SPORTS
Ladies learn serious self-defence skills
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
RAMAwants the women of Clarence-Rock- land to take back the night for themselves with a few basic self-defence techniques. The Rockland Academy of Martial Arts (RAMA) is hosting a women’s self-defence workshop onMarch 20. Sensei Fred Stone- house has been thinking about doing some- thing like this for a while now and the final spur to get the evening workshop organized was an incident in early February, this year, when local and regional news media re- ported police investigation of a reported sexual assault in a neighbourhood park in Rockland. “I had always originally planned on doing this,” Stonehouse said, “then I saw a post about this (assault) shared on Facebook. Now is the time to empower women.” Stonehouse expects that the two-hour workshop will prove a very popular addition- al exercise for the local martial arts school’s female students. But he also hopes to see a good turnout to the workshop of women of all ages, from 12 on up, from outside of the ranks of the school.Those interested do not need to worry about having to do any fancy jump kicks or other flashy moves like they see in almost any fight scene, inmost action movies. Right now there is a confirmed list of 20 participants for the workshop. “We can handle up to 50 participants, if needs be,” he said. “It’s mostly going to be the fundamentals of self-defence. We want to make a positive change.” The plan is to have half a dozen work- shop instructors, drawn fromRAMA’s cadre After ninemonths absent fromactive com- petition, Fred Stonehouse stepped back onto the martial arts mat over the March 4 weekend and is pretty pleased with the results. “These were some super fights,” Stone- house said, describing the sparring schedule at the Ground Games tournament for Brazil- ian ju jitsu practitioners fromacross Ontario. The March 3 event at the St. Anthony Soccer Hall in Ottawa featured dozens of senior and master belts competing before an audience of a couple hundred specta- tors. Stonehouse, a sensei with the Rockland Academy of Martial Arts, had just the one bout in the blue belt division, against Osman Shah of Toronto. “It went the distance,” Stonehouse said. “It was very tiring, and it was a test of wills.” The sparring match arrangement at the Ground Games has opponents in 15-minute sessions which go for the complete time un- less one of the competitors either taps out to signal surrender or is incapacitated through use of a submission choke hold. The Stonehouse/Shah match finished to a draw by judges’ decision at the end of 15 minutes. “It was a great challenge,” Stonehouse said. “I took him down a few times.” Stonehouse is pleased at how well he did against Shah since the Toronto mar- GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
Stonehouse back on the sparring mat
Alyssa Farrell (à gauche) et son partenaire d’entraînement, Ralph Nissen, démontrent comment faire face à une attaque d’étouffement par un tueur ou un prédateur. Avec d’autres membres de l’Académie des arts martiaux de Rockland, ils offriront leur expertise et leurs conseils aux femmes qui veulent se protéger. —photo fournie
Martel honoured Vincent Martel earned a $1000 bursary from the Hockey Eastern Ontario organization.The 2016 award reflects Martel’s achievement during his first season with the Rockland Nationals and in the National Capital Junior Hockey League. During that time Martel also served as minor hockey referee and volunteer coach for his high school’s junior boys volleyball team. Martel looks forward to pursuing a career in the field of law. He has been accepted into the Teller School of Management at the University of Ottawa. – Gregg Chamberlain
of sensei, lead participants in a series of situations involving the use of a particular technique. There will be a short introduction to the scenario, demonstration of the technique, including a step-by-step breakdown of how it works, then small groups of workshop participants will practice the technique themselves under the close supervision of a sensei or a senior-level belt. The workshop is listed on the RAMA Facebook page and anyone interested in taking part can either phone the club at 613-446-3322 or either email fred@oama. ca or Rockland@oama.ca.
tial artist later attended another qualifying competition Sunday for the top fighters in every belt level. He defeated all challengers that day to earn himself qualification for an international championship tournament later in the year in Abu Dhabi. Stonehouse was unable to compete in that same Sunday tournament because of prior commitments. “So I’mproud and happy,” he said, noting that it has been nine months since his last active competition. Fred Stonehouse est heureux des premiers résultats à la suite de son retour à la concurrence active dans les artsmartiaux. Le sensei de Rockland a combattuOsman Shah, de Toronto, lors d’un tournoi à Ottawa, au cours du weekend du 4 mars. —photo Gregg Chamberlain
In Support of the ROCKLAND Snowsuit Fund SILENT AUCTION DINNER & DANCE March 25, 2017
Club Powers, 954 Giroux St, Rockland, Ontario Dinner Catered by Rosalynn’s Bistro Tickets Adult $15 – Youth (12 and under) $5 Doors open at 5 PM Dinner starts at 6 PM
Tickets must be purchased before the event Tickets available at Club Powers, RCL Executive or Groupe Action or by calling 613-298-8215 or 613-446-0151 or 613-632-7837 to reserve
Thanks to Sylvia & Derrick from the Jewel 92.5 who will emcee the event Music by First Choice Entertainment
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