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.
When we closed the club in March 2020, a week before the first national lockdown, none of us really envisaged that 10 months later our mats would still be empty.
We were lucky enough to be able to run some sessions outdoors over the summer, but our return to indoor training has been knocked back – first from November 2020 to January 2021, and now indefinitely in the third national lockdown. We remain committed to opening when it is safe to do so.
Like everyone else, we await the lifting of Covid restrictions. Infection rates are falling, but are still high; and hospital admissions and deaths show no signs of abating. Sadly, Covid related deaths have even affected Portsmouth’s judo community.
We hope you are taking advantage of the online sessions organised by British Judo. These are FREE to licensed members – another reason to keep your British Judo membership in date. You can book on to these sessions here.
Thank you for your continued support of the Club via Portsmouth Lottery and Easyfundraising. With online shopping our new normal, this is a great way to generate donations to the Club, at no cost to yourself. Funds raised will help us to weather the current pandemic and return stronger when we can get back on the mats, with whatever restrictions may still be in place. Judo, martial arts and other indoor contact sports will be the last to return to normal.
Please remember it is OK not to feel OK! The last year has been extremely testing for everyone. British Judo has published a list of organisations who can offer support if you or members of your family are struggling. Alternatively, you may find suggestions in Dr Rangan Chatterjee’s book ‘Feel Better in 5’ helpful. The Morning and Evening Flows are great stretching and relaxation processes, whilst guidance on daily gratitude list, affirmations and breathing practices may also be of benefit.
Finally, stay safe, look after each other and we look forward to seeing you all back on the mat when it is safe to do so.
British Judo has updated it’s guidance following the introduction of the new Stay at Home Tier 4.
As expected, no indoor training is permitted, hence the reopening of the club remains on hold.
Portsmouth’s Tier 4 status is due to be reviewed on 30 December, but with other areas of the country today also being put into Tier 4, it seems unlikely that we will see any immediate easing of restrictions.
We are delighted to announce that the Club received news today that it’s application to the Club Support scheme being administered by British Judo has been successful, and we will receive grant support towards reopening when this is possible.
The funds will be used to purchased training aids and other equipment as well as subsidising running costs due to potential loss of income from reduced class sizes due to social distancing requirements.
The Prime Minister’s announcement on Saturday that Portsmouth was being moved to the new Tier 4 coronavirus restrictions, after only a day in Tier 3, was unexpected.
We are still awaiting full guidance as to what Tier 4 means for community sports club; however we understand that it is equivalent to the national lockdowns imposed in March and November.
We hope that this will only be for a short period of time, but the Health Minister made clear on Sunday that these new restrictions could b ein place for several months – presumably by which he meant over the winter period.
It seems unlikely that our announced re-opening date of 12th January will be possible, however we will keep you updated with news as and when we can. This is incredibly frustrating, however the safety of everyone especially the most vulnerable must come first, and we continue to be patient.
It was confirmed today that Portsmouth (along with Havant and Gosport) are entering Tier 3 restrictions in the fight to contain the spread of coronavirus.
We have been in contact with the school to confirm what this means for our planned Return to Judo.
British Judo guidance is that
With the correct social distancing rules enforced in venues and the current non-contact nature of the training schedules, we are effectively classified once again as an “organised exercise class”.
Tier 3: Classes for under 18s can restart indoors. Sessions for ages 18+ must remain outdoors. Same Household sessions permitted.
Tier 2: As per our Phase 1 Guidelines for A “Safe Return To Judo”.
Tier 1: As per our Phase 1 Guidelines for A “Safe Return To Judo”.
The school have confirmed that they are still happy for us to proceed under this basis, however they have a new Headteacher commencing on 4th January who may wish to review this decision. With this in mind, we have delayed our planned reopening to Tuesday 12th January.
We will post further details of our planned Return to Judo over the Christmas period.
