The country’s elite athletes were able to commence outdoor training as a group.
The government announced that indoor sports facilities could reopen from 25 July.
The BJA issued the following statement:
We welcome the Government’s announcement today concerning the opening of indoor sporting facilities.
This is a very important step on the journey to returning to the sport we love. We await the full, detailed guidelines from the Government that will enable us to update our existing plans. Once we have this we will communicate with clubs and members to start the process of a safe return to judo. Please note this announcement does not mark a return to full-contact judo, but will allow clubs to re-open and start that process. Once our guidelines are finalised, clubs will need to complete and return the Club Declaration Form to British Judo before opening for indoor sessions. For all documentation regarding a return to judo, head over to our Covid-19 Information Microsite by clicking here.
As 25 July falls in the school holidays, any return to indoor sessions for us will not be until September at the earliest.
Any return then will be dependent on
The school giving permission for external groups to use the hall
Class sizes with any social distancing requirements being financially viable in view of hall hire costs.
In the meantime, outdoor training sessions will continue every Tuesday and Thursday evening, weather permitting.
As you may be aware, British Judo hosted a webinar over the weekend in conjunction with the launch of their guidance as to what a Safe Return to Judo could look like.
We are processing this document to see what it means for us, one take away point already is that on return to the dojo all players must have a current licence/membership. This should be a given anyway, but players will be asked to confirm and this will be checked. Players will be asked to confirm they are Covid free on return to the dojo.
As already mentioned, any initial return to the dojo is almost certainly going to be non-contact, with contact only allowed between members of the same household.
At present, we do not have a date from Government as to when our sport/martial art can recommence.
If and when this is announced, any return will be further dependent on the school giving us permission to return AND class sizes being financially viable with any social distancing requirements that remain in place. Distancing requirements for indoor sports are likely to be higher than they are for more mundane activities such as shopping, due to impracticalities of wearing a mask when training, and more powerful exhalation of air during exercise.
We are cautiously working towards a return in September, but this is definitely not a fixed date.
In the mean time, outdoor training sessions will continue as previously advertised. When the use of outdoor gyms is sanctioned again, we will consider a change of venue, but until then all details remain the same.
To mitigate the impacts of us on reduced class sizes, please support us via Portsmouth Lottery and Easyfundraising!
The Government this morning announced a drop in the coronavirus alert level from 4 to 3. This is likely to result in some further easing of restrictions over the next few weeks.
We understand that British Judo is close to publishing its own guidelines for Phase One of a return to training. We suspect that this is likely to follow a Judo Fit type model – randori and shiai will remain impossible under social distancing guidelines.
We are cautiously optimistic that in theory at list, we may be able to make some start of return in September. However, this must be economically viable for us if there are restrictions on class sizes due to distancing requirements, and is dependent on the school allowing external groups to use its facilities.
The easing of some restrictions associated with prevention of the spread of coronavirus means that outdoor training becomes a possibility. Latest Government guidance (Cabinet Office, 2020) is
From Monday 1 June, you can exercise or play sport in groups of up to six people from other households, but should only do so where it is possible to maintain a 2 metre gap from those you do not live with.
People who play team sports can meet to train together and do things like conditioning or fitness sessions but they must be in separate groups of no more than six and must be 2 metres apart at all times. While groups could practice ball skills like passing and kicking, equipment sharing should be kept to a minimum and strong hand hygiene practices should be in place before and after. You can also play doubles tennis with people from outside of your household as long as you remain 2 metres apart as far as possible. Any equipment that is used should be cleaned frequently. Cleaning should be particularly thorough if it is to be used by someone else.
And if you are showing coronavirus symptoms, or if you or any of your household are self-isolating, you should stay at home – this is critical to staying safe and saving lives.
This would mean that 5 players could meet with one coach. Larger groups would have to split into smaller groups with sufficient distancing between them.
Is there interest in participating in any such session? These would be similar to the sessions we have run in previous summers, held at Hilsea Creek or possibly Drayton Park as the Creek has become a popular walking spot.
Please use the comments field below to let us know.
Indoor training sessions (especially full contact judo) remain unlikely for non-elite athletes for some time – guidance published by Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport make clear the restraints and conditions that will have to be worked with within elite sport.
Cabinet Office. (2020, June 1). Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do. Retrieved from GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do/coronavirus-outbreak-faqs-what-you-can-and-cant-do
In light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Hampshire Judo have cancelled all planned events for 2020, it was announced yesterday.
Despite some easing of restrictions for outdoor meetings, social distancing requirements remain in place. The coronavirus alert level remains at 4, meaning that indoor events and training for non-elite athletes (especially in contact sports) remain prohibited.
It is hoped that a normal competition programme can be resumed for 2021.
