In its 39th year of existence the Northumberland Karate club is showing no signs of slowing down according to Sensei Chris Cruikshank.

Cruikshank is happy with registration numbers this year throughout their various classes, but said registration is open any time.

The club practices Monday and Wednesday nights at Trenton Elementary School, with three different sessions depending upon the student’s level. As a member of the Nova Scotia Karate Association, the club participates in tournaments throughout the year as well as instructors taking part in two training seminars. Cruikshank said although they participate in events throughout the province there is no specific focus on preparing his students for tournaments.

“Our main focus here is treating every student as a potential teacher and to keep building on skills as the progress,” he said. “We just keep testing their techniques as they move through the skills and belts are awarded at certain points.”

The sessions the club runs are the kids 7-12 starter class, kids advanced class, and juvenile and adult groups that participate in the same class together. In the kids class there is a 4:1 student to teacher ratio. Cruikshank said the main reason for being able to offer such a good ratio is their teaching program.

“What we do for some of the youth and adults that have advanced is we run the teaching accreditation program,” he said. “Once they go through the program they can come in and apply the skills and at the end of the year they receive a certificate when the testing is done.”

For anyone interested in joining the club, contact 485-4017 or nkarate@eastlink.ca.

You can also visit northumberlandkarate.com for more information.

Cruikshank also teaches in Scotsburn on Sunday nights.