Safety Protocols for Indoor Training

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Published: 28 September 2020 28 September 2020
Last Updated: 30 September 2020 30 September 2020

Welcome back everyone! We are looking forward to a new training season with all of you. COVID-19 protocols add a bit of complexity to our training sessions, but if we all follow the guidelines, we can keep each other safe and focus our energy on karate training. The following is a list of protocols to ensure everyone’s safety:

  • Before participating in the fall session of training, all members (or their guardians) must sign and submit an updated waiver form.  The waiver can be downloaded here.
  • To help us maintain physical distancing please enter the community centre via the main entrance. After classes please exit from the gymnasium doors.
  • Masks are to be worn inside the community centre at all times. Masks may be removed only during training if desired.
  • To avoid congestion in the washrooms, please come to class dressed in your Gi and be ready to train.
  • Please wait outside the gymnasium until an instructor comes to collect you and bring you into the dojo.
  • Prior to class we will be taking everyone’s temperature and will ask everyone to sanitize. If your temperature is 38°C or higher, you will not be able to participate and must leave the community centre. Parents – please do not leave the community centre until you know that your child is able to participate!
  • We have allotted a five-minute interval between classes to minimize congestion in the entryway of the community centre. As a result, it is of utmost importance that you arrive on time as we will be doing our very best to keep these intervals punctual. Please note that there will be no entry to the dojo once classes have begun – so do not be late! Again, parents – do not leave the community centre until you know that your child is able to participate!
  • Parents/spectators are not allowed inside the training area. Only those participating in the class are allowed in the dojo space.

Remember – to participate in class, you (or you, answering for your child) must be able to say NO to the following questions before every class!

  1. Do you or anyone in your household have any symptoms including a fever greater than 38°C, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, sore throat, runny nose?
  2. Have you or anyone in your household travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days?
  3. Have you or anyone in your household been in close unprotected contact in the last 14 days with someone who is being investigated or confirmed to have a case of COVID-19?

September 2020

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Published: 28 August 2020 28 August 2020
Last Updated: 02 October 2020 02 October 2020

Outdoor Training

As with almost every other aspect of life, we are all finding ways to adapt in the time of COVID-19. Our optional fun runs at Baker Park have been well-attended throughout the summer – and will continue until September 29, weather (and sunset!) permitting.

Indoor Training

We are pleased to welcome everyone back to indoor training, beginning Thursday, October 1. However please take note of the important changes to our processes:

  • Classes will be held on Monday and Thursday nights. Friday night classes are still under consideration.
  • We are operating in a new location: Montgomery Community Association at 5003 16th Avenue NW.
  • Note that we will be sharing the gym space with Sensei Stanley’s Shotokan karate club. Classes will remain separate and the number of participants in the gym will not exceed safety guidelines.
  • Class times on Mondays and Thursdays are as follows:
    • 6:30 to 7:10 (all belts)
    • 7:15 to 7:55 (all belts)
    • 8:00 to 9:30 (adult class, ages 14 and up)

While bathrooms/change-rooms are available, we request that participants arrive in their Gis to minimize contact in the bathroom/changeroom. As per City of Calgary Face Coverings Bylaw, please wear a mask into the dojo and while you wait for class to begin. Safely store your mask during class as you are not required to wear a mask during athletic/fitness activities. Bring your own, prefilled water bottle as water fountains are not available.

Classes will not include physical contact and will focus on fitness, individual techniques, kihons and katas as well as line drills when appropriate.

As with any activity, please stay home if you are felling unwell, if you have travelled outside the country, if you have been exposed to someone with a confirmed case of COVID-19, or if someone in your household has COVID-19. Please wash your Gi and any training equipment regularly and wash/sanitize your hands before and after training.

If you have any questions about our fall training sessions, including protocol, fees, etc., please contact me.

Note that all participants (or their guardians) must sign and hand in a waiver BEFORE participating in indoor training.  The waiver can be downloaded here.

Take care everyone. Be nice to each other and wash your hands!

Gary Sabean

Head Instructor

June 2020

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Published: 11 June 2020 11 June 2020
Last Updated: 11 June 2020 11 June 2020

Indoor classes remain cancelled due to COVID-19.

The adult class fun runs are underway – good to see everyone at Baker Park on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Remember, these sessions for our adult class members are optional and weather dependent. If you are interested, we meet in the Baker Park parking lot at 5:50 pm. Sessions run until approximately 8 pm.

With the announcement that Alberta is moving into Phase 2 of of the COVID-19 relaunch strategy on June 12, many people are wondering when we will resume in-dojo classes. Phase 2 allows for the reopening of indoor recreation, including gyms, fitness and sports facilities. However, as we train in a school, we follow the reopening limits imposed by the school boards. As such, our indoor training will not resume before September. We will provide additional information about reopening our dojo as it becomes available. Be aware that for outdoor training and for indoor training once it resumes, we will follow the health and safety procedures prescribed Alberta Health and our Chief Medical Officer as well as karate-specific training guidelines recommended by Karate Canada and Karate Alberta.

As far as recommendations for keeping up with your training – of course remember to stay active. Our current outdoor training is focusing on our Chito Ryu curriculum: everything we need to do as individuals to prepare for the next grading. If you are not involved in the fun runs, don’t hesitate to work on this at home! We have no specific timing in mind for gradings, but this is a perfect opportunity to concentrate on the areas you need to work on in order to be ready for grading opportunities.

Take care everyone. Be nice to each other and wash your hands!

Gary Sabean

Head Instructor

How to be a Good Karate Parent

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Published: 08 March 2014 08 March 2014
Last Updated: 26 June 2016 26 June 2016

From Karate by Jesse http://www.karatebyjesse.com

Note:  I came across the following article and thought our dojo parents might enjoy it.  I know I did!

Gary Sabean

Imagine the horror:

  • You’ve been driving your kids to Karate class, tournaments and camps for years.
  • You’ve spent boatloads of money on uniforms, belts, gradings and equipment.
  • You’ve invested hundreds of hours to relentlessly push your kids to the limit.

 Then one day…

BANG!  They quit.  Just like that. You’re heartbroken. Flabbergasted. Why?!  You try to talk to them. You try to convince them to continue. You tell them they’ve come too far to quit now – give it another shot, kiddo! But nothing works. When a child makes her mind up, there’s not much you can do really.

 

Read more: How to be a Good Karate Parent