Page 11 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 50

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #50 JANUARY 2017 11

PARTS • SERVICE • SALES • LEASING Thank You & Happy New Year
SINCE 1973

Belleville Cornwall Kemptville Kingston to All Our Customers from Rookez-Edge Staff
613-966-4800 613-933-4425 613-258-3467 613-546-3336
Mississauga Oshawa Ottawa East Ottawa West
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Continued from page 10 gratifying for Harty.
such as, Craig “Makita” McCosham, “My Dad did it for me, so I will do
Steph “Lady Byng” St Denis, and it for them. We had a little patch for a
Mario “Chin Strap” Gibeault and few years at home, and then at the end
many others who have happily lent a of the street; a townhouse development
hand. ran out of money and left a big hole
that became the neighbourhood rink
Most years the organizers start the
hoses in between Christmas and New for a few years. The fire department
would come once in a while and spray
Year’s Eve. It’s about waiting for the
ground to freeze and then looking it down. I remember we would put
pepper in our skates, Vaseline on our
ahead to consecutive nights where
the weather will be -6 or below. This faces. We would get frostbite, lots of
year the water was first sprayed on welts, cuts, and bruises. We loved it.”
December 16th, which is very early Sports Energy would like to see your
according to Harty. photos of local outdoor rinks, public
or private. Please visit our Facebook
Seeing the youngsters enjoying the Participants, young and old, have enjoyed use of the rink for the past
fruits of labour from so many is very page to post yours today! five years. Submitted photo Joe Harty

The Evolution of Karate

Kano, the founder of Judo was present and endorsed this new art, helping
By Jim Riddell, it to gain acceptance in Japan.
Seaway Karate Club That demonstration was the first time that Funakoshi had worn a gi
(uniform), as Okinawa karate was practised in regular clothing. Kano
had presented him with a gi previous to the demo to give it a more formal
arate as we know it today is considered by most to be a Japanese appearance. Funakoshi also adopted Judo’s coloured progressive belt
Kart. This is somewhat true as most traditional styles of karate ranking system for karate. He changed the name from Chinese hand to
made their way to North America after gaining popularity in Japan less empty hand (karate) to make it Japanese. The names of the kata were also
than one hundred years ago. changed to make them sound Japanese. In 1924 Keio University became
the first to have a karate club for its students, with most other universities
The roots of karate go much deeper than that; its origins being credited
following soon after, with a few Japanese masters coming out of these
to Bodhidarmha, a Buddhist monk who brought a style of temple
clubs. For his efforts, Funakoshi is considered the “Father of modern
boxing to China from India more than a thousand years ago. “Darhma”
karate” and was the founder of the Shotokan style. Over the next few
is also considered to be the first martial art scientist due to his extensive
decades sparring was added for competition purposes, with several new
research on vital points of the human body. Over the years much
techniques like spinning kicks and high roundhouse kicks being added for
Chinese culture made its way to Okinawa including the martial arts.
that purpose.
Karate came to Japan from Okinawa where originally it was much
different than the versions now being taught. It was practised among Karate made its way to Canada in the 1930’s, growing slowly and finally
the warrior class and was for self-defense purposes only. Combat was gaining mainstream acceptance after the many martial art movies of the late
at mid-to-close range with throws, takedowns, grappling, and chokes 60’s and early 70’s. It was during this era that any local karate practitioner
all being a part of it. They were also proficient in the use of several who wanted to test themselves in the ring could find a tournament most
weapons such as the Bo staff, sai, tonfa, and oar, all of which were weekends in the Ottawa, Hull, and Montreal area. Today, depending on
common implements used in Okinawa at that time. where the emphasis is placed, Karate can be practised as an art, a sport, a
combat sport or as a means of self-defence.
Around 1900, karate was modified so that it could be taught in the school
system, with the focus being on the kata or forms. The application of In August of 2016 the International Olympic Committee approved karate
dangerous techniques, (bunkai) was not revealed to the students at that to be included in the 2020 summer games in Tokyo as an official Olympic
time. In Okinawa, karate was known as ‘Chinese hand”. In 1922, sport. Athletes from around the world will compete in kumite (sparring)
Gichen Funakoshi was invited by the Japanese Ministry of Education to and in kata (forms) with an equal number of male and female competitors.
give a demonstration at Tokyo’s Kodakan Judo Hall, in front of approx. Karate has certainly evolved since its humble beginnings in Okinawa
two hundred and fifty educators, diplomats, and Judo masters. Jigaro several centuries ago.