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Iain Abernethy
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5-Step-Plan for a Comeback of Karate Training under Corona limitations By Carsten Schmitt

5-Step-Plan for a Comeback of Karate Training under Corona limitations By Carsten Schmitt

Karate or any other Martial Art can hardly be done without any contact. This is a challenge for every martial arts teacher during the Corona crisis and under the coming limitations which must be expected. Contact needs to be avoided for an undefined period to get permission to get back to a kind of training activities. Karate offers several traditional training contents like kata and kihon which can be done in distance. More modern forms can be found as well or even developed with some phantasy. There is already great exchange within the WCA and in the internet. Many good ideas can be found and should be used for training. Going forward it will be crucial to develop trainings which guarantee distance between the participants. Personal hygienic protection measures need to be considered. Martial art dojos pay already special attention to cleanliness and hygiene under normal circumstances. Cleaning hands and feet before training, bundle long hair, clean and short fingernails and toenails and staying away in case of infections is standard. Those needs to be intensified under Corona limitations. To meet them high discipline is required. In Karate discipline is part of the dojo etiquette. The often ridiculed almost military discipline and training in rows and lines can be especially useful to keep distance in training. Small groups or solo training can be a first step into training activities when Corona restrictions are lowered. I am proposing here a 5-step approach to return to a martial arts training in the dojo which can be adjusted according to the circumstances and public requirements. It should not be considered as the ultimate way but can provide a guideline for your own concept in your dojo.

Step 5 – Online training

This step offers for sure the highest protection from infection as training is done alone at home (inside or outside). Teachers can provide guidelines and tasks per social media or a homepage. Moreover, online classes can be offered based on multiple online video conferencing tools. Unfortunately, this does not give the social event and partner training which is so important for martial arts. Therefore, it can be continued as a complement to training in the dojo but will never replace it completely.

Step 4 – Solo and small group training with big distance

This step enables first training in the dojo. However, highest possible distance needs to be ensured. Partner training and contact are permitted. The training will be held in small groups or single. Usual content is kata, kihon, gymnastics, power, endurance, and coordination. Solo drills with the heavy bag are possible. This needs to be cleaned before and after each usage. Other equipment can be used but needs to be brought by everybody by himself.

• No audience in the dojo

•  Shower and change of clothes at home

• Equipment needs to be disinfected before and after use

• Personal equipment needs to be brought from home

•  Wear shirt under Gi

•  Wear indoor sports shoes

• Facemask is required for moving in the dojo, while training maybe avoided (disturbing while heavy breathing and probably no good protection; some might require wearing the masks depending on regulations -> please check with local authorities)

Step 3 – Solo and small group training with middle distance

First time light contact is possible on this level. Changing partners is prohibited to shrink the number of persons and potential infections. In between the duos a distance of at least 1,5 meters (5 feet) needs to be ensured. Training content is still mainly kata, kihon, gymnastics, power, endurance, coordination, and heavy bag drills. In addition, light sparring forms can be introduced. All kind of equipment can be used but should be brought from home if possible. The following rules need to be adhered to:

• No audience in the dojo

• Shower and change of clothes at home

• Equipment needs to be disinfected before and after use and with every change

• Personal equipment needs to be brought from home

• Wear shirt under Gi

• Wear indoor sports shoes

• Facemask is required for moving in the dojo, while training maybe avoided (disturbing while heavy breathing and probably no good protection; some might require wearing the masks depending on regulations -> please check with local authorities); for partner training head protection with visor is required

Step 2 – Group training in the dojo, close distance under protection measures possible

This step is adding partner training in close distance. Changing partners is still not permitted. In between the duos a minimum distance of 1,5 meters (5 feet) needs to be ensured. Body contact, grappling, throws, pad work and groundwork is allowed. Partners need to protect themselves with vizors. Medium sized groups can train together but distance is still required. Training content is not limited as long as hygienic protection measures are implemented. Equipment needs to be disinfected before and after every change. Personal equipment like gloves and focus mitts should be brought from home and not be used by different persons. The following rules need to be adhered to:

•  No audience in the dojo

•  Shower and change of clothes at home

•  Equipment needs to be disinfected before and after use and with every change

• Personal equipment needs to be brought from home

•  For partner training head protection with visor is required

Step 1 – Normality without any Corona limitations

Step 1 represents the stage where we want to come back to – the normal situation without Corona. There are no more rules except for the normal dojokun.

Potentially you have several groups in the dojo which need to work in different stages. This needs to be decided based on the group structure and size. All stages should be passed but can be skipped depending on the general development and directions from the authorities. The goal is to return to a normal training as soon as possible but health protection remains the highest priority.

I hope this structured approach can help to get back to normal operations of our dojos as soon as possible. We are still learning about the virus and directions and recommendations from the scientists or authorities might change. I am aware that there are big discussions about certain measures like for example wearing face masks and their efficiency. I have pulled together the concept because I believe we need to start thinking of a reasonable and responsible way back to normal life and training. Feel free to adjust wherever you think it is necessary and appropriate.

Carsten Schmitt

Nahe-Te Shotokan Karate

Bunkai Jutsu Network Germany

May 5th 2020

Zach Zinn
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This is really good. I'm planning to experiment in the next month with "distanced" practice at a public park (they are open in my area now). For me it's a no brainer because our dojo is attached to someone's house, and it's unavailable.

Leigh Simms
Leigh Simms's picture

A 5-Step I can get behind ;) 

Richard Dickens
Richard Dickens's picture

Good plan within the information/governement guidanance we have at the moment. This is a plan for gyms, https://www.ukactive.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/COVID-19-A-framework-for-the-re-opening-of-the-gym-and-fitness-industry-ukactive.pdf not all relevant for us - but an interesting point about sessions/lessons having a 10minute gap between them to stop people congregating together whilst waiting, and robably relevent for a lot of our clubs where sessions run one after another. 

As a slight seperate aside, how are poeple finding attendance/viewings of online sessions? We are doing all these free (our club is pay as you go) but we're finding that only a handful and probably the same handful of people are attending / watching these. 

Rich 

Zach Zinn
Zach Zinn's picture

Richard Dickens wrote:
As a slight seperate aside, how are poeple finding attendance/viewings of online sessions? We are doing all these free (our club is pay as you go) but we're finding that only a handful and probably the same handful of people are attending / watching these. 

My online sessions are so far better attended than my in persons sessions were. Old students who have moved away attend them for instance. I think a lot of this is simply down to people feeling stir crazy though, I think once things partially open the Zoom attendance will probably decline, hence the reason I want to be ready with distanced sessions at a park, etc.