All students, members, coaches, parents and friends of LSK Martial Arts and Fitness must abide by our Safe Practice Policy as laid out below. If you do not understand or have any questions regarding any part of this code, please get in touch with our welfare officer.

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ALWAYS ENSURE SAFE PRACTICE IN MARTIAL ARTS

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Martial Arts are activities where safe practice is essential to help prevent injury. Children* are particularly vulnerable as they are still developing mentally and physically, so training methods need to be modified as described below. (*also includes Adults at Risk)

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WARMING UP

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All activities should first include a thorough warm up which is appropriate for the activity taking place. To help reduce the risk of injury, specific attention should be paid to those muscle groups that will be used during later activity.

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Safe practice should include but is not limited to:

• Beginning all classes with a thorough warm up to raise body temperature & heart rate steadily

• Engaging in specific dynamic and static stretches to targeted areas

• Ensuring all participants are physically and mentally prepared for the lesson

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GRAPPLING

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Exercises involving throwing, grappling and strangling

The risks include but are not limited to: falling on unsuitable surfaces; landing on the head; damage to the joints from locks; strangulation.

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         Safe practice should include, but is not limited to:

• Checking the matted area for suitability, particularly where the mats have been joined

• Checking that there are no hard surfaces or sharp/hard objects around the matted area

• Having an experienced instructor who will ensure that children are not taught to use locks, throws or strangles which will cause injury.

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STRIKING

 

Exercises involving strikes, punches and kicks

The risks include but are not limited to: concussion (brain injury) from heavy blows to the head; damage to internal organs and joints from heavy blows; injury from inappropriate stretching and other exercises.

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Safe practice should include but is not limited to:

• Ensuring close supervision of all participants during exercises and sparring

• Allowing no head contact without suitable protective equipment

• Adhering to strict Light Contact rules and regulations in sparring and competition

• Matching training partners of similar size and weight where possible

• Ensuring all participants are using the correct approved protective equipment

• Making sure all contact exercises and sparring is controlled and safe

• Allowing only Orange belts and above to take part in sparring, supervised at all times

• Ensuring a senior member of the organisation is present when contact exercises take place

• Checking the training area for trip and slip hazards

• Checking the floor is suitable for exercise, sparring or competition

• Following the correct procedure when any injury occurs

• Attending professional competition with appropriate medical supervision only

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EXERCISES

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Exercises including excessive stretching, press-ups on the knuckles or hitting heavy bags; the joints of children are still developing and can be damaged by these exercises.

The risks include but are not limited to: muscular injury, minor injuries, damage to knuckles such as cuts, bruises, lacerations.

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Safe practice should include but is not limited to:

• Ensuring close supervision of all participants during exercises

• Passing on correct techniques and relevant information to keep students informed of risks

• Restricting excessive stretching to age 16+

• Restricting heavy exercises to age 16+

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OVERVIEW

 

Above all, safe practice means having a suitably qualified and experienced instructor at all times who will ensure that members are not exposed to the above risks and who can make a training session enjoyable whilst maintaining the discipline essential to learning a Martial Art.

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HOW DO I JOIN?

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View our class timetable here or book online.