The latest lifting of restrictions indicates that adult judo can recommence from 19 July, although we are still awaiting full guidance from DCMS via British Judo.
With school closing on Friday 23 July, we have decided to hold off restarting adult classes until we make a full return to judo after the summer holidays, in September.
With concern also being expressed about the rapid increases in cases linked to the Delta variant (and a slower but definite rise in hospital admissions) this will give a much clearer idea as to what precautions we may need to make to keep judo as Covid-safe as possible.
We hope to have some exciting news about summer judo for -18s shortly.
Under the Government’s plan to exit coronavirus restrictions, it was envisaged that all restrictions in England would be lifted on 21st June, meaning that adults could return to full contact training from that date. (Currently adults could train indoors, with no contact other than people from their family group. At the moment, we have chosen to work just with under 18s who are allowed full contact).
Each stage of the lifting of restrictions is dependent on:
the vaccine deployment programme continues successfully
evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated
infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS
UK Government assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern
You will be aware of course that a new variant has emerged, which appears to be even more transmissible than the variant that drove huge hospital admissions over the winter months. The latest evidence is that the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccinations continue to offer good protection against the latest variant, but that there is a rise in infection showing amongst the younger age groups who may not have received the vaccination as yet. This will be driven in part by the relaxing of restrictions, as well as the new variant.
So, will adults be able to return to training towards the end of June?
For a definitive answer, we will need to wait for an announcement, probably in week commencing 14th June; but we are cautiously optimistic.
We envisage however that registering attendance via the Club’s QR code and submitting a Covid declaration will remain a requirement for the foreseeable future. It is possible that regional restrictions or increased testing may be applied to manage local outbreaks – we understand extra testing capacity has been created in north Hampshire recently, linked to the latest variant. (Portsmouth City Council yesterday sounded the alarm about an increase in local cases, although it is still a long way short of the figures seen earlier in the year).
In the meantime, please continue to practise Hands – Face – Space
Regrettably, we have been forced to take the decision to close our adult class, with immediate effect.
Lack of attendance from the players we were hoping to build this session around, allied to other players moving away, makes it unfeasible to offer this session at the moment.
To hire a hall and have no or maybe only 1 player turn up, does not make sense financially or for our own motivation
We hope at some point to be able to offer an adult session again. In the meantime, adult sessions can be found at:
Fort Purbrook Judo Club
Priory Judo Club
Meridian Judo Club
Gosport Judo Club
Holbrook Judo Club
Our junior classes are unaffected and continue to thrive as we head into our 25th year.
Please note, there will be no dedicated adult session on Tuesday 18 October. Any adults wishing to train should attend the 7 o’clock session, a split mat will be in operation.
Regrettably, we have been forced to take the decision to close our adult class, with immediate effect.
After a short break, adult judo classes will resume tonight, 8 – 9pm.
Please note, there will be no dedicated adult session on Tuesday 18 October. Any adults wishing to train should attend the 7 o’clock session, a split mat will be in operation.
