Sheryl Lactin knows just what it takes to block her way through a karate match -- she also knows how to manoeuvre her career into uncharted territory and, along the way, open up pathways for others.

In 2007, Lactin, a North Shore resident, started Kikai Adaptive Martial Arts, a community-based program that provides adapted martial arts classes to individuals who have gross and fine motor challenges, and cognitive or learning delays.

"As far as I could tell, there was a need for the program, there was nothing available on the North Shore when I started," says Lactin in reflection. "When my first client came in for the program, they just, on first look, absolutely stole my heart. My life took a new direction, and I have been doing it ever since."

Lactin, who holds a black belt in karate and kickboxing, has been both a student and instructor of martial arts for close to 20 years, first at International Top Karate, and later at Champions Martial Arts Academy. It was while teaching a class at Champions that Lactin recognized the need for an adapted martial arts program here on the North Shore.

"When I was teaching classes for typical adults and children, I had a student that was a support worker and she brought in one of her clients that she was working with and she approached me after class and said, 'You know my friend would really like to participate in classes, it is too bad there aren't classes for her because she can't keep up with the running but she is really excited about the idea of martial arts,'" says Lactin.

After that experience, it was not long before Lactin approached her employer about teaching an adapted martial arts class for people with special needs -- an idea that was warmly welcomed. The karate class turned out to be such a hit on the North Shore that, within a year, Lactin transitioned into providing private lessons for adults under a new and telling business name: Kikai, which means opportunity in Japanese.

Three years later, and through a partnership with the North Vancouver recreation commission, Lactin now teaches adapted karate classes to children and youth (ages 4-12) on Wednesdays at Ron Andrews recreation centre from 4:00-4:45 p.m. She has also continued teaching adapted martial arts classes to teens and adults (ages 13 and up), which take place on an on-going basis on Fridays at St. Andrews Church from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

"I think my favourite part about teaching is how much I learn from my students. . . . They have really shown me what the human spirit is like, and it absolutely opens my eyes every time I get an opportunity to work with them -- they just blow me away," says Lactin, who will be graduating from Capilano University's special education program next year.

Like other martial arts programs, Kikai students advance through a series of belt levels, with intermediary improvement awarded through the addition of belt stripes. Lactin says that a lot of communication takes place between herself and parents of students in order to gauge appropriate goals for each individual.

"We have a rough criteria of what each stripe symbolizes, but if I have a student with gross motor challenges, lifting their foot eight inches off the ground might be a terrific goal for them -- maybe that is what their front kick looks like."

Lactin says that she has seen great improvement from many of her students, some of whom have been with her since Kikai was founded.

"It is a sport that continually recognizes people for their individual achievements," says Lactin. "I think karate has tremendous benefits for all students, but particularly those with special needs. It is also something that my students really enjoy and are really passionate about. And I just can't imagine them not having the class to go to -- they are so passionate about their training and they benefit from it so much."

An average child and youth class has anywhere between 10 to 12 participants, while adult classes typically have 15 to 20. Assistant instructors and experienced volunteers also help out during the Kikai classes, though Lactin says she encourages learning-support workers to attend if families feel more comfortable.

However, after a review of Lactin's credentials, parents should feel at ease. In addition to her schooling, Lactin has served as a support worker for children with special needs with the North Shore Neighbourhood House and as a respite care worker with the North Shore Association for the Mentally Handicapped. She also works as a behaviour interventionist through the Group Applied Behaviour Analysis (GABA) Program in Vancouver, which aids children who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. And, outside of Kikai, Lactin has experience teaching fitness and sports through the SMILE adapted gymnastics program with the North Vancouver school district.

Lactin will be running an adapted karate summer camp for children and youth at Ron Andrews recreation centre Aug. 23-27 between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. The camp will focus on skill development through fun and games.

To learn more about the Kikai Adapted Martial Arts program, or to register for adult or private classes, call Lactin directly at 778-991-2622, or email her at kikaikarate@hotmail.com. Children and youth interested in adapted classes or the summer camp can be registered through the North Vancouver Recreation Commission by calling 604-987-PLAY. Lactin also encourages those interested to come out and see what the program is all about on Aug. 27, which marks the third annual Kikai Adapted Martial Arts barbecue. The event, which will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Cates Park in Deep Cove, will feature karate demonstrations by current students.