Good day everyone!
Winelands JKA has always endeavored to pursue a holistic approach to karate training and overall physical well-being. Recently our dojo had a visit from well-respected biokineticist, Willem Pieters. Willem spent a week with our karate family, teaching us new ways in which to warm up and train our muscles and joints in order to improve our karate. This is what Willem had to say after his week with Winelands JKA:
“I was happy to spend two days at JKA Karate earlier this month. I enjoyed the opportunity to take charge of a few training sessions and to share some ideas and movements with the junior and senior classes.
Biokinetics means life through movement and a biokineticist works to improve a person’s physical well-being and quality of life through the prescription of specific exercises in order to treat or prevent injury, or to enhance performance.
“My own interests in the field of biokinetics include working with people to improve balance and stability within the body. I enjoy working with athletes to help them to prepare for the specific demands of their respective sports. Karate demands strength, speed, power, coordination, balance, and flexibility and so working to improve these areas are an important part of becoming more proficient at karate. Since karate demands that the individuals are stable and well-balanced, exercises that focus on hip and knee stability are of particular value.
“Photo: Willem Pieters”
“There is a myriad of exercises that can be selected to achieve these outcomes, but single-leg exercises are especially valuable since doing single-leg exercises automatically include a balance and proprioceptive (knowing where your body is in space) element. These include various types of lunges, single-leg deadlifts and, cross hack squats, and single-leg squats. In order to extract maximum benefit from these exercises, they should be completed at a controlled and steady speed, through a full range of motion. Faster and more powerful movements more sport specific to karate are generally included as part of the specific skills that individuals learn while mastering karate specific movements.
“Single leg exercises can also help to reduce muscle imbalances in the lower body. Muscle imbalances can lead to an increased risk of injury as well as reduced performance. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of existing imbalances and so working with a coach or a biokineticist can help you to become more aware of, and to address any existing imbalances.”
We would like sincerely thank Willem for sharing his knowledge with us and giving up his time to teaching our karate-ka, young and old to improve their karate. Join us at Winelands JKA in Durbanville, Cape Town to be part of these amazing opportunities. Oss!
Arigato,
Sensei Heinrich
