Health and Safety

SAFETY

We consider safety one of the most important aspects of a good training session. We aim to instil a culture in our school that promotes safe training practices at all times. At the same time everyone participating in our classes and other training events must be aware that martial arts may involve vigorous physical activity and close contact fighting, and that injuries do sometimes occur.

With that in mind, Kempo Kobudo Scotland has a number of trained First Aiders, we regularly undertake risk assessments, and have a dedicated Safety Officer qualified in COVID risk assessment and mitigation and Electrical inspection and safety testing.

However, we require all participants to take personal responsibility for their own safety as well. Further details of this, and our liability, can be found in our Terms and Conditions (separate document). Personal responsibility includes informing instructors of any previous injuries or medical conditions that might affect the safety of their participation; stopping exercising if you experience pain, dizziness, excessive fatigue or other warning symptoms; and stopping exercising and informing your opponent or an instructor if you feel that the level of aggression or force in the training is too high for you.

No exercise or activity in our classes is mandatory. Participants should always exercise their own judgement as to their participation in any activity.

We also require all participants to train and spar in a controlled manner, taking into account the limitations of their own ability (especially for new students) and taking into account the skills, physical size, and strength of their opponent. Our classes are about learning and passing on skills and techniques and improving fitness. They are not about demonstrating an ability to intimidate others, and such behaviour is never tolerated.

We teach Kobudo with a set of rules and equipment that promote safety. The rules include limitations on the types and speeds of strikes that can be used, and the parts of the body, if any, that may be struck. For example, we may practice a sword blocking technique at one quarter speed, and stop the sword before it makes contact with the opponent in the event that the block fails.

In terms of equipment, we would use UK legal wooden, plastic, rubber, or foam weapons that are designed, manufactured, and/or sold specifically for the purposes of martial arts training. All equipment will be checked by staff at least weekly to ensure they are in a suitably safe condition for continued use.

The way we teach techniques takes into account three goals:

Learning to use the technique effectively, be that in a training, competition, or fighting situation.
Ensure the training can be practiced safely between members of any level, physical shape and fitness.
Instilling good posture, weight shifting, and other practices to avoid long term back, knee or hip pain and long-term disabilities.

To ensure obvious causes of injuries are avoided, all students should:

Where possible and it is safe to do so, remove any watches, rings, spectacles, and other jewellery before practice, if they may come into contact with other individuals. Not all training will require this.
Wearing the correct protective equipment, if any is required, when told to do so.
Ensure you are on-time for the class so you can fully participate in any safety discussions that may occur at the start.

HEALTH

Practicing martial arts generally speaking improves an individual’s health. At the same time each individual should check with their doctor whether they are suitable for practicing martial arts. If your GP is not competent in the matter possibly a specialist could help. When mentioning the activity, you should state: "non-full-contact martial arts practice at amateur level". People intending to participate to competitions should get a more in-depth check-up.

You should not attend class if you are ill with any serious communicable disease, and must abide by any government rules (e.g. Covid Restriction Levels) regarding attendance. For full details of these please see our Terms and Conditions (separate document) and any additional and/or temporary rules in effect at that time (please ask a member of staff for these).

HYGIENE

Some training (such as self-defence) implies close contact between a number of individuals. Great attention should be paid to hygiene such as:

Keep a high level of personal hygiene.
Keep your uniform free from any unpleasant odour by washing it at least once a week.
Take care of your equipment: make sure that any absorbent materials can thoroughly dry off between classes.
When entering the dojo (building), you must use the hand sanitiser provided.
When leaving the dojo (building), you must use the hand sanitiser provided.