We have been asked the above question a couple of times.
Our thoughts below:
At the moment, all we can do is quote the BJA’s statement (British Judo Association, 2020) published on 13th May:
Following the Government’s latest updates on the current situation, whilst it is clear that certain elements of the lockdown are being relaxed, British Judo still finds itself in an unpredictable scenario whereby we do not know when we can return to our beloved Dojos up and down the country.
It is clear that we cannot return just yet.
It is possible that within a “contained” environment elite athletes may soon be able to return to training and certain sporting events take place behind closed doors. Indeed, a Government document was published 13th May detailing how this could happen. As the BBC reported (Scott, 2020), initial phases will be for contact free training.
The next phase will involve some “social clustering” within training, with athletes able to engage in contact such as “close quarters coaching, combat sports sparring, teams sports tackling, equipment sharing”.
However, the protocols for this stage have not yet been finalised and will need government approval.
It will be interesting to see how this translates to reality – the March 2020 sumo tournament was held behind closed doors with precautions in place, but the May event has been cancelled following Japan’s extension of their state of emergency (AFP, 2020). The sumo community is currently mourning the loss of one of their rikishi due to Covid-19 (BBC, 2020). The UFC recently ran a tournament behind closed doors; however the New York Times reported there were numerous breaches of the protocols it had established in order to make it a safe tournament (Draper, 2020).
We must remain guided by our national association (British Judo Association, 2020):
…we are working hard behind the scenes preparing a detailed strategy and plan that will enable us to return quickly when that time comes. We are working with the Government to ensure that alongside other sports, we are returning to action in a safe and appropriate way as soon as we are able to. Please bear with us whilst we finalise this plan and please note that any premature return to sport will mean that you are notinsured.
For the sake of our sport, it is vital that you wait until the British Judo Association has endorsed the return.
The BJA recognises that how we come back may need to be a phased approach and judo itself may need to change all the time that social distancing remains the norm. They are seeking members’ input into how judo could return, at the web address referenced below.
We cannot see the club returning to the mats before the autumn term. Even if the Government and BJA do sanctioned a return to training, there may still be restrictions imposed by the school over external lettings and any additional cleaning regimes within the school may impact on the hours available to us.
There may be a possibility to run some outdoor fitness sessions (if you aren’t already sick of Joe Wicks style PE…) over the summer. The risks of transmitting the virus outdoors are reduced compared to indoors, and the children and any adults joining in are not as in close contact as they would be practising judo. Social distancing would be easier to enforce. But again we need to be guided by the BJA and the Government.
At the moment really it is still very much a case of wait and see.
Please keep yourselves and others around you safe, and if you haven’t already done so, please consider supporting the club through one of our fundraising initiatives – this will enable us to come back stronger when the time does finally come.
Works Cited
AFP, 2020. Virus forces cancellation of Japan sumo tournament. [Online] Available at: https://news.yahoo.com/virus-forces-cancellation-japan-sumo-tournament-105537620–spt.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20vbmV3cy9zZWFyY2g_cT1KYXBhbmVzZStTdW1vJnFwdnQ9amFwYW5lc2Urc3VtbyZGT1JNPUVXUkU&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADrurkG4wkg [Accessed 14 May 2020].
BBC, 2020. Coronavirus: Japanese sumo wrestler dies at 28. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-52644424 [Accessed 14 May 2020].
British Judo Association, 2020. Input into British Judo’s relaunch strategy. [Online] Available at: https://www.britishjudo.org.uk/british-judo-relaunch-strategy-input/ [Accessed 14 May 2020].
Draper, K., 2020. U.F.C.’s Coronavirus Plan Is Careful. Its Enforcement Has Been Spotty. [Online] Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/12/sports/coronavirus-ufc.html [Accessed 14 May 2020].
Scott, L., 2020. Elite athletes given government guidance on safe return to training during coronavirus. [Online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/52652893?fbclid=IwAR3IFG-PodDEo3zT7bi4OGnzkWC7TpTpeeSPtPO2u2KM9qKjHAzmeEWtsEw [Accessed 13 May 2020].
We hope that you are all keeping well and staying safe.
The Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced today that UK lockdown measures will continue for at least another three weeks.
Consequently the club remains closed, until at least mid-May.
If like us you are missing your Judo fix, do check out over 300 hours worth of free videos – both coaching and competition – that Fighting Films have made available at www.superstarjudo.com.
If you are looking for simple interventions to support your physical and mental health, we recommend Feel Better in 5 by Dr. Rangan Chatterjee, which you can purchase from Amazon.
Good morning everyone, hope you are all keeping well.
