Page 52 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 134

52 Issue #134 March 2024 www.sportsenergynews.com

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RRCA’s 51 Annual Raisin River Canoe Race set for April 13

shoreline supporters. The wildly popular
Submitted Article
annual RRCA event has become a rite of
egistration is now open for the spring for both residents and visitors to
RRaisin Region Conservation the area.
Authority’s (RRCA) 51st Raisin River “It’s hard to believe the Race has
Canoe Race, set to take place on Saturday, been going on for over half a century,”
April 13. The Canoe Race is one of the says RRCA Canoe Race Coordinator,
longest in eastern Ontario, challenging Lissa Deslandes. “The Raisin River is
hundreds of participants to paddle such a vital part of our area’s natural
through a 30-kilometre racecourse from environment and history. It’s great to see Photo Submitted
St. Andrews West in South Stormont it bring the community together to spend
to Williamstown in South Glengarry time outdoors and engage in friendly
while being cheered on by enthusiastic Continued on page 53

KARATE KOMMENTS than one half of one tenth of one second. This helps to partially explain
the success that Ali had, as the average trained reaction time is around
double that time.
Every technique must be properly performed to generate an effective
By Jim Riddell, amount of power. The reverse punch is one of the most used strikes in
karate and here is what must happen for it to generate the proper amount
Seaway Karate Club of power. 1) Push off the back foot (R) generating the power to rotate

the hips. 2) Lead leg (L) is bent slightly at the knee to help with the
hip rotation. 3) The right hand accelerates towards the target rotating

THE ATTRIBUTES – Power so that the palm faces somewhat downward, the fist clinching and
snapping into the target. People think of the kiai as a yell which helps to
n the previous issue of Sports Energy, we began to look at the increase one’s power when striking in karate, but it’s used in both sport
Iattributes involved in the sport of karate that every practitioner
and everyday life situations. In sport, boxers and MMA fighters often
should train to improve. The first attribute that we discussed was speed
forcefully exhale when executing a punch or a strike.
as it is arguably the most important, and the one that always seems to
be at the forefront. Almost every Canadian has helped to push a vehicle that has become
stuck on a snowy winter day and either consciously or unconsciously
Power is a stand-alone attribute but is one which goes hand in hand
grunted to increase power while pushing. This power that was used to
with strength and is very closely linked to speed. To successfully push that stuck vehicle is known as static power, which is the maximum
achieve power in your technique, a little bit of science needs to be force that one can exert in a short period of time. In karate, this can be
applied. Newton’s 2nd Law: Force = mass x acceleration is a formula
utilized to push, pull, or throw an opponent.
that is fundamental for punches, kicks, and elbow and knee strikes.
Mass should be viewed not as just the hand, foot, or limb, but as the Two other types of power are explosive power and dynamic power.
use of proper body mechanics during the execution of the technique. Explosive power is described as the ability to exert maximum force in
Acceleration is not the speed of the technique but is defined as how fast either a single move or a series of moves. This would refer to either a
the individual can increase the speed of the technique. In other words, single strike or a combination. Dynamic power is the ability to exert
speed is important, but it is necessary to reach maximum speed in the muscular force continuously over a length of time. This could be a 2- or
shortest possible time. Using a punch as an example, this means that the 3-minute sparring round, or a timed round on either the heavy bag or
fist needs to go from a relaxed state of tension to the point of impact in focus mitts.
the blink of an eye. A helpful tip to maximize your power in karate – get a good ground

Muhammed Ali, one of, if not the greatest boxer of all time possessed connection by pushing into the floor with your legs. By doing this the
an extremely fast and powerful jab. This power was generated through energy travels back up the body, through the limb being used, and into
proper body mechanics (mass) and acceleration. In May of 1969, the target.
Sports Illustrated had Ali’s jab measured by an omegascope at 0.040 KARATE QUOTE: Sometimes people of mediocre ability achieve
milliseconds. This means that Ali’s fist travelled to full extension in less outstanding success because they never quit trying.