By Sport Nova Scotia Communications
The 2026 Senior and U21 National Karate Championships took place in Halifax this past weekend, and with 230 athletes competing, Nova Scotia’s team of 12 took home six medals.
It was Nova Scotia’s first time hosting a National Karate Championship since 2018 and hosting again was a very special thing for Karate Nova Scotia and its technical director, Jeff Murphy.
“We’re a small Provincial/Territorial Sport Organization (PTSO), especially compared to some of the bigger provinces, but we’re a very successful PTSO. So, it means a lot to give our athletes the opportunity to compete in front of their home audience.”
Jeff says Karate Nova Scotia has seen a noticeable increase in athletes competing in the Senior and U21 division, going from around five athletes in years past to double digits this year. He credits this, in part, to the fact that younger athletes are seeing the older athletes’ accomplishments both nationally and internationally.
“We’re seeing an increase in athletes who are not only wanting to stay in the sport longer, but some who are starting to get back as coaches too. It’s been nice to see that growth in the sport for us,” says Jeff.
And with the karate community in Nova Scotia being small, it is also very tight knit. Emmi German who took home gold in the U21 -50 Kg Female Kumite division ended up facing her sister Mikayla German in the final of the Senior -50 Kg Female Kumite, placing second. And with their parents both being coaches with team Nova Scotia, Emmi was coached by their dad and Mikayla by their mom.
“What I like most about karate is that I do it with my family,” says Emmi. “They’ve been there every step of the way, and the dynamic makes me feel at home when I’m in the dojo.”
This was Emmi’s first time competing in the U21 division, so while she has medaled at nationals before, her main goal this time around was to do her best. But not only did she medal, she also qualified for the 2026 Pan American Karate Federation Senior & U21 Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Emmi earned a silver medal at the 2023 Junior Pan American Championship, so with getting the chance to represent Canada again, this time she is hoping for gold.
And Emmi wasn’t the only Nova Scotian to qualify for the Pan American Championships. She will also be joined by her sister and Ryan O’Neil who won silver in the Senior -75 Kg Male Kumite division.
Ryan is one half of the second set of Nova Scotian siblings to compete at the 2026 nationals. His brother, Sean O’Neil, competed in the Senior -84 Kg Male Kumite division and took home bronze.
Sean, who is a head coach of the Halifax based Performance Martial Arts, competed at this year’s nationals at 31 years old.
“I definitely did a lot of the physical preparation, a lot of help from strength and conditioning coaches, my sensei Mitch German, plus all the training partners. So, it’s a lot of physical preparation, but a lot of mental preparation, a lot of sacrifices around the rest of your life, giving up certain social aspects, especially leading up to a competition like this,” says Sean.
Having been a part of the local karate community for nearly two decades, Sean says the team is small but mighty. He adds that by competing at home it was nice to have a lot of the juniors that they train with regularly come out to watch and support them.
“Everybody knows everybody and there are enough people to spread out amongst the divisions. People really build each other up; it is a wonderful community.”
And that community made Karate Nova Scotia hosting nationals possible, with 30 to 40 local volunteers ensuring the event ran smoothly over the weekend. Jeff says their team of volunteers is a source of pride for him.
“We had a really great, strong lead team that picked up a lot of different areas, and they just took it on and ran with it themselves,” he says.
To learn more about Karate Nova Scotia, and how you can find a dojo or club near you, check out their website at: Karate Nova Scotia – The Official Sport Governing Body for Karate in Nova Scotia
Full list of Nova Scotian medalists at the 2026 Senior and U21 National Karate Championships:
Emmi German: Gold U21 -50 Kg Female Kumite and Silver Senior -50 Kg Female Kumite
Mikayla German: Gold Senior -50 Kg Female Kumite
Ryan O’Neil: Silver Senior -75 Kg Male Kumite
Sean O’Neil: Bronze Senior -84 Kg Male Kumite
Owen Jones: Bronze U21 +84 Kg Male Kumite
