MARTIAL ART AND GOLF ART

By Nicky Rombaldi and Ken Keating
 
Nicky :
‘‘Here is something to think about, and worth investigating .Would it be wrong to say that part of any Martial art technique is aimed at delivering maximum focus and power at impact and the same can be said when swinging a golf club? Also there is no need to always hit the ball hard when sometimes all you need is a little touch, but impact position at the time of contact is crucial for distance control.’’
 
Ken :
‘‘ Likewise with Karate a more strategically placed strike does not require the force of some other attacks but rather requires the focus to strike the exact point in a precise technical manner.’’
 
Nicky :
‘‘My good friend Ken Keating is a 4thDegree black belt in Kenpo Karate and has been training for 28 years and together we want to present some major similatiries in both sports/ game/ combat.
Speaking for myself as a golf professional with regards to pre-shot routine, concentration, visualisation, determination and overall focus. Is it possible to apply the same teaching philosophy as the Kata’s of Karate’’ (Kata are a choreographed series of predetermined techniques that are performed in a precise order).
 
‘‘In July 2010,Ken and I met at Kilcoole Golf-Club for our first photo session. Next time we’ll go to his club and I’m looking forward to it... Hopefully I will not get hurt too badly.
I have been teaching golf for over 20 years now and today understand better the fundamentals of the game for eg. being in the correct position at impact, with club head, hands and body releasing simultaneously, together with being in the right frame of mind when it comes to playing the shot.’’
 
Nicky and Ken :
‘‘It takes coordination, feeling and determination to strike the ball, very similar to focusing every ounce of your body weight when delivering an effective strike in karate.’’
 
Nicky :
‘‘My teaching philosophy sometimes focuses on home training, drilling the proper move and impact position in the comfort of your home, using some very simple teaching aids, like for eg. a ‘yard stick’. Teaching the hand and body to stay coordinated during the swing at all time. Drilling each move 150 times in slow motion increases a players overall ability to better understand the application of each drill to the actual game itself.’’
 
Ken :
‘‘In all sports, dedication is required if you are to achieve your maxium potential. Fixed drills /techniques / Forms can enhance an individuals performance if they have the ability tofully break down the drill / technique and identify its key components, coupled with the knowledge of how these components best suits their physical ability. A full understanding of a drill or technique can only enhance an individuals performance rather than employing technique for technique sake as they can adopt and vary the drill / technique if their circumstances or the environment change. I look for this quality in all my students and try and develop their minds as well as their physical approach to our sport. As my Chief instructor Master Tommy Jordan reminds all his students.’’ :-‘‘Its not the time you put into your training that makes the difference but rather the training you put into your time.’’
 
Nicky :
‘‘I also spend a lot of time practicing my pre-shot routine, check list of the golf structure (visualisation,alignment, grip, stand,distance to the ball, and position of the ball) together with shot routine (starting ignition, forward press for some, take away in the right sequence, impact position and finishing the shot in balance).
I truly believe Ken’s mental ability to focus and his drills take the same approch when it come to his art.’’
 
Thank you for taking the time to read this and don’t forget
 
‘‘ Enjoy the hit !’’