First, we would like to once again thank each and every one of you for your support during these almost 4 months. It’s been rough, but I think we are beginning to see some light at the end of the tunnel, And it is not a freight train coming. During these trying times, we have agreed on a few changes to our procedures to be able to comply with safety guidelines regarding COVID-19 prevention. These are just the first procedures and we may adapt them as we go to make things better for all of us. The idea is to promote a healthy and viable training environment, that will enable us to slowly go back to our training regime.

So, aiming for a reopening date of 27July, according to UKBJJA guidelines, we have discussed many options and have decided that:

There will be 2 class times, Monday through Friday. No more Basics and all levels. We shall have a 19:00 to 19:45 class, a 15 minute break for cleaning the mat, and another session from 20:00 to 20:45. These are abbreviated times as we are only allowed, at this moment, to exercise by ourselves, with social distancing measures being observed. We will slowly go back to our training with a lot of drills and exercises. A maximum of 6 students on the mat should be observed, due to our training area.

We will ask each member to communicate their preferred time and days of the week, as to organize a class roster. In case of not being able to come in the preferred time/day, we would ask for this to be communicated with as much advance as possible, as to being able to free that class slot to any other club member that would like to attend that class. As we progress, we can investigate having more class times made available.

Facemasks whilst in the building shall be used. Members will be let into the building through the main door, 10 minutes prior to scheduled class times. Once in, they should head straight to the main bathroom for suiting up, wash hands, and proceed to our classroom. In the classroom, we will read the temperature for each one, make a log, members will drop their bag in the cubicles available, remove facemasks, use hand sanitizer and step on the mats for class.

At the end of class, members will be asked to leave the training room immediately upon class being closed. They can head to the main bathroom for changing out of training kit, wash hands and leave the building. Due to the current requirements, we are not allowed to congregate inside the classroom and/or building. For those in the 20:00 class, entry to the building will only be allowed/ encouraged after the ones who attended the 19:00 have left, as to once again, avoid any crowding. The same procedure will apply for getting ready and heading into the classroom. It goes without saying that if anyone experiences any symptoms that they are not well, not only COVID, but any other ailment, they should refrain from coming to the club and let us know immediately.

Once again, these are procedures we agreed upon for testing during our first week or so being back open. We should always reevaluate them and adjust where needed.