Shotokan Ryu Karate Kyokai Kokusai

Sunday, 16 May 2021

Re-opening the Sidcup Dojo and the new Tigers Class

Dear Karate family,

As you are aware Covid restrictions are lifting across the UK and this means that we can now plan a return to semi-normal training, in person at the Dojo.

Main Dojo Classes:

The Sidcup Dojo will therefore re-open on Wednesday 19th May for physical training. Current Covid guidelines for Karate mean that we will need to continue to maintain social distancing during training and contact training is still not allowed at the current time. Pad and bag work will be allowed however. Covid restrictions that were in place previously, such as mask wearing in hallways and wearing your Gi to and from training will still be carried out. Students will be spaced out as before with a maximum of 12 per training session. Class booking will still be required for the coming weeks. You can book directly from your student portal or the link on the website. https://www.skkk-karate.org.uk/

Class times will be as follows:
Junior grades - 6.30 to 7.30pm
Senior grades - 7.45 to 8.45pm

Class fees will remain at £7 per lesson for both classes.

New Shoto Tiger classes:

As from Wednesday 26th May, there will be a new class at the Sidcup Dojo for the Shoto Tigers (under 6’s).
There will be no Covid restrictions for this class, with the exception of any parents that wish to stay in the Dojo, who must be socially distanced and wear a face covering while present.

The new class time will be from 5.30pm to 6.15pm with a training fee of £5.

Membership and licences:

For those who plan to return to training at the Dojo, licences will need to be renewed before the 19th May unless they are still valid and will then be renewed from their normal expiry date. If you wish to renew before training please email info@skkk-karate.org.uk directly and we will send you an invoice for renewal. Renewal fees will remain the same at £20 for under 18s and £25 for 18 and overs. Please bring your licence with you to training so that JJ or the lead Sensei can collect these to be updated and returned.

Well that’s all for now, I really hope to see you back in the Dojo very soon!

Yours in Karate Do,

Kevin

Dr Kevin Thurlow-Criss Sensei 7th Dan
SKKK Worldwide Chief Instructor

Saturday, 1 May 2021

A Message from the Chief Instructor

Dear Karate Family,

I hope this message finds you well.

I would like to provide an update into where we are with regards to the Sidcup Dojo, Zoom classes and returning to full training. But first I would like to update you on a change within the Association generally.

Due to the death of my Mother, Sheila Thurlow Sensei as well as some other personal issues, my partner (JJ) and I are moving from Bexleyheath down to Brighton to live as of the 7th May. We need a fresh start and a change of lifestyle. I am NOT giving up the association and not stopping Karate. Once established in Brighton, I will be looking to set up a new Honbu Dojo and will teach from there. With regards to Sidcup, the Dojo will remain open and all classes will be taught by my dedicated and experienced instructor team (Apri Sensei, Ed Sensei, Karl Sensei, Justin Sensei and Neil Sensei), headed up by Christine Young Sensei 5th Dan, who now assumes the role as Deputy Chief Instructor to myself. I will be attending training sessions in Sidcup when I can and will also attend gradings, courses and events as normal, and will be continuing with the Associations Instructor Training Programme to ensure my teams knowledge and skills are kept fresh, so I hope that my instructor team sees you all in the Dojo very soon. I would also be very happy to see you in my Brighton Dojo, once it is established and have fish and chips on the beach after training! LOL.

So moving on to the Sidcup Dojo (North Cray Neighbourhood Centre). At the current time, the Dojo will re-open for physical training on Wednesday the 19th May 2021. A new timetable is being drawn up and will be notified to all students soon but there is likely to be a new class from 5.30pm to 6.15pm for the Shoto Tigers followed by a beginner/intermediate class at 6.30pm followed by a senior class at 7.45pm to 9pm. As it stands at the moment, the 19th May will be the move into Stage 3 of the Governments Covid plan and the current guidance of the English Karate Federation and Sport England is that all Covid restrictions within clubs can be lifted with the exception of mixing with other clubs and interclub competition, making the Sidcup Dojo a 'Club Bubble'. It is however likely that we will retain some additional measures at the Dojo for peace of mind - More on this to follow closer to the time.

Once the Wednesday class resumes in person, the Wednesday Zoom classes will obviously finish. The Saturday Zoom classes will remain active and attendance at these will be monitored. My instructor team is currently looking at alternative venues for a Saturday class as the current venue is not available. Once a Saturday venue is found, the Zoom classes on Saturday will cease. We will let you know as soon as there is more on this.

From a membership/licencing perspective, if your licence is currently valid then this will continue until its renewal date. If however your licence has expired then we will reissue this from the first date back at training - May 19th, so please ensure that you bring your licences with you to the class.

Well, that's all from me for now- I really hope that we can see you back in the Dojo in May and return to some kind or normality at training.

Yours in Karate as always.

Kevin

Dr Kevin Thurlow-Criss 7th Dan Kyoshi

SKKK Worldwide Chief Instructor