Page 27 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 98

www.sportsenergynews.com Issue #98 March 2021 27

Bishop Cup Sidelined KARATE KOMMENTS

by COVID

Paul will have to wait until, By Jim Riddell,

hopefully next year.
Seaway Karate Club
It is sad that the game must

By Thom Racine take this hiatus and I don’t mind
saying it was something that Training Alone
not only my wife and I enjoyed
artial Arts dojos remain closed due to COVID-19 and
setting up, the schools and the
Mwith the present situation being what it is, training options
kids are always invested to make remain very limited. In the past five issues of Sports Energy,
ifteen years ago, we jammed
Fthe old Si Miller arena the night a roaring success. we have looked at “Low Intensity Kata, “High Intensity Kata”,
and then combined the two methods for a short, but very good
packed for the first-ever Bishop To the seniors who will miss workout. We then looked at “Confined Space Kata”, which is a
Cup game between St. Joe’s this year’s game, I hope that means of Kata training in an area where only one square meter of
and Holy Trinity. St. Joe’s won the Bishop Cup experience is space is required.

that inaugural game 7-3. Two something you will remember In the previous issue, we took the training outside for those days
years later Holy Trinity’s Kevin no matter, win, or lose. You were when weather permits. If the driveway needs to be cleaned or the
Dionne scored in overtime to part of an event with history and vehicle brushed off, this just may present an opportunity for some
close out the final game at the I hope one day you will come creative training.
old barn on Water Street. This is the sixth (and last) in a series about training kata at
back be proud to say you were
home alone. Hopefully by April, we will have the okay to resume
For the first time since its there is one way or another,
outdoor classes, and some of this winter solo practice can be put
inception, there will be no game. whether watching or playing.
into practice with 3-person kicking shield and focus pad drills.
COVID-19 has put a halt to Let’s hope that we can all get 1) Time yourself doing a kata. Sit down, close your eyes, and
most everything and the annual together next year and continue visualize doing this kata - it should take the exact same amount of
fund raiser for St. Vincent de the tradition of the Bishop Cup. time visualizing it as it does to actually doing it. Sports science has
shown that while visualizing in a relaxed frame of mind, neutrons
Brought to you by Ming & Associates in your nervous system will activate slightly as if you were actually
Athlete of the Month doing the technique. This helps to build the neural pathways that
Athlete of the Month
are needed when you physically do the techniques. Many famous
professional athletes have used sport visualization as an aid,
Bennett Harty including Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicholas, and 23-Olympic Gold
medal winning swimmer, Michael Phelps.
Age: 14
2) Do a few katas slowly, at about half-speed to warm up.
Grade: 8
3) Do the kata with a book on top of your head, trying to
School: Tagwi complete the kata without it falling off. Start with a paperback and
Hometown: Long Sault once you master that, switch to a hardcover. The summer variation
of this drill is to practice kata outside with a partially filled glass of
March’s Athlete of the Month is Bennett
Harty. Bennett plays defence with the U14 water on top of your head.
Seaway Valley Rapids and is in his 4th 4) Chamber your right leg as if to do a front kick. With your
season with the team. He also plays spring right thigh parallel to the floor, stay in this position and do a hands-
hockey with the Cornwall Colts. Bennett fondly remembers winning the only kata. This is a great balance training drill as you will be able
AAA Taylor Hall Cup in 2019 with the Rapids and when he and his Colts to feel the muscles constantly making corrections as you work
teammates won the Voyager’s Cup in Rockland in 2019 and the Express your way through the kata.
AAA Cup in Gatineau.
5) It’s been a long winter and so we need to have another
Bennett is also an avid lacrosse player and loves to participate in team outside drill for the nicer days that come with early spring. For
sports at school, including floor hockey, softball, and cross country. He this one, you will need a partner. It is a mirror image drill where

loves spending time with his younger siblings when he has free time. you will face your partner at double the social distance (4 meters).
You do the kata normally at about half-speed, your partner must
reflect your movements, as if watching in a mirror - meaning that
all punches, kicks, blocks, steps, and turns are done on the opposite
side. This will require some thought and can be a fun drill.

The methods of performing kata in these six columns can be
Max Ming, P. Eng done in any order or mixed and matched to suit your needs. In the
Financial Planning • Investments • Insurance next Karate Komments column we will look at a training session
613-932-7526 • Max@mingassociates.com for punches and footwork.