Safeguarding in Karate

Sentenashi Karate Association

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SAFE PRACTICE POLICY

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SECTION 1 - ADMINISTRATION AND RECORD KEEPING

 

Instructors should be capable of instigating and maintaining an effective administration and record keeping system. The Instructor may delegate record keeping to a member of their club, for example the club secretary, but ultimately it is the responsibility of the Instructor to ensure that the records are kept in a proper and accurate manner. They should be kept safely and securely, and their contents not divulged without consent, and should be disposed of in a responsible manner.

 

The following records should be kept:

 

A register of class attendances

 

This is essential to prove that training requirements are being met, especially with regard to grading. These records can also assure parents that their children are regularly attending classes.

 

Results of gradings

 

These are necessary as validation in the case of lost record books, or where a student changes dojo.

 

Contact number for students

 

These are important in case of emergencies, especially with children, and should be maintained and, most importantly, be on hand at all training sessions.

 

Notes of any special requirements of those with special needs

 

This could relate to special medication or procedure, and again should be on hand at all training sessions.

 

Injuries and accidents

 

Details of any injuries should be kept in the club accident book and also any injuries your students may incur in competition. With something as potentially dangerous as head injuries, you should obtain medical clearance before you allow that student to train again and subsequently free-spar.

 

All Instructors are covered by the SKA professional indemnity, which provides cover should action be taken against them as the person in charge for example when an accident occurs.

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SECTION 2 - SAFE TRAINING ENVIRONMENT

 

Instructors must ensure the Health and Safety of students by providing, as far as is reasonable, a safe practicing environment. The following key areas should be checked.

 

Floor Surface

 

All floor surfaces must be clean and devoid of all sharp objects, for example broken glass and splinters, and be free from hazards, such as loose boards or major holes or cracks. The surface should have sufficient grip to maintain stability yet allow twisting.

 

Lighting

 

Lighting must be adequate for safe vision. Artificial lighting should be well positioned to avoid glare and direct shine. Curtains or blinds should be used to prevent glare from the sun.

 

Heating

 

An Instructor must use common sense regarding a suitable temperature in which to conduct a lesson, as a guide, this is comfortable room temperature (around 18c).

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Ventilation

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Again, the Instructor must use common sense. Fresh air is necessary for strenuous exercise, and there should be provision for opening of windows, doors or operation of extractor fans.

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Surrounding Area

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Pillars, low beams and radiators should be well padded to avoid impact injuries. Wall fixings such as fire extinguishers, pictures, clocks and notice boards should be properly and securely mounted. Unsecured objects, such as stacked chairs or items on shelves must be checked for stability.

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Spatial Considerations

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There must be adequate amount of space for the numbers attending and the nature of the lesson. If the room is too full, collision injuries could occur, and it will also be more difficult for the Instructor to monitor the class and for students to clearly see the Instructor. Good discipline is important to maintain safe spacing of students.

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Changing Facilities

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Instructors who own or privately rent facilities are responsible for providing clean, tidy and well stocked changing rooms and toilets, washing facilities and drinking water. If a club trains in a sports centre and facilities are not adequate, the Instructor should lobby facility management for improvements.

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Emergency Exits

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Fire escapes should be clearly marked and known and kept free from obstruction. A central assembly point should be known and detailed.

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Equipment

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Any equipment used should be in safe working order and only used by appropriate groups. Members should be encouraged to use recommended protective equipment, for example, gum shields and groin guards. Students who need glasses should wear 'Sports-safe' type, and not be allowed to spar without these or suitable contact lenses.

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SECTION 3 - THE BODY IN ACTION

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Instructors have a responsibility to be aware of current good practice, particularly in the area of something like safe exercises. Good health and fitness are often high on the list of reasons for belonging to a Karate club, and students often seek advice from the Instructor with regard to their general health or with regard to supplementary exercises to help them with their karate fitness, and they should have a general understanding of the fundamentals of body maintenance and development. 

