociates.com
concerns have made some indoor locations temporarily unavailable while
others that provided adequate space previously may now be too small to
hold a karate class with the social distancing rules that are presently in
place. All dojos will have to ensure that they are in compliance with the
guidelines of the provincial and local health authorities. These guidelines
will, at least for the foreseeable future, change the way a typical martial
arts class is run.

First, a COVID self-assessment check must be completed by every
individual before attending each class. All club members that are eligible
to be vaccinated must show proof of being fully vaccinated with the second
shot being administered at least 14 days previous. Masks may be required
for some indoor locations and social distancing of the standard 2 meters
must apply. This means that each training area will need to be separated
by an additional 2 meters if instructors are to walk between areas to offer
advice and to ensure that everyone is maintaining proper spacing.
One of the first and most obvious things that will have to go is the “Kiai”,
as the yell that has become synonymous with the sport has the potential to
spray droplets. The cleaning and sanitation of kicking shields, focus mitts,
blockers, and paddle pads will need to be done much more frequently than
in the past. It also looks like the sharing of equipment is something that
may now be gone forever. Many if not most clubs had bags of gloves,
headgear, and foot and shin protestors that were shared by many different
members of the club. This equipment was sanitized regularly, COVID-19
being what it is, this practice has the potential to put students at risk and
must be discontinued.

These guidelines are going to be around for quite some time so martial
artists are going to need to adapt to the changes if they choose to continue
training. Going forward, many past practices will no longer be permitted
and others may have to be adapted to keep everyone safe. The guidelines
may be challenging but at the same time, they also provide instructors
with the opportunity to expand their skillset. By altering their methodology
of teaching, instructors will continue coming up with innovative ways of
training that will provide quality and diverse classes without compromising
the safety of their students.