As we head into autumn, and spend more time indoors, it is inevitable that we will see an increase in Covid cases (indeed this is already happening) and possibly cases of ‘flu, as well as the usual colds, coughs and sniffles.
Whilst vaccination is very much a personal choice, please be mindful that you may be training with people who have health conditions that leave them vulnerable, or who may be caring for other people who are vulnerable in their own right. Also be mindful of the additional stresses that training when unwell can place on your own body. If you should feel unwell, please refrain from training until you are clear of symptoms.
Tony & Kev have both tested negative for Covid, meaning that classes can resume from Tuesday (tomorrow). Thankfully both only had mild symptoms – although Tony’s took a long time to clear!
With cases on the rise following the removal of mitigations (mask wearing, work from home etc.), please continue to be respectful if you should develop symptoms or test positive – there may be players/parents at the club who fall into the vulnerable categories.
Regrettably we need to cancel the session Thursday 9 March due to Covid amongst the coaches.
Tony is still testing positive (day 6) but only has mild symptoms. Kev has returned a positive result this morning, leaving us with no choice but to cancel this Thursday.
Hopefully we can restart classes on Tuesday, and will resume gradings.
The Government removed most Covid precautions as of 24th February.
We have been instructed to no longer display a Covid QR code for checking in via the Covid-19 app.
Face masks remain a personal choice off the mat.
We would ask that players especially or parents who think they may have Covid treat it the same as they would any other contagious disease – chicken pox, measles, colds etc. – and not attend until they are satisfied that they are no longer contagious.
With the sharp increase in the number of cases of Covid reported over the last few days – nationally and locally – please remember the following simple precautions when visiting the Club:
A one way system is in operation – enter from the playground, exit to the car park.
Hand wash – cleansing gel is available in the hall.
ALL players and coaches need to complete a Covid declaration for each session – either online or paper copy in the Club.
Coaches, players over 16 and spectating parents need to log in via the NHS Covid-19 app – we have our own QR code you can scan.
Unless you are exempt, face coverings should be worn off the mat.
Messages from Government today indicate that it is likely that lifting of final restrictions covering gatherings, sports participation etc. are likely to be delayed following a rise in positive tests, largely linked to the new Delta variant. Reassuringly hospital cases, whilst growing, are not increasing at the same rate, indicating that the vaccine programme is effective (with caveats about number of received doses).
It looks as if adult judo judo will be delayed until mid July – and as we are likely to be shut over the school holidays, that effectively means September for us.
We will confirm more detail as soon as we can.
In the meantime, the mantra (vaccinated or not) remains Hands – Face – Space – Fresh Air.
Everyone aged 16+ who is remaining at the Club is also required to leave contact details for Track and Trace – this can be on paper but is easier for us to manage if you simply scan the Club’s QR code using the Covid-19 app.
After a break of over a year, due to the Covid pandemic, we are delighted to announced that full contact judo will resume from Tuesday 27th April!
In the short term, classes are available for players aged under eighteen only. Hopefully adult classes can resume from June.
We will be running a reduced schedule initially, with two classes on Tuesday nights ONLY. We hope to return to two nights a week from beginning of June. Class times remain as previous, 6 and 7pm. Class duration will be slightly reduced to allow for mat cleaning between and after sessions. Look out for a future post where we will detail all the steps we are putting in place to make it a Safe Return to Judo, and the steps you and your children will need to follow to enable this to happen.
Yesterday’s announcement from the Government gave us cause for hope.
11 months after we closed the dojo, there is light at the end of the tunnel. In a speech that emphasised data over dates, there were still several key dates. Below is our take on what these might mean for us.
8 March – schools return, outdoor after school sports and activities can resume
Possibility of resuming outdoor training sessions?
29 March – Organised outdoor grassroots sports can resume
Outdoor training sessions can resume
12 April – gyms can reopen
Children can return to mat based training – no contact – although this may not be until 17 May
17 May – Indoor group exercise classes can resume
Adults can return to mat based training
21 June – most social distancing requirements removed
Return to some form of recognisable judo – uchikomi and kata, possible randori and shiai?
This is just our take – we are awaiting guidance from British Judo, who will be in consultation with Department of Culture Media and Sport. We are also obviously dependent on the school agreeing our return to the premises.
Much is dependent on the infection rate and hospitalisations remaining their downward trend, and the rollout of vaccines. Please remember to keep following the mantra of Hands – Face – Space to keep yourself and others safe – Portsmouth’s judo and martial arts community has suffered at least one loss due to Covid this year, we know of other people who have also died following infections.
Whilst we wait to return, don’t forget to make sure your licence remains in date so you can continue to participate in online training sessions organised by British Judo, and take advantage of other benefits. Your licence must be in date to return to the mat.