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It is advised that your classes encompass the following sections and in the following order:

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Warm-up. This means raising the heart rate with light aerobic-type exercise, such as jogging. This raises the body temperature and increases the blood supply to muscles, allowing safer stretching with less risk of injury.

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Stretching. This should be progressive and involve all the major muscle groups. The instructor should not demonstrate ballistic (bouncing, jerking) movements in the early phase of stretching. Joints should be exercised in their natural alignment. Movements that stretch ligaments and weaken joints, such as knee twists or hyper-extension, should be avoided. However, more demanding stretching exercises can be performed by fitter and stronger Karateka, who have built up strong muscle protection around their joints.

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Karate Training. The warm-up and stretch should have prepared the body for the dynamic and ballistic nature of Karate movements; The Instructor needs to teach techniques in a manner will not inflict injury to the performer, either in the short or long term, which requires an understanding of the physiology Involved. Damage could result from 'bouncing' off a joint, or by creating excessive momentum against a natural joint alignment, for example by not pivoting the supporting foot during certain kicks.

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Warm-down. A correct warm-down may help prevent much of the soreness and stiffness associated with hard exercise, with obvious physiological and psychological benefits.

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SECTION 4 - GENERAL. TEACHING SKILLS 

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An Instructor should be able to: 

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1. plan a lesson 

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Instructors may plan a lesson in writing or by rehearsing specific techniques or sequences, but often they will 'plan on their feet', when the composition (age, ability, grade span), and mood and size of the class become clear.

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Another common practice is for an Instructor to begin a class with a 'tester', which allows the mood and standard of the class to be assessed, and then evolve the lesson accordingly.

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Planning also covers such aspects as ensuring that the dojo (training hall) is booked, open on time, and fit for use (e.g. clean, tidy and safe).

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2. conduct a training session

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The transmission of knowledge and skill will greatly depend on the learning environment and the communication abilities of the Instructor. The learning environment, as well as being safe, should be free from all distractions. Some distractions are unforeseen but instilling disciplined behaviour in the students will minimise distractions from within the class. In order to communicate skills to the students, the Instructor must be able to provide a clear demonstration of what is required and ensure that all students can see and hear clearly. This requires sensible positioning of students in relation to the Instructor, and the giving of precise and clearly spoken instructions. 

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It is particularly important when teaching those with special needs, that the Instructor takes responsibility for good communication.

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3. evaluate the effectiveness of their own teaching and the progress of their students.

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Student feed-back is a good indicator of the effectiveness of a class and can be obtained by observing both the performance and the enthusiasm of the students. Regular grading examinations allow the Instructor to evaluate the progress of a student and the overall progress of the class at these gradings provide a good indication of the effectiveness of the Instructor - many students making a similar mistake could indicate a teaching fault. Competition results can provide an Indication of the effectiveness of instruction, especially when related to the progress of individual students.

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4. provide motivation

 

People join a structured class to learn, but also to be motivated, and a good Instructor will know how best to provide motivation and encouragement. Achievements should be noted and rewarded.  

 

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SECTION 5 - KARATE SPECIFIC TEACHING SKILLS

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Instructors will need to be able to demonstrate Karate knowledge and skill to a range of students from novice to Black Belt

 

Instructors must be at least 1st Dan. In order to gain a Black Belt, it was necessary for a student to demonstrate a technical knowledge and skill to a level laid down in the grading syllabus, of the three fundamental components of Karate, which are Kihon (basic techniques), Kata (set formal exercises) and Kumite (sparring). It therefore follows that SKA Instructors will have at least the level of knowledge and skill required to take a novice through to 1st Dan.

 

Assistant Instructors who are 1st Dan but under18 years of age will also possess this knowledge. 

 

Assistant Instructors who are 3rd - 1st Kyu will possess knowledge up to that level.

 

Although generally there is little need for equipment in Karate training, there are items of equipment used to develop certain aspects of Karate skill, for example makiwara, punch bags and focus pads, and it is helpful if the Instructor understands their correct use for safe and effective development.  

