Page 26 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 70

26 Issue #70 September 2018 www.sportsenergynews.com

Local Business Chosen

By Jim Riddell,

Seaway Karate Club as Top 100 Startup of
the Year Semi-finalist

Mature Martial Arts Submitted Article have only dreamed to be part of
this elite group of startups,” said
ocal tech startup, FanSaves, Shannon Ferguson, FanSaves
Programs Lis heading to Boston. The CEO.

business was chosen as a top
100 semi-finalist in TechCo’s According to their website,
taying physically active is an important part of ageing well and can “TechCo has been bringing
Salso help to keep you mentally agile. Many of the baby boomers, those Startup of the Year competition together and showcasing early
born between 1946 and 1964, have been active in sports all of their lives taking place October 15-17 in
and have no intention of stopping anytime soon. Many sports, with a few Massachusetts. stage startups since 2006. Their
modifications are something that can be continued for a lifetime. Karate is mission is to discover and
one of the sports that have programs specifically designed for older adults. “We are beyond excited! This support the most promising and
They are known by a variety of names, - mature martial arts, seniors self- is like the Olympics of Startup innovative startups in the world.
defence, ‘executive karate” etc., all of which are a modified version of a Competitions! We applied
traditional program. They tend to be stand-up classes with no throwing or months ago on a whim and could Continued on page 27
rolling around on the mats, with an added emphasis placed on safety and
injury prevention.

For anyone that may be interested in joining in martial art classes there
are a few things that need to be considered. The body that you have now
may not be the same as it used to be; as we age our endurance and cardio-
vascular fitness decreases. The older we get, the better we get to know
our body and what its limits are, but it’s always important to talk with
your doctor to determine if there are any issues that may be aggravated
by this type of training. A karate program with a moderate intensity level
can help to reverse and slow down the ageing process. Striking drills on
focus pads and shields, kata and self-defence drills along, with specialty
training, provide a full body workout with a good mix of anaerobic and
aerobic activity.

Kata is a series of predetermined moves and is a key component of these
classes. Kata is done in a slightly lower stance, acting as a body weight drill
and has a memorization component as these moves must be committed to
memory. Fortunately, muscle memory will kick in once several repetitions
of the kata has been performed, allowing them to eventually become
second nature. As the student becomes more advanced each kata will
become a bit more intricate and skills will improve.
An important part of a 50 plus program is the social aspect. Many lasting
friendships that were formed with co-workers are no longer a part of
everyday life after retirement. The peer-based social environment at a
karate class is similar to that which they once had at work. Learning new
techniques and working towards that next belt level is one where everyone
has a common goal and they tend to keep each other motivated. If earning
a belt in karate is something that may be on your bucket list, don’t be afraid CORNWALL MOBILE SMALL ENGINE
to give a Mature Martial Arts program a try. It will allow you to train in 1112 Marleau Ave., Cornwall, ON
an age appropriate manner and benefit from doing so. Karate quote: If you 613-361-0017 or 613-703-9277
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