Bringing families closer

Times Reporter

 

Finding something everyone in the whole family can do can be tough, but the ACKU Family Karate, taught by Linda Tucker and her husband Duane, offers just that. They take students aged four up to 99-years-old said Tucker.

“We joined initially as a family about 10 years ago and we absolutely loved it. I loved it so much that I actually wanted to learn more and take from an instructors point of view and then teach it,” said Linda Tucker. 

ACKU stands for the All Canadian Karate Union, which she and her husband belong to. When they finished their training as instructors the couple began teaching here, approximately six years ago. 

“It’s really important that folks know it is safe. The environment at the karate club here in Strathmore is a safe, protective environment and no one is going to get hurt,” said Tucker. 

She said it is never about hurting anybody, and if someone does get hurt it would likely be someone accidently turning around and not knowing someone else was behind them. 

“It’s not just about being a black belt, it’s about living the lifestyle in karate and being a good person, and eating well and being healthy and being respectful and that’s what it’s about,” said Tucker. 

“It’s really about doing something together with your family that’s surrounding fitness but structure, so it’s promoting just family time in a structured fitness type of environment.”

The Tuckers run three classes. The first one is karate chops and it is for children ages 4 to 6 and is a 30 minutes high intensity class focused around learning karate basics among other things. There is also a beginner class for new people wishing to learn, or in the beginning stages of their karate journey. The third class is the advanced fast paced class for senior ranked students who want a bit more advanced training. Classes begin at 5:30 p.m. with the Karate Chops, the younger kids, and end with the advanced students at 8 p.m. They are held every Tuesday in the Trinity Lutheran Christian Academy gymnasium.  Tucker said it’s pay as you go – they understand that families get busy and they want people to enjoy it when they can. 

Anyone looking to try it out can drop by on a Tuesday night in comfy clothes, or can find out more by going to www.acku.org or calling 403-232-0228.