Return to Aikido
The Joint Aikikai Council Unlock Process
The UK governments have confirmed that organised sports and activities that have been through return to play protocols can continue, as can organised outdoor/indoor sports and physical activities, this includes indoors weapons, Solo Ukemi and Taisabaki exercises in Aikido Dojos.
However, people should not attend these venues “Socially” in groups of more than six.
The reason for the difference between sports and social events is because sports activities have stringent plans in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19, and as a result these venues are classed as Covid-secure given the measures introduced.
Please note this could be subject to rapid change.
Venue Classification
Given that Aikido is a full contact body art, and the classification of our dojo venue locations being in a plethora of different types of venues such as; sports halls, gyms, YMCA’s, purpose built dojos, rented space, arts facilities, church halls and village halls or even our garages, we can were therefore describe our various venues as a “sports facility” and that we can practise non-contact at a distance. This allows us to categorise our dojos as such thereby allowing us to unlock according to our devolved nations government guidelines.
The JAC Unlock Process
Aikido dojo’s can therefore be open to students proved the following guidelines are followed:
1) Use the JAC Unlock process. Link Here.
2) Make sure all students (and instructors) fill out the student indemnity form. This is our track and trace form. Link Here.
3) Create a register for each class. Check student indemnity status at each class.
4) Fill out the JAC club unlock declaration form and email a copy the JAC General Secretary. Link Here.
5) Update your risk analysis forms to include the COVID-19 aspects. See attached examples. This may need to be updated as government guidelines or venue facilities change. It should be considered a live document. Link Here.
6) Gain permission from your venue owners or manager for you to practice indoors. If you rent a property it’s your landlord! They need to be happy with what you are doing.
7) Your venue may have their own rules that you will need to follow so check with them first.
8) Keep a constant check on your devolved nations governmental guidance on COVID-19 as guidelines will differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. See The tier systems below.
9) Keep your mat area sanitised and clean. Before and after every class.
Please note that social distancing, PPE use and sanitiser etc., should be maintained/used and that you should recommence practice with solo taisabaki and/or ukemi exercises and/or weapons only, until the UK achieves a COVID-19 free status.
Weapons must be sanitsed before and after use, especially club owned weapons. Masks are optional outdoors but compulsory indoors.
Pay particular attention to localised lockdown guidelines if in a location where there is a high possibility of infection resulting in a change in tier.
JAC unlock Documentation
All documentation is available from the JAC Dropbox or from direct download below:
C19-Covid-19-Club-Declaration-Form-V1.0-23-July-2020
C19-Covid-19-Risk-Assessment-Blank-Example-V1.0-23-July-2020
C19-Covid-19-Risk-Assessment-Examples-V1.0-24-July-2020
C19-Covid-19-Student-Indemnity-Form-V1.0-23-July-2020
C19-Covid-19-Unlock-Process-V1.0-22-July-2020
Wearing Masks
The JAC require face masks to be worn at all times in the dojo and should be referenced to the UK government guidelines on wearing masks until we reach a COVID-19 free state. Link Here.
Exemptions to Wearing Masks
In some circumstances exemptions for not wearing face masks can be applied for in line with the UK government guidelines. Link Here. Note that: when claiming an exemption to wearing a mask for a student or themselves, the Dojo Leaders/Instructors must identify to their JAC member organisation general secretary, NOT the JAC, the following:-
- The dojo and instructor concerned
- The student who is exempt
- Under what basis of the government guidelines they are exempt
- That they take full responsibility for that exemption and this is recorded by the dojo leader/instructor and the JAC member organisation.
However, it must be noted that each instructor has ultimate responsibility for the instruction, health and safety, safeguarding and wellbeing of their students whilst in their dojo. This includes decisions made surrounding the wearing of masks, use of sanitiser and other PPE (should it be deemed necessary) whilst practising indoors during the COVID-19 pandemic and adhering to government guidelines.
Track and Trace
For reasons of data protection/GDPR student information is confidential but can be used for track and trace should the dojo discover a student who is COVID-19 positive. If this is so they should alert all participants, who should immediately self-isolate, and inform the relevant authorities for further direction
Alternatively, you can create an NHS track and trace QR poster for your venue via THIS LINK.
This can be used in conjunction with the NHS Track and Trace App which can be downloaded below.
