Objectives and Dojo Kun
Dojo Kun:
Integrity
Perseverance
Compassion
The key objectives of the Club are:
Providing instruction in a safe environment in the martial arts.
Promotion of good health and vitality.
Development of positive self-esteem and self-confidence.
Development of a person as a positive role model in the community.
Developing healthy community attitudes and values.
Developing the mental and physical tools for improving personal safety and security.
Facilitate the preparation of students for competition, where appropriate.
All persons participating in an activity conducted by Club must agree to be bound by this Code of Conduct. The Club reserves the right to make amendments or additions to this Code of Conduct at any time.
Statement of Participant Understanding
Activities undertaken by the Club include contact martial arts, meaning they involve physical contact within the parameters of specific disciplines. This may involve contact with one or more other practitioners in accordance with the need for corrective feedback, the rules of competitive practice or in ways designed to simulate self-defence options available to a practitioner. As in any other physically demanding recreational activity, there is always a risk of injury. Any person participating in an activity conducted by the Club does so with the full understanding that whilst it is the policy of the Club to minimise this risk, the nature of contact physical activity prevents its total elimination. Persons participating in an activity organised by the Club do so of their own volition and at their own risk.
Instructor Qualifications
All unsupervised instructors are bound by conditions of the Club’s Instructors Code of Ethics and must:
Have either a current teaching/coaching qualifications such as that through the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (NCAS) (or equivalent) and/or teaching authority authorised by their peak National/International association. Those without said qualification must take all reasonable steps to do so as quickly as possible.
Have current WorkCover approved Senior First Aid (or equivalent) certification.
Possess a current ‘Working with Children’ Blue Card issued by the Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian.
Have in place appropriate public liability and professional indemnity insurance where they are not covered under the Club’s insurance provisions.
Safety
Maintaining a tidy and clean training space is everyone’s responsibility. All participants are expected to contribute to the physical preparation of the training environment and to assist with proper packing away of any items that have been used. This includes assisting other classes with their set up and pack up if you are not currently actively engaged in your own class.
Instructors will ensure that the training area is clear of any dangerous and/or sharp objects that may provide a risk of injury.
Instructors will have access at all times to a fully equipped first aid kit. The kit will be of the minimum standard of a St John’s Industrial First Aid Kit or equivalent.
As noted in the Training Code of Conduct, jewellery, watches and other ornaments, which may cause injury, must be removed prior to training session.
All persons participating in training agree to maintain self-control at all times and maintain all care in the application of any technique.
Any person who, while training, exhibits behaviour that, in the opinion of the Instructor, may cause a danger to other participants, shall not be allowed to continue training until the Instructor determines the person may return to training.
Training Area Etiquette
Persons will observe the specific etiquette appropriate to their discipline at all times while in the dojo.
Shoes must be taken off before walking onto training mats unless the shoes are special martial arts footwear approved by the Instructor (see “Clothing” below).
Persons must be punctual, preferably early, so that they are ready to train when class commences. If arriving late, a person must wait at the side of the Training Area until the Instructor indicates that a person may join the class.
Persons must not chew gum whilst training.
Food and/or drink (including water) must not be consumed whilst on the training mats.
Mobile phones must be turned off during training. Mobile phones inadvertently left on during training may not be answered and should be immediately turned off. Any person who is “on-call” for work or another legitimate reason may seek approval from the Instructor prior to the commencement of class to leave his or her mobile phone on.
Visitors, non-members or other persons present in the training venue, will be subject to the directions of the Instructor, authorised Club or venue officials.
Uniforms & Training Gear
All Persons who train must wear clothing comfortable and appropriate to the activity that they are engaged in. If a person comes inappropriately attired, the Instructor at their discretion can ask that Person to refrain from training in that session.
Members who continue to train with the Club are expected to obtain appropriate training gear.
Each discipline has different requirements for student and instructor uniforms. The table included below provides a breakdown of these requirements.
Training in most disciplines is done in bare feet. Students must ensure their feet are clean before entering the dojo. Special martial arts training footwear such as jikitabi may only be worn if approved by the instructor prior to training.
In addition to the general uniform requirements, persons must bring foot ware that can be easily put on or removed, a towel and filled water bottle to each training session
All clothing worn while training must be free from any design, logos or markings that might reasonably be considered offensive or intimidatory.
