Karate contact gets chop but drills go on
COMBAT sports with no contact sounds impossible, but it’s become the new normal for martial arts studios in the time of COVID-19.
Students at Fudoshin Shitoryu Karate in Cairns are coming to grips with a new challenge as they return to classes without any deliberate contact.
Classes have resumed at Cairns State High School’s Sports Complex, after owners and instructors Chris and Di Long implemented a COVID Safe plan.
Students are required to adhere to social distancing rules at all times in the “dojo”, except when on the “field of play” — in this case, the woodentiled basketball court.
While on the field of play, social distancing rules do not apply; however, students must avoid “deliberate contact”.
Sensei Chris Long said the nature of the sport would allow students to readjust to the new routine easily.
“We had kumite (sparring) drills without contact to keep them sharp,” he said.
“It’s just missing that last little bit of movement and contact, so we’re able to do about 90 per cent of what we would do normally, without actual contact sparring.
“Timing and distance are the two major basics in karate, just that really acute understanding of timing and distance, and it’ll come back straight away because their basics are so good.’’
Long said the team of 14 students, which included four defending champions, that missed out on the Karate Queensland State Titles in March because of the global coronavirus outbreak had their fingers crossed they’d be able to compete again this year.
“They (Karate Queensland) have left the gate open, and there is chance of a tournament in Brisbane later this year,” he said.
He said the martial arts studio had put a focus on form and tactics during the shutdown, with help from renowned teacher and chairman of the World Karate Federation Technical Commission, Sensei Con Kassis.
“He was a student of the son and successor to the original founder of said.
“As it’s been passed down over the last 100 years, the style has been watered down.
“He’s got us working on refining a lot of the kata (form) and we’re going back and studying it very intimately — all the meaning in all the movements, the terminology and even the history — and fully immersing ourselves in the Shitoryu style.”
For more information, find Fudoshin Shitoryu Karate Cairns on Facebook. this style,” Long
IT’S JUST MISSING THAT LAST LITTLE BIT OF MOVEMENT AND CONTACT, SO WE’RE ABLE TO DO ABOUT 90 PER CENT OF WHAT WE WOULD DO NORMALLY.
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