Page 54 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 136

54 Issue #136 May 2024 www.sportsenergynews.com

another. It was an eye opener! They regular spot. There would be a few awake in that room, if you weren’t
Continued from page 52 played with lots of energy, and it tournaments, too. It was pointed out you could become the center of
got off the ice and Moe Lemieux carried over into the dressing room that although they didn’t always win, attention. Goaltenders were targets
came into our room looking for a when the skate was done.” they were usually in the final. Steve both on and off the ice, always in
goaltender, one of his hadn’t shown Afterwards I sat, tired and soaking got the message; he would have a job good fun!
up. I agreed to stay, moved my stuff it all in, the adrenaline still working. to do, otherwise the spot would be up
over to a very crowded dressing These guys played the game for grabs. Hockey came to Steve later in
room, and back onto the ice I went differently, and the dressing room The next decade was a learning life, he was fortunate in how it
for another hour and a half. I doubt experience was different too. There experience and a lot of fun. Just to evolved. “Looking back thinking
that anyone was impressed with my was plenty of laughter, challenges, be a regular in the Hubs dressing about the different hockey groups,
performance, but I still remember that pushbacks, lots of mischief too. An room was an honour and a privilege. all of the different people I met
day’s experience. It was fast hockey, air of confidence hung over these As the roster started to change, new through hockey, the fun I’ve had,
the defence was big and mobile, the guys, they respected one another. faces and talent would come into the it’s been quite a ride. I thought I
forwards and their shots came out of They were a team! Steve knew that room. Tournaments were special, missed a lot not playing when I
nowhere, the slower players passed if asked, he would play again. players would join the Hubs from was younger, but in the end, I don’t
pucks onto the sticks of the faster Morrisburg, Iroquois, northern think I missed anything.” Steve
The next few years of Sunday is now in his ‘70’s, still playing a
guys effortlessly, everybody was New York, and even as far away as
moving, and the puck moved twice hockey got him more last minute Detroit. The dressing rooms were bit, and still feeling like a kid every
invitations with the Hubs until time he hears the hockey bag hit the
as fast! Watching them scrimmage full of great story tellers. I loved the
was one thing, being out on ice was one day Moe asked if he’d like a hockey stories. You needed to be dressing room floor.

KARATE KOMMENTS When punching, the knee should be slightly bent with both feet planted

and pushing off against the floor. A slight lean in the direction of the
punch will add body weight to the strike, but care must be taken not to
overextend. It is a little more difficult to maintain proper balance while
By Jim Riddell, kicking, because when the kick is executed, the bodyweight must be
directly over the supporting leg. During the kick, one’s foundation is
Seaway Karate Club only as wide as the foot that you are standing on. For this reason, in both

self-defense and sparring situations, one of the best times to displace
your opponent’s balance is when they are on one leg. If your balance
The Attributes - Balance
has gotten a bit “out of shape,” there are many drills to help get it back.
n the past few issues, we have looked at the attributes, or components Here are a few simple ones,
Iof karate that all serious practitioners should strive to improve. Each 1) Take a forward stance, with your eyes closed and hands in on guard
of these components are individual stand-alone attributes but they all
position. Very slowly raise your right leg and extend it into a front kick.
work hand in hand with each other. So far, we have looked at speed, You will feel your muscles making little adjustments to keep you from
power, and timing, each very important components that can be enhanced
falling over – those are the ones that you are conditioning with this drill.
by improved balance. It doesn’t matter how fast and strong you are, or Your arms should not wave. Do 10 very slow waist-high kicks with
how mechanically correct your kicks and punches are, without proper each leg.
balance they will never reach maximum effectiveness. Balance relates
2) Take a forward stance with your eyes closed and your hands in the
to your center of gravity, which is the balance point in your body. For
most of us that point is located in the lower part of our upper body. on-guard position. Raise your right knee so your thigh is parallel with
the floor, then slowly lean to the front, then to the back, and then side to
Your center of gravity can be raised or lowered depending on how your
weight is shifted in various stances. For example, a horse riding stance side. Do this 10 times, then repeat it standing on your left leg.
has a lower center of gravity than a high narrow stance and is therefore 3) In a forward stance with your hands up and your eyes open, very
more stable. While a low stance may be more stable, it lacks the mobility slowly throw a front kick, retract the leg, chamber, and slowly throw
of higher stances. A stance may be very stable in an attack from one a sidekick, retract, chamber, execute a roundhouse kick, then a back
direction but unbalanced in another direction. As a student moves up kick, - all without putting the kicking foot back on the floor. If this is
through the belt ranks, he / she, with the help of their instructor, will no problem, you can add a crescent kick followed by a hook kick. Do
identify efficient movement controlling the center of balance allowing one set of 10 reps with each leg. Balance is a very important but often
for smooth and proficient technique. Continued repetitions will improve overlooked component of Karate, - the good news is that with some
every aspect of karate, - kicks, punches, self-defense, sparring, and kata. simple balance drill training it can be quickly and easily improved.