Training safely with Camden Kempo
At Camden Shorinji Kempo we are committed to keeping you safe. Our Health and Safety Officer (elected at our January 2023 AGM) oversees all aspects of the club’s safety. This includes conducting risk assessments, sourcing first aid equipment, and making sure all members are aware of our safeguarding protocols.
As we practice full-contact martial arts, it is possible that you will collect some bruises when training with a partner. However, by following our rules and the BSKF Guidelines we can both stay safe and train hard!
The BSKF “Guidelines for Effective Training” remind us:
- Train at your own level
- If you feel tired, overwhelmed, or in pain then please stop! It is always okay to ask the instructor to slow down, or to take some time out.
- Clean Dogi’s
- One way that we show respect when training in person is by making sure we wear clean training clothes.
- Tie up long hair, remove any jewelry and keep your nails short. This prevents you from harming a partner by accidentally scratching them, or getting tangled when we practice grappling!
Online Training
Our Online Classes started because of the first 2020 lockdown and have become a regular part of our training. All online classes start with circuit training and then focus on single-form techniques, getting rid of bodily tension, and the philosophy of Shorinji Kempo.
In-person classes
While Camden Shorinji Kempo is continuing to train safely with two online classes every week. We are all very excited that we have successfully returned to two in-person classes a week at the Camden Dance Academy and our new venue Holborn Hall Community Centre.
We are a proud LGBTQIA+ club and will always strive to welcome everyone through our online and real doors! We will continue in our efforts to get fit and practice self-defense and mindfulness together.
Inclusivity at Camden Kempo
Did you know that – One in five LGBTQIA+ young people (18 to 24) experienced discrimination while exercising at a fitness club or at a sports group? Or that 3 in 10 trans people have been discriminated against while exercising at a fitness club or taking part in group sports (Stonewall)
As part of our pledge to make Shorinji Kempo more inclusive at Camden Shorinji Kempo we:
- always strive to use your preferred gender pronouns
- have gender-neutral toilets available at Camden Dance Academy
- are able to offer hardship discounts that do not require proof
- can organise British Sigh Language translators at no extra cost
- provide wheelchair access via the ground floor of Camden Dance Academy. If you make use of a wheelchair please let us know so we can move our training to be accessible
- And if we do happen to have missed something you need, please email camden@bskf.org
Safeguarding – Children
Camden Shorinji Kempo does not have online safeguarding policies in place for children under the age of 18. This means that we cannot allow children under the age of 18 to attend our classes.