Page 27 - IssueNo97

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #97 February 2021 27

The NHL Has that Beer KARATE KOMMENTS

League Feel

those evening games so By Jim Riddell,

memorable. There is arguing
and the odd fight too. Now, Seaway Karate Club

the late-night games with our
By Thom Racine
pals are devoid of cheering a Outdoor Training
goal like the pros celebrate
ere we are in February 2021 and we are now closing in
goals, and I guess no matter Hon a full year since COVID-19 first impacted our world.
where you play or who you Most martial art clubs are either temporarily shut down or are
ow many times have providing classes by Zoom as a short-term solution until the return

Hyou watched a recent don’t play in front of, scoring of outdoor classes in the spring, or it is safe to return to training
NHL game and thought, “It an NHL goal is still pretty inside the dojo. Many karate students are continuing to train alone
special. For the most part, so at home over the winter until warmer weather makes outdoor
like playing at 10:00pm at far so good - it’s great to have classes feasible.
the Bob Turner, Si Miller, or hockey back and give those To assist with winter home-alone training, I have been doing
Complex with my buddies! a series on different methods of performing kata since all of the

Sans the cameras and big that love pro sports something attributes necessary for karate and self-defense situations (speed,
power, timing, balance, and coordination) can be maintained, and
league feel, of course.”? to watch. I know there are even improved, by this means. When it comes to self-defense, one
those out there that think this doesn’t always get to choose the battlefield and with our Canadian
It sure has many similarities. extracurricular activity is not winter, conditions are often less than ideal. Taking a few minutes

You hear every cut of the very smart. Perhaps you are to work on your kata while enjoying the outdoors can be beneficial
ice, shot off the boards or right, but I tend to think it’s to development as well as an educational experience, so here are
a few things to try!
glass, even hear some of the necessary for those who need 1) Following a light snowfall, do a kata in the driveway using

banter and chirps that make it; and that would include me! foot movements only (no hands) and concentrate on each stance
as you work your way through the kata. When finished, do an
evaluation of your footprints - check the distance between the left
Brought to you by Ming & Associates and right prints ensuring that they are far enough apart for proper
Athlete of the Month balance as well as proper placement of the feet for the various
Athlete of the Month
stances.
2) Maintaining your balance in any self -defense situation is
Zachary Wilson critical, so any improvement that you can make to your balance

Age: 11 Grade: 12 is beneficial. Try doing a kata on ice! It also allows you to
School: Marie Tanguay evaluate your footwear, clothing, and stances. When in class at
Hometown: Cornwall a dojo, we are in a well-lit environment wearing a loose-fitting
and comfortable karate gi. All of our stances are easy to perform
February’s Athlete of the Month is Zachary Wilson. on a hardwood floor or on mats, with no trip or slip hazards. This
Zachary plays with the Seaway Valley U12 AA Rapids as
a forward. This is his 4th year with the team, and he really context isn’t always the case, especially when outside in street
enjoys training and playing with his teammates. clothes. It will probably be necessary to make some alterations to
Zachary aspires to one day play with the Cornwall Junior stances to adapt to the environment and heavier, more restrictive
A Colts and to earn a scholarship to play with the Clarkson clothing. Stances may need to be altered for proper balancing and
Golden Knights in the NCAA. certain techniques may have to be discarded and others adapted to
Zach has had several highlights during his on-ice career. At only five years old, Zach be effective wearing winter clothing.

was a flag bearer for the Cornwall River Kings (LNAH). Another proud moment for 3) Learn to use your snow brush as a self-defense tool or
Zach was being named Most Improved Player for the Novice Rapids in 2017-18. He was
a proud member of the Seaway Valley Minor Atom Rapids team which won the HEO weapon of opportunity. Hold the brush with a two-handed grip -
Minor AA/A regular season title in 2018-19. Zach and his Rapids teammates advanced palm down with the dominate hand, palm up with the lead hand.
to the league finals in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Another highlight in Zach’s career is winning For the moves in the kata that call for a strike, execute a strike

the 2019 Taylor Hall Cup Classic in Kingston, ON. The Rapids defeated the Peterborough and for those moves that are blocks, do a blocking technique. For

Petes 7-3 in the final after disposing of the powerhouse Toronto Young Nationals 2-0 in those of you who have straight baton, cane/walking stick, or jo

the semi-finals.
staff training in your class curriculum, the snow brush will quickly
become second nature. Even if you have no previous training with
impact tools, the commonality and similarities between blocks and
strikes will quickly become apparent. At the beginning of winter
each year, club members at Seaway Karate will bring their snow
brush and we do a full class using it as a self-defense implement.
Max Ming, P. Eng The snow brush is practical and easy to use as a last resort in a
Financial Planning • Investments • Insurance self-defense situation and we all carry one in our vehicle during
613-932-7526 • Max@mingassociates.com the winter months.