Even in the midst of the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic, karate is a sport that can be practiced safely, as its participants and athletes may engage in numerous elements and aspects of training (basics, kata, kumite shadow-type training, kumite drills with bags or dummies, footwork, solo technical drills, physical conditioning…) while still abiding by public health and government restrictions and recommendations regarding limits on social gatherings, physical distancing and hygienic measures.

Karate Canada is therefore pleased to release its “Recommended Protocols for Karate club / dojo owners and directors to reduce risk when returning to Karate training during the COVID-19 pandemic”. The purpose of this document is to provide high-level national recommendations aimed at mitigating risks for the gradual re-opening of clubs / dojos nationwide, in a first phase (for indoor participation and training) of a national Return to Karate strategy (with return to National Team activities and competitions to occur in later stages).

Please note that these recommended protocols do not constitute legal or medical advice. The strategies follow the advice and recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Canada. The guidelines set by Karate Canada do not supersede nor replace any requirements or recommendations from government and public health authorities, and abiding by the latter must always remain the first priority. As our knowledge of the virus is rapidly changing, this document may be updated to ensure that the information provided respects current medical and public health advice.

While these recommendations have also been shared with all of Karate Canada‘s member Provincial / Territorial Karate Associations (PTSOs), each such Association may of course develop, circulate, promote and / or enforce its own set of “return to sport” recommendations. We therefore strongly encourage every karate club / dojo owner and / or director to also seek information about any protocols for return to training coming from their Provincial / Territorial Karate Association prior to developing their own return-to-training plan and before resuming activities.

You may click here to read these Recommended Protocols for Karate club / dojo owners and directors to reduce risk when returning to Karate training during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INFORMATION ABOUT RETURN TO KARATE TRAINING IN YOUR PROVINCE OR TERRITORY:

As mentioned above, Karate Canada strongly recommends that club / dojo owners and directors seek information about any protocols for return to training coming from their Provincial / Territorial Karate Association prior to developing their own return-to-training plan and before resuming activities. Here are some resources already made available through some of our member Provincial & Territorial Associations (Karate Canada will update this section as new information becomes available; we encourage you to review it regularly):

Alberta / Karate Alberta:
COVID-19 Related Information: https://www.karateab.org/covid-19-coronavirus-updates/

British Columbia / Karate BC:

Covid-19 Resource Page

Newfoundland & Labrador / Karate NL:
Return to Play (COVID) Recommendations

For further information, you may also contact Karate NL’s President Mr. Derek J. Ryan, at:
derek.ryan2006@gmail.com

Nova Scotia / Karate Nova Scotia:
Karate NS’ Recommended Protocols for Return to Training may be found in the News section of their website, at:
http://karatens.org/news/

For further information, you may also contact Karate NS’ “Return to Training” Chair Mr. Jeff  Murphy, at: jeff-murphy@live.com

Quebec / Karaté Québec:
Karate Quebec has developed and adopted a Return to Training Protocol since May 15, 2020. This document is made available to affiliated / registered clubs / dojos upon completion of an online Zoom training session.  For more information, please contact Karate Quebec’s Executive Director Mr. Georges Struthers, at:
dg@karatequebec.com

Links to all of our member Provincial / Territorial Associations

Finally, Karate Canada wishes to sincerely thank its fellow national combat sport organizations and its member PTSOs who generously shared information and drafts of their own protocols and guidelines, as well as the members of its COVID-19 Return to Karate Guidelines Working Group for their efforts and expertise in developing Karate Canada’s Recommendations:

-Kyra Lindsay-Ng (Chair, member of KC Medical Committee)
-Kraig Devlin (High Performance Director)
-Nassim Varasteh (Senior Kumite National Team Head Coach)
-Pamala Ross (Kata National Team Lead Coach)
-Denis Beaudoin (Junior Kumite National Team Head Coach)
-Gérard Lauzière (NCCP Committee Chair
-Alexandra Roy (Programs Manager)
-Olivier Pineau (Executive Director)
-C. Gus Kandilas (Medical Committee Chair – advisor to group).

Other Resources:

• COVID-19 Return to High Performance Sport Framework, May 2020 (developed by National Return to Sport Task Force)
• Club Risk Assessment and Mitigation Checklist (tool developed by Rowing Canada, and disseminated by the National Return to Sport Task Force)
• World Karate Federation COVID-19 Guidelines and Recommendations (June 23, 2020)
• World Health Organization website: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
• Health Canada information: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html
• COVID-19 Self Assessment Questionnaire: https://ca.thrive.health/covid19/en