Page 60 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 129

60 Issue #129 October 2023 www.sportsenergynews.com

The Hockey Card Report buying out Topps, who have produced highly graded version fetching well
baseball cards for the last seventy over the $100 mark. Given Leon’s
years, anything can happen. As a fan consistent production, and the Oilers
By Bennett Harty of Upper Deck products this could be loyal fan base, this card will surely
the case soon as Fanatics has already hold or increase its value. That will
bought the rights to make the NHL’s wrap up this month’s edition of the
jerseys. Hockey Card Report. Stay tuned for
NHL regular season action kicking off
The Draisaitl card featured this
month is currently selling at around on Tuesday October 10th, and check
back with the HCR for an update on
$40 for the ungraded version, with a
Ovi’s goal hunt in November’s edition.

KARATE KOMMENTS

By Jim Riddell,

Seaway Karate Club
ith pre-season action wrapping
Wup and final cuts being made,
fans across the league are starting After Earning a Black belt – What is Next?
to get a feel for teams and players to
watch out for. To no one’s surprise, one o someday earn a black belt should be the goal of every karate student.
of those players is Leon Draisaitl. The TAchieving this goal will take approximately four to five years of training,
former Hart trophy winner who was hard work, lots of learning, and maybe even a bruise or two (martial art tattoo)
second in points last year is expected along the way. As an instructor, it is very important to develop your students
to carry a heavy load yet again in the properly, focusing on the journey up through the progressive belt rank system
Oilers pursuit of the Stanley Cup. its roots and remake the vintage OPC rather than viewing black belt as the destination. Less than one percent of students
set. Of course, this set has been a hit who start karate classes will stick around long enough to earn the rank of Shodan
The card that was chosen for this with fans across the league who truly or 1st degree black belt. For those who finally do earn that coveted black belt, it
article is a 2014 O-Pee-Chee Rookie appreciate the set and the history is a reminder of the growth that has helped its wearer to evolve as a martial artist
card of Draisaitl. When choosing this behind it. More fans like it as it brings and also as a steppingstone for continuous development. Earning the Shodan
card, it wasn’t the player that caught back a simpler feel to the hobby. Of rank should be the goal, just not the ultimate one. Black belt opens the door to
my eye, it was the set. O-Pee-Chee course, all the advancements in the a whole new world of growth and development. As a coloured belt the path was
hockey cards have been around for hobby have been huge but with all very clearly laid out for you – you knew which katas needed to be perfected for
many years. Even though there is still these new cards and with the industry your next belt test, and also what was required as far as bunkai, self-defense and
an OPC set, most of the notable cards being so competitive, huge companies pressure point knowledge. Black is now kind of “the new white,” the pace is more
were produced a few years before the like Fanatics are jeopardizing a simple relaxed as there is a three-year time frame before testing for Nidan, 2nd degree
junk wax era of sports cards. Examples hobby. With sports like the NFL and black belt. There will still be two new katas to learn but after that most other
of these notables would be the Wayne the NBA this can be seen. Of course, things change. Let’s look at it as short term and midterm development ( short
Gretzky RC or the Steve Yzerman RC.
these huge companies must get rights being year one, midyear two) with long term being a bit unrealistic at this point,
After these cards OPC almost went to make these cards, and this is where as the interests and emphasis may change with time.
extinct from the hockey card world some companies have gone to war In the short term more responsibility will come by being given various teaching
until Upper Deck bought the licensing over owning those rights. responsibilities. This could be one-on-one or a few students of a particular belt
rights to produce NHL trading Cards. It’s happening right now with Panini rank. The material could be Kata, self-defense, pressure points, working on areas
After this happened the hobby changed, and Fanatics, as Fanatics is buying of concern, or helping to prepare students for an upcoming belt test. In the midterm,
with inserts and various products you some of the licenses that Panini increased responsibility is delegated and input on class progress development is
could buy becoming the desired cards. previously held creating lawsuits required. One of the most important parts of black belt development and one
When opening packs of cards, you between the two brands. It makes one that is required to progress further in rank, are seminars. Our recommendation at
were no longer just looking for basic wonder if this could ever happen to Seaway Karate is to average ten seminars per year. This is not nearly as difficult
rookie cards, you were also looking the hockey card hobby as these fans as it sounds, as each November the World Kobudo Federation holds Capital
for these jersey cards and autographed of other top-end sports may be left Conquest, a two-day seminar event with a wide range of master instructors from
cards of your favourite players. around the world. Most martial artists usually pick up eight seminars at this event
with a lack of products due to brands
After a couple of years of fighting for the licenses. It also leaves every year, in addition to ones by guest instructors at our own club. For every
dominating the NHL hobby, Upper fans wondering what the future holds martial artist who earns the rank of Shodan, it is a milestone achievement; a Dan
Deck decided to go back to some of for a set like OPC? With Fanatics ranking that could be the initial one in a lifelong journey.