Can a global pandemic stop us from progressing in our Kendo journey, halting the identification and representation of the skill of our talented beginner cohort? NO WAY! Read on as we participated in our very own COVID safe internal grading.
Given the very really risk of the Coronavirus, our parent body NSWKA, who would have ordinarily organised and run grading, asked each club to hold their own internal grading this year to limit the probability of cross club mingling. As such, it was our job to host a safe but strict and challenging grading for our beginners.
Inside vision of the medical, Shinai and Bogu Screenings/ checks. All staff who were unable to maintain social distancing while conducting their duties wore masks.
(We would like to take this time to remind everyone to play their part and wear a mask, treat every surface as if it is raw chicken {I.e. DON’T TOUCH IT}, sanitise their hands and to get tested if presenting any symptoms)
With great help from our head coach, Takayama Sensei, the executive team was able to hold an internal grading successfully for everyone. If everyone could join me in holding a massive thank you for Takayama Sensei in all the planning and assistance that he worked in doing, we as an executive team would be most grateful as we cannot express how much Sensei worked towards the smooth progression of this day.
All the hard planning and work that was required to ensure social distancing and a smooth training was met. Thank you to Takayama Sensei for organising this event!
After all the planning, the day went smoothly, and we had our first successful USYD Kendo Grading. All COVID number restrictions were met and abided by and number limits were successfully met as required by our parent body SUSF.
Everyone looking good during their socially distant and COVID safe grading.
I might add and conclude with a funny story about number limits. Of absolute highest of priorities for this day was to ensure that we as a club adhered to COVID regulations in place. The biggest of these regulations to adhere to was number limits. In the hall where the grading was to take place, no more than 40 individuals, to allow for successful and effective social distancing. How many people were there on the day? Well, let’s just say someone had to wait outside for an hour while everyone else was grading. I can neither confirm nor deny that this was me. And that is the conclusion of story time with Joe. Until next time everyone, stay safe and train hard!