Category Archives: News

IMPORTANT GRADING INFORMATION

We’ve just had our first gradings since lockdown and it was great to see everyone back training and progressing in their karate. Congratulations to everyone that graded. 

We still have a number of students that were due to grade in March but due to lockdown the gradings were cancelled. We would like to try ask those students to get in touch with us about rearranging their gradings. We are offering those that missed gradings to grade at the home dojo’s with one of our grading examiners. Please get in touch by emailing Sensei Whitcher at grading@sska.co.uk

Unfortunately we won’t be able to carry over the gradings in to 2021 so we would like to get students graded as soon as possible.

Brown/Black Belt Course – 11 October

Our next brown and black belt course and Grading will be on Sunday 11 October 2020. Students should arrive at 9am for a lesson 9.30am-11am. Gradings will start at approximately 11.15am.

NEW VENUE: Please note our Swindon Grading Centre is now at Grange Leisure Centre, Grange Drive, Swindon SN3 4JY.

These courses are for brown and black belts only. The course and gradings are conducted by Sensei Stuart Cole, 7th Dan, Chief Instructor of the S.S.K.A

Students wishing to train and grade for black belt and above must register/book their place by emailing Sensei Cole at: sska595@gmail.com as places are limited.

Please state your name, license number, club and if you wish to grade, the grade you wish to take. This is to allow sufficient time to arrange the grading.

Lesson fees are £18.50. No free lessons are available on this day.

Students must obtain written permission from their club instructor to grade.

No spectators will be allowed in the hall and trainers should be worn during the lesson. Face coverings must be worn inside the centre and are optional for training.

There are no changing facilities available at the centre – only toilets. Please come dressed in your karate suits.

 

ANNUAL KATA COURSE

SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER 2020

WOODFORD PARK LEISURE CENTRE – READING

Our annual kata course takes place on Sunday 18 October from 9.30-11.30am. It’s suitable for all grades, juniors and seniors.

£15 per person, £25 for family of 2, £35 for family of 3, £45 for family of 4.

Spaces are limited – booking essential.

Download the booking form here.

September/October Gradings

We are pleased to be able to share with you the new procedures and processes for the September/October Kyu and Dan Gradings. Please read through everything carefully.

What’s new?

Students must register for PRE-GRADING & GRADING

We are asking members to register directly with their instructor rather than submitting a paper grading form. You must have registered with your club instructor  by 7 September to allow us enough time to plan lesson times on grading day. Numbers are restricted in the hall.

There is no Swindon or Salisbury Pre-Grading on this occasion

Dorcan Leisure Centre in Swindon is not re-opening until late September so there is no time for us to put measures in place to operate a pre-grading lesson here. We are urging students to attend Reading Pre-Grading. We hope that gradings should run as planned in Swindon. We will advise should anything change.

Were you due to grade in Swindon in March?

If you were due to grade in Swindon in March and would like to grade in September/October you still need to register with your instructor. It is important we know exact numbers of who will be attending our events to ensure the safety of our students.

Students can double grade

As some students missed out on Grading in March, as well as June, if they wish to double grading, they may do so in this grading period – excludes Dan grades. Please ensure you inform your instructor. 

Families

Families of different grades can choose to train and grade at the same sessions. Please advise us of your chosen session.

Grading information

Our Grading information sheet is available here to download.

Any questions?

If you have any questions please get in touch with Sensei Cole.

Summer Camp – 6 places remaining

There are 6 places remaining on this year’s summer camp.

We now have the details available for the summer camp, including the schedule and Health and Safety plans to manage the wellbeing of students and their families.

  • Everyone will have their temperature taken and be asked to sanitise their hands before training.
  • Training sessions will be one hour, 3 times a day, to ensure less time spent in the hall.
  • Everyone will be spaced out 2 meters apart, and there will be no pair work for warm ups or training.
  • Grading kumite will be simulated moves, not with a partner.
  • There will be no kiais or shouting.
  • Face coverings can be worn if wanted, and we will be operating track and trace.

The schedule will be as follows;

  • Friday and Saturday: lessons will be 10am-11, 12-1 and 2-3pm
  • Saturday 4pm grading registration
  • Sunday: lessons will be 10am -11, 12-1pm. Gradings start at 1.30

The Trouville hotel has put in place a rigorous best practice and “Safe Stay” programme including:

  • Safe contactless check in and out
  • Keys sanitised before issue and upon return.
  • Changes made to our Dining Facilities and Operations to ensure “Safe Distancing” is observed. Table service in the bar and restaurant, Plate Service offered,
    contactless Collect and Go facility with Room Service also as an option.
  • Rigorous Deep Cleaning and Sanitisation of bedrooms and public areas using industry standard anti-microbial sanitizers and disinfectants with extra attention to all high-touch hard surfaces throughout the premises.
  • Enhanced cleaning and sanitisation in all communal traffic areas with guest accessible sanitising stations and hygienic wipes provided throughout the premises.

We are sure that everyone will enjoy the camp whilst keeping safe, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Important Information for those attending Summer Camp

We now have the details available for the summer camp, including the schedule and Health and Safety plans to manage the wellbeing of students and their families.

  • Everyone will have their temperature taken and be asked to sanitise their hands before training.
  • Training sessions will be one hour, 3 times a day, to ensure less time spent in the hall.
  • Everyone will be spaced out 2 meters apart, and there will be no pair work for warm ups or training.
  • Grading kumite will be simulated moves, not with a partner.
  • There will be no kiais or shouting.
  • Face coverings can be worn if wanted, and we will be operating track and trace.

The schedule will be as follows;

  • Friday and Saturday: lessons will be 10am-11, 12-1 and 2-3pm
  • Saturday 4pm grading registration
  • Sunday: lessons will be 10am -11, 12-1pm. Gradings start at 1.30

 

The Trouville hotel has put in place a rigorous best practice and “Safe Stay” programme including:

  • Safe contactless check in and out
  • Keys sanitised before issue and upon return.
  • Changes made to our Dining Facilities and Operations to ensure “Safe Distancing” is observed. Table service in the bar and restaurant, Plate Service offered,
    contactless Collect and Go facility with Room Service also as an option.
  • Rigorous Deep Cleaning and Sanitisation of bedrooms and public areas using industry standard anti-microbial sanitizers and disinfectants with extra attention to all high-touch hard surfaces throughout the premises.
  • Enhanced cleaning and sanitisation in all communal traffic areas with guest accessible sanitising stations and hygienic wipes provided throughout the premises.

We are sure that everyone will enjoy the camp whilst keeping safe, and we look forward to seeing you there.

Gradings will be back in September

We wanted to let you know that Gradings will be back in September and more details will follow shortly. 

While we are delighted to be welcoming you all back there will be a few changes as you can imagine. Keeping everyone safe is paramount so we ask you to please take time to read all the information carefully when it is released.

We are just working on the final details and will be sharing more information very soon.

In preparation for grading please check that your licence is still valid. If you need to renew your licence we urge you to do this as soon as possible. Please:

  1. Download our licence renewal form
  2. Complete the form, sign and return by email to sska595@gmail.com
  3. Send us a photo/scan of your current red licence slip
  4. You will need to pay by bank transfer and will be sent the details on application 
  5. We will the send you a printer-friendly licence renewal slip to print off and insert at home.