Covid 19 Plan
Last updated May 2021
DO NOT COME TO CLASS if you or anyone in your immediate contact group show any signs of COVID-19 (temperature, cough, difficulty breathing).
Mixed Martial Arts is a contact sport…
So the current pandemic has hit us hard.
We have always maintained that The Fighting Arts Academy is a family. The health & safety of that family is our number one priority.
As much as we all live and breath the martial-arts, the primary goal of study should be the proactive self-preservation of ourselves and the ones we love.
This means we are looking at the latest guidelines and are adapting our teaching style and class schedule accordingly. We are looking to strike the right balance between being caution and pragmatism.
Inline with Government Guidelines :
Indoor Adults & Kids Classes
resume from 17th May 2021
Some Indoor Training Restrictions Apply
We are delighted to finally be able to offer indoor adults classes as well as indoor kids classes as per our class timetables.
We hope to get back to normality as soon as possible (responsibly)… which means that for now we need to operate under restricted conditions.
We have conducted a Covid Risk Assessment and as we ask for your cooperation in the following:
Temperature checks on entry
Checkin via NHS App
Hand and equipment Sanitisation.
No access to toilets/changing rooms
Mat Bubbles
No shared equipment
No Spectators
Covid Liability Waivers Signed
How you can help:
KEEP YOUR DISTANCE ON THE MAT
The space will now be configured as 1 big mat space (rather than 10 separated mat areas). This means we will be relying on you to be responsible in identifying suitable training partners to bubble up with and to ensure you keep your distance from other groups on the mat. Truth be known, we actually think the single mat setup is safer in terms of preventing non-covid related injuries!)
TURN UP READY TO TRAIN
Turn up your training gear ready to go. We will still be doing temperature checks and sanitisation on entry but please note that the changing rooms are off limits and use of the toilet will only be allowed in emergencies.
BE ON TIME
Be on time (or a little early) - the hardest bit of the logistics from a covid safety perspective is managing class changeover, entry and exit. Please help us by being on time.
QUEUE, ENTER AND EXIT RESPONSIBLY
We are fine-tuning the best ways for people to enter and exit the space whilst minimising crowding and overlap. Please follow instructions from the coaches. We will likely start operating a "one way" policy where you enter the gym by the outside stairs but exit via the internal building stairs. Avoid crowding and wear a face covering whilst queuing.
HELP WITH HYGIENE & CLEANING
We will make sure hand sanitiser, disinfectant spray and mops are available mat side. Please use the sanitiser regularly. When asked to do so please help with mat cleaning, spraying and clear away.
NO SHARED EQUIPMENT
Get your own gloves, gi and equipment (we can get these for you...just ask). Make sure your equipment is clean! Note that we are not providing shared equipment as a rule.
NO SPECTATORS
We cannot have spectators at the moment. We make an exception for children with severe allergies where a single parent/guardian with an epipen can accompany a child. Otherwise - unless you are training or coaching, you can't be in the room.
STAY ORGANISED
Stay organised - with your own water, shoes and equipment mat side.
PAY ON ENTRY
Please be ready to pay on entry. (Either with cash or via paypal).
STAY CONNECTED
Ensure you have registered so we have your contact details to hand and can make a judgment as to your risk group. Please join the club WhatsApp Group so we can contact you and keep you updated. You will also be asked to sign a covid-19 liability waiver.
PLEASE BARE WITH US
And most importantly - please bear with us! We will all be getting used to the new setup so it will take a while for us to get into the swing of things.
ENJOY ALL OF IT
BJJ, Muay Thai, MMA, Yoga... The family is back! Oss.
A walkthrough of our covid procedures for indoor classes
What a difference a year makes…
The picture above shows a particularly crowded session at one of our kids classes from 2019! It is easy to see that this kind of thing can’t happen right now!
During lockdown we had to get creative… with outdoor sessions
…and Online Yoga (which we still do!)