We would like to invite all Junior and Senior members to join us for the next phase of our reopening on Thursday, March 3, 2022.
Time has flown since we initiated the first phase of our reopening last October. The past four months have been instructive to all of us in the adult class as we continue to learn to cope with the ongoing pandemic. The protocols and safety measures that we adopted have proven effective, without being overly cumbersome. We’ve followed the guidance of the medical doctors in our ranks, and kept a close ear to the ground as our situation rapidly changes from month to month.
At the heart of the dojo is our junior class, and as much as our adult members have enjoyed being back at the dojo, we are acutely aware that we have not truly reopened while our kids are still away. The ultimate goal has always been to get the kids back on the mat once we can do so safely and responsibly, and I’m pleased to announce our decision to reopen the dojo for our junior class at 6:30 pm on Thursday, March 3, 2022.
The protocols will be the same as those that we’ve implemented for the adult class:
I. Process and procedure for attending class
A. Vaccination & mask requirements
- COVID-19 vaccine required for ALL (athletes, coaches, spectators/observers, etc.) a. Must be fully vaccinated – at least 14 days after second/last shot
- Masks with minimum 2-layers are required for EVERYONE inside the dojo (including spectators/observers) a. Policy will be revised as Seattle Dojo leadership guidance changes
- Updated/new membership forms/waivers – Make sure address and phone number are legible for contact tracing purposes (only required for members)
- Assumption of Risk/Waiver of Liability/Indemnification Agreement
- COVID-19 Vaccination Self-Attestation
Note that we are no longer requiring members to sign up online to attend class. We are also not currently enforcing a strict cap on the number of members who may practice on a given day, as we have measures in place to accommodate the numbers that we anticipate. This may change if we find it necessary to limit capacity in the future.
Please carefully review and complete the attached documentation, and bring it with you to practice. Since the language of the waivers has changed, we are asking all members to complete a new waiver before resuming activities at the dojo.
After each session, we all pitch in to clean the practice area. Given the logistics of this cleaning operation and the transition to the adult class thereafter, the current plan is for the junior class to run from 6:30 pm to 7:50 pm, and for the adult class to run from 8:10 pm to 9:30 pm. The twenty minutes between classes will be used to clean, change clothes, and prepare to leave or begin the next session. Please come a little early on March 3 to allow time to take care of the necessary paperwork.
Finally, I’d like to mention that although the centerpiece of our renovations over the past couple of years was the new floor that we completed last fall, our work on the dojo has been ongoing. Among other updates, you will find that we have completely sanded the floors to the natural wood beneath, repaired and re-stained all of the wooden paneling in the practice area, and most significantly, we just finished repainting the entire interior of the dojo. Thank you to all of our members who have generously given your time to contribute to this extensive project, and most of all to Sensei Pepper and Sensei David for leading the way at each stage.
I can’t wait to see you all again on March 3.
Warmly,
Brian