1. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Academy for Karate Goju-Ryu is an organization teaching karate, a Japanese based Martial Arts for the purpose of self defence to children and adults of both sexes including those individuals with disabilities. The Academy aims to promote good health as part of the learning process by encouraging exercise and self discipline in a safe environment. Competitions are encouraged to promote self confidence and a sense of achievement. Sport karate also encourages good health.

1.1 CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER

The appointed Club Welfare Officer for the Academy (CWO) is Mr. Bruno Gabriel. Mr. Gabriel has worked with young people since 2011, he is a qualifies FA coach. The role of the CWO is to ensure safety of the students and to report any serious incidence to the Child Protection Team, Social Services, Police, or any other relevant authorities.

The CWO can make recommendations about safety to the Academy and can take necessary steps to ensure safety for both students and Instructors. The CWO is responsible to ensure that all Instructors, and any adult working with children, have criminal record checks by providing Disclosure Barring Service certificates. Mr. Gabriel can be contacted by phone 07957 875 908 or by email to info@academyforkarate.org.uk.

2. SEX DISCRIMINATION

The Academy encourages boys and girls to participate in activities equally without preference. Self defence classes are aimed at both sexes and emphasis is applied to the attacker not gender. All students are treated with respect and dignity.

3. BULLYING

The Academy will not tolerate bullying by students or Instructors. It is the principle of the discipline in martial arts that all individuals are treated with respect. Any individual found to be bullying within the Academy will face disciplinary action. (see section 8 )

4. ACCESS TO DOJO

Parents have full access to the teaching area at all times. Parents are encouraged to participate in all aspects of the Academy except during grading when access is limited to the Academy instructors and the Club Welfare Officer. Parents can wait outside while proceedings go through, but have access to children and are allowed in in case of emergency.

5. PHOTOGRAPHY

The Academy has a policy of no photography during karate practicem, unless permission has been granted. Photography by members of the public is strictly forbidden. Any person found to be taking photographs will be asked to leave the venue and reported to the Club Welfare Officer who will take the appropriate action and all breaches will be reported to the police. Permission for photography is only limited to parents/relatives and members of the Academy (with the exception of Academy Competition). Parents have the option to raise objection to anyone taking photographs of their children. The Academy Application form has a photography disclosure statement. Parents who object to photographs being taken of their children have the opportunity of opting out. The Academy keeps an album of karate photographs of events. This album is open to inspection by any parent or student. Parents have the right to withdraw any photographs of their children from the album. Similar files are held in the Academy computer. Photographs of students will only be published on the Academy website with prior permission from all parents.

6. DISCLOSURE AND BARRING SERVICE (DBS)

The Diclosure and Barring Service (DBS formely known as CRB) has recently made a new version of the checking service available to employers and voluntary bodies. The AKG requires checks for all instructors and others having contact with children in the Academy. There are three types of check;

Basic disclosure
Available for any member of the public to apply for directly. It shows all “non-spent” convictions, and is sent directly to the individual applying.

Standard disclosure
Needs to be dealt with by an Approved Body. Shows all convictions “on record”, cautions, reprimands and warnings plus information contained on Government lists of people considered unsuitable to work with children.

Enhanced disclosure
Needs to be dealt with by an Approved body. As Standard disclosure, but also containing police comments that will not be available to the individual. These could be details of impending arrest or child protection conference information.

Each individual must give consent before a disclosure can be requested. They will also receive copies of the Standard and Enhanced Disclosures so that there is an opportunity to challenge any details within them. Government guidelines suggest that the Enhanced Disclosure is appropriate for Martial Arts Instructors.

All instructors should obtain a CRB check every 2 years.

7. SAFETY

The Academy endeavors to promote safety according to the Children Act 2004. The Academy practices semi-contact during sparring and punching to the face is not allowed. Sparring without protection is strictly forbidden.

 The following protection equipment is compulsory:

• GLOVES
• CHEST PROTECTORS (females)
• GROIN PROTECTORS

The following equipment is recommended:

• HEADGUARDS
• GUM SHIELDS
• SHIN/INSTEP/FOOT PROTECTORS

The Academy supplies head guards at a cost and students are advised to wear head protection where necessary. Head guards are not compulsory. Full contact striking is not allowed. Students who use full contact will be subject to disciplinary. (see section 10). Games are used as team building exercise and safety is paramount during these sessions.

8. INCIDENT / ACCIDENT REPORT

Every incident or accident will be reported in the appropriate form and filed for future reference. All parents/students will have access to these files on request. Every reported incident must be reported to the Club Welfare Officer

9. DISCIPLINARY

Minor breaches of conduct will be dealt with during training sessions. These will take place in form of a verbal warning and exclusion from the session for a period of time to allow the student to reflect on their behavior. A second breach of conduct during the same session will result in exclusion from the rest of the session. Examples of minor breaches of conduct;

• TALKING / PLAYING WHILE INSTRUCTOR IS TEACHING
• EVADING EXERCISE
• LEAVING THE DOJO WITHOUT PERMISSION
• REFUSING TO TAKE PART IN TECHNIQUES

Serious breaches of conduct will result in a verbal warning to student and parent. The student can be degraded by removing the belt for a set period of 4 weeks. Further breaches will result in a written warning to the parent and can lead to exclusion from the Academy for certain period of time at discretion of the Chief Instructor.

The Chief Instructor reserves the right to totally exclude any student/instructor from the Academy and AKG membership without verbal warning.

Examples of serious breach of conduct;

• REFUSING TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTION FROM SENSEI
• BULLYING
• SWEARING
• FIGHTING
• STEALING
• USING FULL CONTACT DURING SPARRING

Instructors have powers to exclude any student for a set period. Only the Chief Instructor has the power to totally exclude students from the Academy and AKG membership permanently.

10. COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE

If any student or parent is not happy with the service provided by the Academy, or is not pleased with any treatment they may have received from the instructors the first step is to;
1 - Speak to the instructor concerned who will be happy to resolve the issue.
2 - If you do not feel comfortable talking to the instructor, you may go directly to any board member who will treat the matter seriously and in accordance with the Law.