Safe Practice Policy

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.  

1. Warm-ups 

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. All classes also include a  cooldown. 

2. Lessons 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. 

Safe practice should include, but is not limited to: 

(a) Checking the matted area for suitability, particularly where the mats have been joined. 

(b) Checking that there are no hard surfaces or sharp/hard objects around the matted area. 

(c) Coaches are experienced instructors who will ensure that children* are not taught to use locks, throws, or strangles in anyway will cause injury. 

3. Lessons involving strikes, punches, and kicks 

(a) 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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i. Head contact is allowed but discouraged in sparring only with the use of club approved protective equipment and only controlled, light contact, no follow through. 

ii. Sparring risking head contact will only be conducted by experienced practitioners above the rank of green belt. 

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iii. Opponents should be matched according to appropriate height or weight of the participants 

iv. Sparring to be conducted on matted areas. 

v. If head injury occurs the participant should stop immediately and be treated as per our concussion policy. 

vi. All supervising coaches are to have completed BMABA approved first aid and concussion training 

(b) Avoiding excessive stretching and exercises such as press-ups on the knuckles or hitting heavy bags; the joints of children are still developing and can be damaged by these exercises. 

4. Classes involving weapons 

No live blades (sharp or otherwise) in the training hall when children are  present 

(a) Safe protocols for the use of training weapons by children (head guards) (b) Always close and good supervision by Instructors 

In all Martial Arts classes and activities McKinstry Family Karate will only use a suitably  qualified and experienced instructor who will ensure that children* 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.  

All our instructors have appropriate First Aid training for martial arts. 

(*also includes Adults at Risk) 

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Version 

V1.0/15052019 V1.0/15052019 V1.0/15052019 V1.0/15052019 V2.0/15052019 

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Change Description 

Review Date 

Published

First Issue 

08/05/2019 

Yes

None review only 

15/10/2020 

Yes

None review only 

10/10/2021 

Yes

None review only 

08/11/2022 

Yes

Section 3 guidance on risk of head  contact during sparring amended

12/10/2023 

Yes

Section 3 para vi added All  

supervising coaches are to have  completed BMABA approved first  aid and concussion training 

10/12/20204 

Yes