Page 4 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 86

4 Issue #86 January 2020

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KARATE KOMMENTS Spotlight on the Seaway

Injury Prevention Valley Rapids: Karl Hehn

and Minor Midget AA
By Jim Riddell,
Seaway Karate Club
By Casey Leger

very athlete knows that the best way to deal with injuries is to “Hockey is important as it
Eprevent them from happening, and for karate practitioners, it is no teaches life lessons, as in never
different. The karate student must learn the correct form and mechanics giving up, no matter what the
of the art, as well as have a good understanding of his/her own body.
They must be strong, flexible, properly trained (but not overstrained), score is. It teaches respect. I
and properly nourished. The sport of karate has evolved over the years got into coaching hockey to give
and as it has, so have the type of injuries that we see. In the 70’s and back to the community,” says
80’s when karate tournaments were at their peak, impact injuries were Rapids Minor Midget AA coach,
the most common type that we would see. Kata was an important part Karl Hehn.
of karate and had its place in tournaments, but Kumite (sparring) was
what attracted larger numbers. This involved a considerable amount of “What do I want our athletes
sparring during class time in preparation for an upcoming tournament. to take away from or remember
Tournaments were plentiful and most weekends there was one taking at the end of the season? There
place somewhere in Ottawa, Gatineau, or Montreal. Most of these
tournaments were quite well run, but people tended to get bumps and are a lot of life lessons that can
bruises either in preparation for, or while at the competitions. Even be learned in the sport of hockey.
though it wasn’t looked at as an “injury” in those days, many students For example, never give up even
were often favoring a hand, foot, or rib area that had gotten a bit banged when the going gets tough, like
up while sparring. Tournaments today are for many reasons almost a in a blow-out game,” he says.
thing of the past, therefore the focus has shifted away from sparring.
About the only way that an impact injury could occur today is if a student “In work there will be tough days Photo Submitted
has improper mechanics, positioning, or balance when striking a pad or and tough projects to complete; behind the bench, Hehn brings
shield. Impact injuries can be prevented with a properly trained pad kids should not give up and work significant experience to the
holder is in charge and dictates the positioning, distance, and intensity harder. They should respect
level during each type of drill. The pad holder should also be responsible opponents and teammates: in helm of the Minor Midget team.
for inspecting the pads previous to being used and any pad that is torn “Growing up, I mostly played
or showing signs of wear and tear should be immediately removed from work that relates to colleagues. Rep hockey at the minor level;
service. Perhaps the most common type of injury that occurs these days Respect for officials and coaches: however, I played a year of AA
is one that is caused by overtraining. Fortunately, an instructor can help this would relate to respecting at the Major Bantam level. I
prevent this type of injury by changing things up so that students are your supervisors.”
not doing the exact same thing class after class. Working through a bit played a year of Junior B, and 3
of pain may sometimes be required to get through a belt grading or Hehn says that coaching Minor years of Junior A. I also played
even tough class, but this does not mean ignoring pain until continuing Midget AA has its rewards and as an affiliate with the Val D’Or
becomes impossible - common sense must prevail at all times. It is very its challenges. The athletes he Foreurs of the QMJHL,” Hehn
important that a student and his/her instructor learn to recognise an issue coaches are 15, turning 16 in says.
and take proper and immediate measures to promote a full recovery.
There are a few things that students can do to help prevent injuries; 1) 2020. “I like when the players When he’s not coaching,
try to arrive a bit early for class and get a bit of light stretching in before are able to execute plays that Karl Hehn works at Alexandria
it starts, 2) get an adequate amount of sleep, maintain a balanced diet, we practice,” he says. “One Moulding. “Coaching at the AA
and stay properly hydrated, 3) take a karate coaching course - this will of the challenges is getting all
go over safety and injury prevention, 4) take standard first aid and CPR the players to buy into team level has been very busy,” he
courses - the skills and knowledge gained at these courses may come in says. During the off season, he
handy elsewhere in life, not just at karate class. First aid and CPR are systems.” helps coach U16 Regional soccer
often a requirement before testing for a Black belt. With over twenty years with the Seaway Valley Blazers.