The following email was circulated to all members this morning:
British Judo Chairman Ronnie Saez has a message for members during this difficult time:
Good morning all, I hope you are all keeping well during this turbulent and unpredictable period. It is safe to say that none of us has experienced anything like what the country, and the world, is going through at the moment.
British Judo has been working with Sport England and UK Sport to deliver guidance that is aligned across the sports industry and as the situation continuously and rapidly develops, we will be having regular Board meetings to provide greater clarity for the judo family.
Our participation figures saw an increase this year which was fantastic to see before the lockdown, however at the present time, I think we need to accept that judo is very much a secondary option when compared to saving lives and supporting our fantastic NHS.
We owe the staff and volunteers of the NHS a massive thank you for their unwavering commitment to the health of our nation and I was proud to stand on my doorstep each of the last two Thursdays to show my appreciation of their exceptional work. Two of our own – Dr Jo Banks and John Prescott – are working on the front line as part of the NHS so I hope you will join the rest of the country in saluting their hard work in the future.
There have been many disruptions to the judo community across Great Britain, most notably the complete closures of all dojos and leisure centres which has ground the sport to a halt. It can be very difficult to keep yourself motivated and active on a daily basis, so it is important that you keep yourself healthy by either working out at home and/or talking a walk or run outside. British Judo are posting some great content regularly throughout the week to help give you some inspiration – whether it is completing your daily planks involving baked bean tins or completing squats with a help of kitchen roll!
These are unprecedented times, but we are witnessing our communities coming together and helping each other out which is great to see. Many clubs are posting workout content on their social media channels to assist each other.
If, like me, you were looking forwards to the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics this Summer, you will be relieved to hear that the Games will take place in 12 months. The showpiece sporting event is the sport’s most important stage to showcase the sport. I have complete confidence that our current squad is one of our best to date, in particular our female squad, continuing to develop on and off the mat into regular medal contenders in any competition that they enter.
British Judo are working hard behind the scenes to keep the sport moving and it is important that the British Judo family pulls together to support one another during these challenging times. One of the ways you can continue to support the sport is by continuing to renew your membership with them. Although you can’t necessarily train at the moment, there are many ways you can still get involved in the sport such as enrolling in a number of different courses and training programmes to ensure that you are prepared for, when the dojo doors eventually re-open.
Our Chief Executive Andrew Scoular, the Board, the British Judo Head Office team and I will be working tirelessly to get us through this as best we can.
In the meantime, look after yourselves and your families, and remember you have the whole judo community there to support you.
Yours in Judo,
Ronnie Saez
Chairman, British Judo Association
We totally endorse the above – look after yourself and those around you.
Hopefully you enjoyed (?) some of the training videos we have shared in our Facebook group.
Don’t forget to make sure your membership is up to date – this is vital for your insurance cover when we do get back on the mat, and also gives you access to a range of member benefits.
On the eve of the Hampshire Closed, I would usually be writing to wish our players good luck. Or to remind people that clocks change tomorrow and to not be late for the weigh-in.
But not today. Covid-19 has changed everything.
The Club is currently closed. Officially until after Easter holidays, but until at least June if we are being realistic. Personally, I think September is more likely by the time we add in summer holidays (remember those?).
We have not been able to say goodbye to John Luijken before he and his family move abroad.
We did manage to get in to clean and disinfect the mats before the school was closed. Thanks to Kev and Craig as always for their help.
The Hampshire Closed has been cancelled, as has the Southern Area teams tournament. The Tokyo Olympics have been postponed until 2021.
Thankfully as we only hire the hall on an hourly basis from the school, we are not exposed to the same cashflow risks that clubs who own their premised are exposed to. (And I never thought I would be grateful for not having our own dojo, but always something to be glad about if you look!).
If you are online shopping, don’t forget that you can raise funds for the club at the same time via Easyfundraising – use this link to register: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/courtlanejudoclub/?invite=3H5QVP&referral-campaign=c2s and we will receive an extra donation when your donations reach £5. We have 19 supporters currently – 8 of whom who have never shopped via Easyfundraising. It’s easy, free and doesn’t cost you a penny more.
Community groups are going to be vital as we go through this crisis. You can help to strengthen not only us but the wider community if you play the Portsmouth Lottery. Tickets can be purchased via this link, https://www.portsmouthlottery.co.uk/support/court-lane-judo-club
It is important that everyone stays fit and as healthy as possible – we have posted links in the Facebook group to various resources from Sport England and British Judo. No doubt some of you are working out with Joe Wicks every morning! Maintaining your physical health will help to keep you mentally healthy – again, a lot of support is being signposted towards support in this area.
To those who are essential workers, in the NHS, social care, keeping our food shelves stocked – we thank you for your efforts, stay safe, we will all do our best not to put extra stress on you.
Take care everyone, and we will see you on the other side.
