These are some notes on training hygiene when we have to face to face sessions.
As a contact activity it may be some time before we can have face to face sessions or have physical contact during a class.
The advice is not exhaustive and may be modified at any time.
1. Personal hygiene: as a contact activity we need to be clean, have short finger and toe nails.
If we are ill with colds, coughs, flu or have symptoms of any infectious illness (e.g. Covid19) we should not train or turn up to training sessions.
Everyone needs to wash their hands properly at the start and end of a training session.
There may be instances where hand cleaning is needed during a session.
Do not eat too much too close to the time of a session starting. Doing exercise after eating may cause you to feel bloated or ill or have cramps.With eating individuals can differ in the time needing to be taken when eating before a class. The intensity of the class may also have an affect on what time you should eat. I try not to eat too much about an hour before a class starts. If I'm hungry a banana usually sees me through the class.
Drink water or a still drink during the session. It is important to stay hydrated while we practise. Fizzy drinks are similar in their effects to eating before or during exercise.
2. Hand sanitiser and cleaning materials: the club will have hand sanitiser and cleaning stations to help with hygiene. Students are welcome to bring their own cleaning items.
3. A towel. This is to help keep yourself and kit dry during training sessions. There's a wide range of towels you can use to help you stay fresh and your kit dry.
4. Uniform: our gi should be cleaned between sessions. We normally advise not to exceed 40 degrees when washing as this can cause some types of suit to shrink. If you are ill or infectious washing at 60 degrees or above is a recommended temperature to help kill organisms that may cause infections. Beginners may not have a training uniform. Freshly laundered loose comfortable clothing is suitable for sessions.
5. Training equipment: There are several types of kit used in the club
a) Kit provided by the club: if kit is shared and its surfaces can easily be cleaned it will be cleaned before being passed from one person to another. Some kit ( leather gloves) are not suited to being shared easily, if at all. That type of kit will be used once and then cleaned between sessions
b) Personal kit: any kit that is in contact with the skin should be personal and not shared. That list includes your gi, your obi, medical supports (e.g. wrist supports), head gear, gum shield, women's chest protector, groin protector, forearm protectors, hand wraps, gloves, shin protectors, foot and instep protectors.
Many advanced or experienced students have several training uniforms and a lot of the kit listed (as well as some not listed -such as classical weapons). All personal kit should be kept hygienically clean.
6. Face to Face sessions: the club will follow the requirements needed to keep members safe. This will include taking the appropriate advice on distancing and physical contact. We may need limits on class sizes. The number of visitors and spectators in the training room may need to be restricted. it is too early at present to advise on the actual class situation. Our insurance company, our governing body and venues, members, parents and guardians will need to help us in providing our training services.
The club accepts a wide variety of payment methods including contactless card payments, PayPal and online banking. Cheques and cash are acceptable
The club follows NAKMAS policies, local, venue and national regulations and laws.
We are an inclusive to all club.
The use of meeting software and online video sites is one way the club is capable of providing services to members who are not able to train with us face to face.
Please contact club instructors if you need any help or information.