The COVID-19 Tier System and the Affect on Returning to Aikido
The tier system is now used to quantify levels of lockdown. This can be seen in detail via the UK and devolved nation government website page links below.
UK /English Government Tier System for Sports
In essence the UK three tier system grades the level of personal interaction whilst engaging in sport. It can be summarised as follows in relation to Aikido:
Covid Free = Normal practice of body art and weapons.
Tier 1 = Social distancing (2 meters), PPE use and sanitiser etc., should be maintained/used and that we should recommence practice with solo taisabaki and/or ukemi exercises and/or weapons only. This is for both indoors and outdoors practice. No Mixing or socialising before or after classes. Weapons must be sanitised before and after use, especially club owned weapons. Masks are optional outdoors but compulsory indoors. Groups of 6 max indoors. Weapons taking is allowed.
Tier 2 = Social distancing (2 meters), PPE use and sanitiser etc., should be maintained/used and that we should recommence practice with solo taisabaki and/or ukemi exercises and/or weapons only. This is for both indoors and outdoors practice. No Mixing or socialising before or after classes. Weapons must be sanitised before and after use, especially club owned weapons. Masks are optional outdoors but compulsory indoors. Grouping off students in not permitted. Weapons taking is NOT allowed.
Tier 3 = No Aikido classes are permitted indoors or outdoors. No interaction with students or instructors in informal gatherings.
Tier 4 = No Aikido classes are permitted indoors or outdoors. No interaction with students or instructors in informal gatherings.
The New Welsh four tier system grades the level of personal interaction whilst engaging in any form of contact. It can be summarised as follows in relation to Aikido:
Covid Free = Normal practice of body art and weapons.
Alert Level 1 = Social distancing (2 meters), PPE use and sanitiser etc., should be maintained/used and that we should recommence practice with solo taisabaki and/or ukemi exercises and/or weapons only. This is for both indoors and outdoors practice. No Mixing or socialising before or after classes. Weapons must be sanitised before and after use, especially club owned weapons. Masks are optional outdoors but compulsory indoors. Groups of 15 max indoors. Weapons taking is allowed.
Alert Level 2 = Social distancing (2 meters), PPE use and sanitiser etc., should be maintained/used and that we should recommence practice with solo taisabaki and/or ukemi exercises and/or weapons only. This is for both indoors and outdoors practice. No Mixing or socialising before or after classes. Weapons must be sanitised before and after use, especially club owned weapons. Masks are optional outdoors but compulsory indoors. Groups of 15 max indoors. Weapons taking is allowed.
Alert Level 3 = No Aikido classes are permitted indoors or outdoors. No interaction with students or instructors in informal gatherings.Alert Level 4 = No Aikido classes are permitted indoors or outdoors. No interaction with students or instructors in informal gatherings.
The Scottish System splits out the restrictions in more detail. Links to PDF files to explain each tier are below and how it affects the return to Aikido:
Tier 0 = Normal practice of body art and weapons. Limited Socialising numbers
Tier 1 = Social distancing (2 meters), PPE use and sanitiser etc., should be maintained/used and that we should recommence practice with solo taisabaki and/or ukemi exercises and/or weapons only. This is for both indoors and outdoors practice. No Mixing or socialising before or after classes. Weapons must be sanitised before and after use, especially club owned weapons. Masks are optional outdoors but compulsory indoors. Groups of 6 max indoors. Weapons taking is allowed.
Teir 2 = Social distancing (2 meters), PPE use and sanitiser etc., should be maintained/used and that we should recommence practice with solo taisabaki and/or ukemi exercises and/or weapons only. This is for both indoors and outdoors practice. No Mixing or socialising before or after classes. Weapons must be sanitised before and after use, especially club owned weapons. Masks are optional outdoors but compulsory indoors. Groups of 6 max indoors. Weapons taking is allowed.
Tier 3 = Social distancing (2 meters), PPE use and sanitiser etc., should be maintained/used and that we should recommence practice with solo taisabaki and/or ukemi exercises and/or weapons only. This is for both indoors and outdoors practice. No Mixing or socialising before or after classes. Weapons must be sanitised before and after use, especially club owned weapons. Masks are optional outdoors but compulsory indoors. Grouping off students in not permitted. Weapons taking is NOT allowed.
Tier 4 = No Aikido classes are permitted indoors or outdoors. No interaction with students or instructors in informal gatherings.
Northern Ireland follows the UK/English system.