Participants must be clothed appropriately so as to ensure appropriate decorum and reduce the potential discomfort of other participants. In the interests of discretion, clothing must be appropriately sized to reduce the rate of dishevelment, and female students shall wear a t-shirt or sports-top underneath their uniform.
Sparring/randori
Persons participating in sparring activity must purchase and wear an approved mouth guard and bring this mouth guard to every training session.
In addition to their personal mouth guards, persons participating in sparring must wear full protective clothing as appropriate, either their own or as supplied by the Club. This may include body guards, head guards and groin guards, as appropriate to the specific discipline.
Weaponry
Persons participating in any training with replica weapons must purchase and provide said replica weapons as deemed appropriate by the Instructor. These must be brought to and taken from each relevant class. A list of weaponry by discipline is provided in the associated equipment table.
No weapons with live (sharp) edges will be brought to class by students unless by prior arrangement with a senior instructor.
All equipment must be regularly inspected and maintained in good order and repair.
Training Session Restrictions
Persons will initially be required to practice more basic forms of training, until such time as their skill level and familiarity warrants involvement in more advanced training sessions.
A person’s participation in training sessions will depend upon the Instructors assessment of their competence. Beginner students may be asked to practice only part of an advanced technique, or, at times, to sit-aside and watch more advanced techniques, until such time as the Instructor determines their competence warrants their involvement in the full activity.
Students should not undertake any techniques unless authorised by the Instructor.
Sickness or Injury
Persons must not train if they are suffering from a transmissible infection that may be passed on to other persons. Exercise caution before returning to training to ensure that you will not increase your recovery time or inadvertently spread illness.
Persons must advise the Instructor if suffering from any injury or medical condition, either permanent or temporary, which may be adversely affected by certain types of training. Some examples of this may include (but are not limited to) blood pressure problems and cardiac disorders, neck and back injuries, diabetes and asthma.
While instructors take all care, ultimate responsibility for sickness and injury rests with the affected individual.
If requested by the Instructor, persons with the above or like conditions must show this Code of Conduct to their physician and secure a medical certificate clearly stating that the person is able to participate in classes conducted by the Club and whether there are any restrictions or conditions applicable.
Other Health Issues
Persons must not attend training under the influence of substances that may affect their alertness, judgement and/or reaction time including prescribed medications, alcohol and illegal drugs.
Smoking is not allowed in the Training Area.
Proper attention must be given to personal hygiene and clean grooming. Students in breach of this will not be permitted to train.
Persons with a cut or bleeding injury must cease training immediately and receive appropriate first aid. An injured person will not be allowed to re-join the training session until the instructor has deemed that the bleed has been attended to.
Persons administering first aid to a person suffering a cut or bleeding injury must wear protective gloves.
Interpersonal Ethics
Persons must always be courteous and helpful to each other.
Physical contact between persons who are training must be appropriate to the situation and necessary for the skill development of those persons.
Sexual harassment, defined as being where a person is subjected to unwanted or uninvited sexual behaviour, will not be tolerated.
Any form of harmful discrimination based on age, sex, ethnic origin, language, belief, gender preference or other form of unnecessary differentiation will not be tolerated.
Notwithstanding any specific Club bylaws, all members of the Club are covered by and subject to the relevant USQ policies regarding Student and Staff conduct.
Grading Conditions
Opportunity to grade will be provided in accordance to the relevant State National and/or international grading frameworks. These prescribe minimum time between grading attempts and the competencies required.
In assessing a person’s readiness to grade, the Instructor takes into consideration such factors as consistency of attendance, attitude, focus and attention during training sessions, as much as a person’s knowledge of the appropriate syllabus to the point he or she wishes to grade.
To attempt grading in a particular discipline, a person must be a current financial member of the Club, paid their discipline specific contributions and/or be a current member of the relevant State/National body.
Powers of the Club
The powers of the Club and its members are set out under the Club’s Constitution, Codes of Conduct and By-Laws.
Membership of the Club requires a person to agree to be bound by the various Codes of Conduct.
The Club reserves the right to revoke the membership of any person who breaches any of the Codes of Conduct.
The Club reserves the right to extend or revoke a membership at any time without explanation and remove from the premises any member or person invited by him/ her who may be involved in unacceptable or inappropriate behaviour. No refund will be given to any Members or guests who are removed.