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SECTION 6 - TEACHING CHILDREN

 

The law defines a child as a person under the age of 18.

 

Instructors need to understand the added responsibilities of teaching children and the also basic principles of growth and development through childhood to adolescence. Exercises should be appropriate to age and build. Instructors should not simply treat children as small adults, with small adult bodies.

 

The minimum age for SKA registration is 5 years to comply with insurance regulations.

 

Though the build and maturity of individual children varies greatly, the nature of the class can be tailored to consider these factors.

 

It will be observed that some children have difficulty in concentrating, and Karate training has been shown to improve their ability to concentrate, and that this is beneficial to the children in other aspects of their life, such as education.

 

Children should not do assisted stretching - they generally don't need to, and there is a real risk of damage with an inconsiderate or over-enthusiastic partner.

 

Children should be generally matched for size and weight for sparring practice wherever possible.

 

Great care must be taken, especially where children train in the proximity of adults, to avoid collision injury.

 

Children should not do certain conditioning exercises especially those which are heavy load bearing, for example weight training or knuckle push-ups.

 

Children should not do any heavy bag or heavy impact work but should concentrate on the development of speed, mobility, skill and general fitness.

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SECTION 7 - TEACHING THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

 

The term 'special needs' encompasses many conditions. A class may contain students with physical handicaps, minor or severe, or students who experience learning difficulties. A good instructor will be aware in these circumstances of the need to adjust their actions and instructions accordingly.

 

When teaching those with special needs, it must be accepted that the learning process may be slower, and smaller classes may be required with possibly one to one tuition.

 

Disabled persons should be treated the same as able-bodied persons, except where their condition demands special consideration.

 

The instructor needs to identify that someone has special needs. Some problems are visible and obvious, and others may be identified from the membership application, but the Instructor should be aware of the following conditions that make learning more difficult.

 

 Poor hearing or sight

 Poor co-ordination and balance

 Poor spatial concept or perception

 Slow reaction times

 

It is important that all instructors and students who come into contact with those with special needs are made aware of any such conditions, especially those conditions that are not visible and obvious.

 

There may be a need to enhance particular communication skills, for example when teaching those with hearing difficulties it will be particularly important to face the class and rely more on gestures.

 

Those with special needs should be encouraged by the Instructor to make others aware of their circumstances.

 

Some students may need special medication, for which they should be allowed easy access. Wheelchair Karateka will appropriate access and more space to manoeuvre and it will be generally more practical for them to train in special classes...  

 

 

SECTION 8 - EMERGENCIES AND FIRST AID

 

In the event of an emergency or accident, an Instructor will often be the one best suited and expected to take charge. Instructors need to demonstrate knowledge of emergency procedures and be able to administer appropriate First Aid.

 

Instructors should be aware of fire exits and evacuation procedures and be able to account for all students. For this reason, students must sign in before each class it possible.

 

The following points need to be considered when dealing with emergencies:

 

 Keep calm, take charge of the situation, make the area safe, organise immediate help.

 Deal promptly with any potentially life-threatening situation.

 Give reassurance to any injured party.

 Be aware that people may be affected by shock.

 Hospital treatment may be required, and no drugs, food or drinks should be given.

 

Accident prevention is always the priority, but should an accident happen, the instructor should be able to care for any injured person without causing further complications and know if it is necessary to call an ambulance or send that person to hospital. The Instructor should always have at hand the location of the nearest casualty hospital and have a working mobile phone to hand. 

 

The Instructor should be versed in what is commonly known as 'Emergency Aid' procedure, and could deal with life-threatening situations - for example choking, cardiac arrest CPR),

 

Contact numbers of students and relevant facilities must be kept on hand in case of emergency. The keeping of a club accident and Incident book is recommended.

 

All clubs should have a well-stocked First Aid box, regularly replenished. If the facility the club trains in does not have a First Aid box, the Instructor should provide a portable one.

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