Safeguarding and welfare

At Shiranamikai the safety and wellbeing of every club member is important to us and we conduct regular safeguarding workshops for our senior grades. But it doesn’t stop there. We expect every student, instructor, visitor and family member to be onboard with our safeguarding policy too.

Budo karate

We balance safeguarding alongside the fundamentals of budo that underpin every session. Karate is a martial art that requires a degree of controlled contact during partner work and training is not without risk of injury as one would expect from any physical activity.

Karate always begins with rei, a bow; respect, duty and care towards each other. This is part of the Shotokan dojo code written by Funakoshi Gichin, founder of modern-day karate.

Instructor requirements

As well as being held to the highest technical standards by the JKA, in conjunction with the English Karate Federation, instructors will have undergone enhanced vetting by the Disclosure and Barring Service, and undertaken courses in safeguarding and first aid.

Karate always begins and ends with rei


General guidance

Karate classes are held at schools, leisure facilities and shopping centres which are sometimes open to the general public. If you are bringing young children, your duty of care should remain the same as anywhere else. We recommend they visit the toilet before a session is due to start and that they remain inside the training hall for the duration. If they need to go whilst a lesson is in progress they should raise their hand and inform the instructor before leaving the class.

A parent or guardian should accompany young children.

Family members are welcome to stay and observe our classes as long as they do not cause distraction. Mobile phones should be switched to silent and conversations taken outside the dojo.

Disciplinary

Shiranamikai reserves the right to refuse access to anyone we feel gives rise to a cause for concern and we will, at our discretion, take action against any person who behaves in a manner contradictory to the moral principles of the club or what is generally considered to be appropriate.

If you have a concern

We have listed some useful contact details below. If you are worried about yourself or another club member, it may be appropriate to speak with the club instructor, Austin Biesty or another of the adult senior grades that you trust. If your concern is for a child you believe could be in imminent danger, you should dial 999.

Further reading, information and help

Camden Children and Families Contact Service 020 7974 3317 / 020 7974 4444
Harrow Children Services 020 7974 3317 / 020 8424 0999
Childline 0800 1111
NSPCC 0808 800 5000
Samaritans 0116 123
JKA England
Sport England 0345 8508 508

In an emergency, always dial 999

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