Page 28 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 20

Sports Energy
Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
Sports Energy
Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
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28
Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
Sports Energy
Greater Cornwall & Areas Community Sports Newspaper
presents Sports Panel
This month we’ve asked our panelists to consider the FIFA World
Cup, and the growth of soccer in North America.
Here is the question we asked them to consider:
The FIFA World Cup is currently underway in Brazil, and for people
in many countries this is the world’s most important sporting event.
In North America soccer is growing in popularity, but we still have
a way to go to equal the passion displayed by our European cousins.
Many people would still count the Super Bowl the World Series or
the Stanley Cup Finals as more important, but interest in soccer
seems to be growing.
Are you more interested in this World Cup than you might have
been in the past, and if so, why? Do you see a day when soccer
would be number one for you?
Terry Tinkess I can’t say that I am anything more than a casual
soccer fan. I appreciate the athleticism of many of
the athletes, but the “bad actors” and the tendency
of some fans to take their support way beyond what
any one would consider reasonable prevents me
from really embracing it. Still, there are displays
Canadian Press of true sportsmanship that make you want to watch
Correspondent
more, and the eye-foot coordination of some of the
players is simply amazing. When a low-ranking
team advances farther than expected or a favourite bows-out early, my
attention span grows. Unfortunately, I don’t think I will ever truly be
able to sink my teeth into it!
Jim Riddell
My wife Ilona was in Germany visiting family
during the time of the World Cup. I was talking with
her on the phone a few hours after Germany defeated
the USA. I could hear horns in the background
as motorists celebrated the victory. This would
be happening throughout Germany. I remember
Seaway Karate Club thinking, had the Americans won, the reaction would
be minimal on the other side of the St. Lawrence. Soccer is the number
one sport in every European country. In Canada it has gained popularity
but factoring in the winter months and the multitude of North American
sports that are tradition, its doubtful that soccer ever reaches the level of
popularity it has in Europe. I have not been following the World Cup
very closely and although soccer is a great game, it would never become
my favourite.
Robert Walker My interest in the World Cup has definitely increased
over the past number of years. I have always enjoyed
the game as a player, a coach and a fan. The increased
coverage of the event has helped bring exposure
and getting more people interested and being able to
watch the games live certainly helps to understand
Minor Hockey Coach the game and the passion of the fans. Although
the sport is growing in North America and is certainly less costly for
parents, I do not think it will grow larger in popularity than hockey,
football, baseball or basketball in Canada or the US simply because of
the roots and traditions of those sports in our culture. However, it is nice
to see that the beautiful game is getting good recognition and is enjoying
wonderful growth.
Karate Komments
By Jim Riddell,
Seaway Karate Club
Summer Drills
ell, summer is upon us once again and with it comes some
Wchallenges for the martial artist. After a long cold winter,
most of us prefer the warmth and sunshine of the outdoors to
sweating in a dojo.
Seaway Karate like many other clubs shuts down during July and
August. This frees our members up for other commitments and
activities, returning to karate class in September rejuvenated.
At our final class before we break for the summer, we provide
the students with several drills, and exercises that will help to
maintain the conditioning level and enhance their skills. These
drills take about one minute each and most can be done almost
anywhere.
1) Plank: There are several variations of planking, but let’s keep
it simple to start. Get in a push-up position with your body weight
on your toes, forearms and elbows. Keeping your back straight,
hold for one minute.
2) Lower half squat: Assume your usual horse riding karate
stance, then lower yourself as low as you can go keeping your
back straight and not allowing your knees to extend over your
toes. This is where you start. Now very slowly raise yourself up
to the half-way point, then slowly lowering back down to your
lowest position, repeating for at least one minute.
3) Balloon drill: Inflate a round balloon approximately half full.
Now working your kicks, keep the balloon in the air without
touching the ground for at least one minute.
4) Sticky kick drill: Focus on a door knob or other object of
similar height – execute a front kick towards your target (never
touching it) and when your leg is at full extension, hold it for a
slow one thousand and one count. 10 reps, each leg.
5) Kick climbers: Visualize a training partner in front of you –
throw a roundhouse kick at calf level, retract into a tight chamber,
then throw another at thigh level, retract and repeat at belt level,
then rib level returning your foot to the floor. That’s four kicks,
one rep. Repeat three times and change legs.
6) Coin drill: Placing your feet in your normal fighting stance,
place a coin on the back of your lead hand and extend it. With
a quick upward motion toss the coin in the air, grabbing it with
your other had using the same motion as if throwing a reverse
punch or right cross.
Work on these in the upcoming month - a few variations will
appear in the next issue of Sports Energy.