Page 18 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 67

18 June 2018 Issue #67 www.sportsenergynews.com

SJCSS Students

By Jim Riddell,
Seaway Karate Club Compete at OFSAA

Gymnastics

his is the time of year that many karate schools are doing black belt
Tgradings and in the previous column I discussed a few different ways of By Casey Leger province for floor, competing as a
how this grading may be structured. For those who may be facing this test rookie in with level 2 athletes.
in the future, I thought that it may be of interest to hear from someone that hree Panthers’ athletes Emmalee Maley had a particularly
recently went through it. In early May Seaway Karate Club held a spring Tcompeted at the provincial high strong competition. She brought
grading where eight candidates successfully tested for Shodan (1st degree school championships in Sudbury home an impressive three bronze
black belt). I asked Stu and Donna Wilson if they would share their thoughts over the April 22 weekend. Coach medals, one each for floor, beam,
on the grading with the readers of Karate Komments. Mitchel Zappitelli is extremely and uneven bars, and she finished
proud of the three girls he helped
So what is a black belt grading? In short, it is the culmination of years of fourth in the vault. Emmalee has
work, hampered by a whole bunch of self-induced nerves and pressure, blend coach to OFSAA: Ava Ter Horst, been training in gymnastics for
in various levels of injury and exhaustion, couple with an overwhelming desire Emmalee Maley, and rookie Paige 13 years: “It provides me with an
to perform the way you know you can. Dupuis. escape from the everyday,” she
However, this was not just any black belt grading at Seaway Karate Club. Both Ava (at level 6) and Emmalee explains. “It’s a stress reliever, and
Instead, it was a black belt grading playing host to the club’s 25th Anniversary (at level 5) are veteran gymnastics I do it more for fun than anything
reunion crowd. A crowd which includes the usual family, friends, and club competitors, while Paige is a else.”
members… as well as roughly 30 former members ranked black belt or higher… first time competitor. Ava, who According to Coach Zapp, there
some from as far away as Inuvik. That takes the level of grading pressure competed in the most experienced was talk in Sudbury of discontinuing
from typical to astronomical! We feel the importance of showing we’re every division, finished a respectable 6th
bit as capable and deserving as each of them. We won’t let ourselves or Sensei in the beam event. “This is quite an gymnastics at the OFSAA level,
and as a coach who is involved in
Jim down and showcase 25 years of Seaway Karate excellence. accomplishment, especially given multiple sports both in the school

One of the hardest parts of preparing for your black belt is ensuring you know the fact that she was competing system and community; he feels
all of the required material. Anything goes; you may be asked for all of it with athletes with up to level 10 that would be a real shame. “These
or none of it! Sensei Jim often says that each grading is different and no experience,” says Coach Zapp. competitors are strong and fierce,” he
two are ever alike. We expected to display everything individually, with all Paige Dupuis, meanwhile, says. They compete against others,
eyes on that single candidate for the duration of the requested information/ managed several personal best but the most intense competition is
demonstration. A question about the availability of space to keep warm and
finishes and finished 10th in the often against themselves.”
stretched out while not performing fuelled the idea for involving some of the
alumni and running stations. This proved to be not only a little easier on the
nerves but also an excellent way to have all nine candidates receive an equal
opportunity to showcase their knowledge of the various topics.

Earning that black belt is an achievement many who put on that first white belt
will never see. We have years of hard work, sweat, bruises, varying degrees of
injury, balancing work, school, and family life, and a whole lot of dedication
to our club and training put into this night. The desire to succeed and have
that black belt tied around our waist at the end of the night has us ready to do
anything that is asked of us to prove we have earned it and deserve the honour.

With each grading being different, we know for certain we will never forget
ours. The first station consisted of questions to make you dig deep for an
impressive answer. Like what does this black belt mean to you? How would
you feel if you failed? How do you feel about there being a black belt exam?
Moving on, we were tested on our balance and strength, were asked to perform
kata under special circumstances such as smile throughout the entire kata
(after working so hard on a good game face!), and perform kata as low to the
ground as possible. A display of knowledge and application of pressure points
was next followed by the ultimate kata test in front of the main grading panel.
After all the stations were completed, grading culminated with individual self-
defence testing. We were exceptionally proud of how things went and of our
fellow candidates and ukes.

The feeling is different for each of us now, one thing we all share is a general
sense of calm and relaxation and being able to shift focus to the next step.
We were surprised at our own sense of calm during the grading after having
spent the preceding week struggling to sleep and to find the time to review and
practise some more.

Now the real journey begins! Ava Ter Horst (left), Paige Dupuis, and Emmalee Maley at OFSAA
Photo Submitted