TRAINING has not stopped for young karatekas in Cumbria despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cumbria Karate Academy have been offering virtual classes on Zoom during all three national lockdowns.

Under normal circumstances, the club would be run from its bases in Whitehaven, Egremont, Cockermouth and Workington but with gyms closed during lockdown, they are beaming their karate instruction into children’s homes.

Head coach Gordon Harrison, who has over 30 year’s experience in the martial art said: “The kids that are coming on are enjoying it.

“We’ve kept challenges going to keep them motivated and interested, kick challenges and step challenges. They’re doing a lot of world wide competitions.”

Students can still compete and challenge themselves during the pandemic. They perform a kata, or routine of moves, in front of a camera and it is sent off to accredited competitions.

One student ranked second in the world for their high level kata performance.

Cumbria Karate Academy are offering high-level instruction as coaches are referees at national level.

But the club has gone to great lengths to make their teaching inclusive, setting up separate virtual classrooms for students at different levels.

“If anyone’s not sure we’ll record it and they can watch that before they come back.”

The club is offering free training to new starters during lockdown and the karate community is doing anything it can to support students.

Gordon said: “If they’re licenses are due the association pays for them. The grades are free.

“We’re a not for profit organisation anyway. All through lockdown we’ve been doing it free of charge.”