October is Exam Month
Congratulations to all of Hourahine’s Martial Arts student who participated in thier kyu belt exams! It is very gratifying to see all of your hard work pay off and to treat your friends and family to a good showing of your improvement. Remember that belts are a reflection of the skill and understanding you are developing through the study of karate and with out that skill the belt doesn’t stand for anything. You make the belt, the belt doesn’t make you!
Team Hourahine Shines at First Provincials
Karate is emerging from the shadow of headband clad one punch clichés into the light of a respected combat sport; and leading the exodus locally is Hourahine’s Martial Arts and Fitness’ Competitive Team.
As the International Olympic Committee becomes increasingly interested in the sport the potential grows for WKF (World Karate Federation) competition to make it as a sport in the greatest arena on earth.
“Being involved in a developing Olympic sport is very exciting,” explains Team Coach, Andy Hourahine, “but it also means that our athletes need to be much more focused in training as the competition will become more intense.”
Fortunately, the team has plenty of experience to draw from being led by international medalist, Trevor Sheppard.
“It is very gratifying as an athlete to see a cyclic and reciprocal team developing. My accomplishments are turning out to be valuable experiences to share with up and coming athletes as a coach. In turn, the younger athlete’s enthusiasm and ambition helps me stay motivated to continue my own development.”
The mats of tournament competition are not just for medal hungry youth however. Hourahine’s Martial Arts & Fitness Team also offers the chance for adults interested in the sport to compete at a recreational level to enjoy the thrill of the chase.
Darren Radtke, a father of two and EMS specialist, looks forward to the competition and won Gold in the Men’s Intermediate Division.
“Karate for me is about challenging myself. The pressure of a tournament setting adds to the experience and improves my overall development. It is actually a lot of fun!”
By days end, the Cambridge team brought home over 14 medals and titles to add to their ten year presence in the provincial ring.
To learn more about the Cambridge team or sport karate e-mail info@martialartscentre.com or www.karateontario.org
Training in the Martial Arts Mecca
For runners, it’s the marathon in Boston; for cyclists, it’s the twenty-one hairpin curves of Alpe D’Huez. But for the Karate athlete, the Mecca of martial arts is Okinawa, Japan. For a group of local martial artists the dream was recently realized as they travelled across the globe to the eastern island.
Hourahine’s Martial Arts has a long established relationship with the land of the rising sun and makes training opportunities in the birthplace of karate a regular opportunity for advanced students. However, the excitement of introducing a student to this chance “never grows old” says owner Andy Hourahine.
“Maintaining a connection to the sports roots is so important.” Says Hourahine, “Swimming in the Sea of Japan, training on the beaches, and sweating in the humid dojos where the originators of the most popular martial art in the world started gives a karate-ka a life changing perspective.”
Read the Full Article Here…
New Facilities at 20 Dickson
It is our pleasure to invite you to join our martial arts and fitness family at the new facilities located at 20 Dickson Street. After 10 years of providing quality martial arts, health, and lifestyle programs we are thrilled with how the new building turned out (thanks to all of the artists and trades workers for an epic six month effort!)
The build is designed to inspire our students and become part of the history and lifestyle of Galt. In a former life, the location was home to Fraser Hardware and for decades was a place where locals could pick up the necessities for daily living. Coincidentally, many years later, local can still get the necessities for daily living, but in a different form…personal development, martial arts, and fitness!
CLICK HERE FOR CLASS SCHEDULE
Hourahine’s Martial Arts Training Dojo
The Fitness Studio offers classes in the rhythmic and cardio-intensive, FITNESS KICKBOXING, the slightly more intense combative conditioning of KICKBOXING-X, as well as the best overall body workout available…Open TRX.
Fitness and Kickboxing Studio
We had a critical decision to make when adding our strength training facility…do we want to be an open gym or fitness studio? We chose the latter. Our weight and strength studio is a results-oriented, functional fitness facility. We want to get to know our clients and help them achieve their personal fitness goals not simply sign them up and send them on their way. Knowledgeable trainers are always around and eager to help answer your training questions and get you to the next level.
PROGRAMS FOR:
