Page 52 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 135

52 Issue #135 April 2024 www.sportsenergynews.com

KARATE KOMMENTS more difficult time if even slightly unbalanced. 3) When

he’s moving backwards, the human body is designed for
forward motion. As we age, our speed and power are not
what they once were, but the more effective training time
By Jim Riddell,
that a martial artist puts into training, the better his timing
Seaway Karate Club will be. In the combative arts, several athletes have put

that effective training to good use, winning titles at an
advanced age. In MMA there have been Chuck Liddell at
The Attributes: Timing age 37, Anderson Silva at 38, and Randy Couture at 45.

n the two previous Karate Komments columns we In pro boxing, Roberto Duran 37, George Foreman 45,
Ibegan to look at the attributes or components of karate and Bernard Hopkins at 48 years of age.
that every serious practitioner should strive to improve.
Perhaps the best example of a fighter changing his style
Speed and power are most important and very obvious,
to offset the ageing process would be George Foreman.
but both can be taken to another level by proper timing.
Foreman won the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics,
Timing, for karate purposes, can be defined as “choosing
turned pro in ‘69, KO’d Joe Frazier to win the world
the precise moment to grab, hit, back off, run from, or say
heavyweight title in ‘73, retiring in 1977. After a ten
the right thing to bring the threat of a potential situation
year hiatus, Foreman made a comeback at the age of
or a situation in progress to a conclusion in your favour.”
38, winning the title again seven years later in 1994 by
In other words, timing is the ability to take advantage of a
knocking out the previously unbeaten Michael Moorer
window of opportunity. Timing can be both offensive and
(35-0). During this comeback Foreman fought 34 times,
defensive, whether fighting in a ring at a tournament or in
winning 31 of those fights. before finally hanging his
a self-defense situation. Defensively, the sooner a threat
gloves up at age 48. A few years ago, I had the honour
can be identified, the better your chances of successfully
of interviewing heavyweight contenders George Chuvalo
defending against it will be. Before you are able to block
and Gerry Cooney for Sports Energy. Chuvalo and
or evade an incoming punch or kick, several things have
Cooney were from different eras, but between the two of
to happen: 1) You have to recognize it as a threat, 2)
them they fought most of the world’s best heavyweight
consider your possible responses and choose one, 3) Tell
boxers from the ‘60’s, ‘70’s and ‘80’s. George Chuvalo
your muscles how to respond.
fought Foreman in Aug of 1970; Gerry Cooney fought
Having a limited number of techniques that you are quite
him almost 20 yrs. later in January of 1990. I asked each
proficient at will help to lower your reaction time. There
who the hardest puncher was that they had ever faced,
are dozens of techniques, both offensive and defensive
and they both told me the exact same thing - “No one
in karate, but most practitioners have a relatively low
hits like George Foreman.” In those 20 years Foreman
number of “go to” techniques, with some of them being
had gained experience, adapted his style, and was still
ones that can be used in several different situations, known
knocking out most of his opponents. He had economized
as commonality of technique. There are several scenarios
his movements so as to not waste energy and was using a
where the window of opportunity for offensive timing
better sense of timing to end his fights. By learning proper
will present itself - here are just a few: 1) When your
timing, you can enhance both speed and power.
opponent is distracted - it could be something that you
said or a momentary glance away, or 2) when he shifts his KARATE QUOTE: There is no elevator to success, you

weight or changes his stance – your opponent will have a have to take the stairs.