Safeguarding in Martial Arts: Safe Practice

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)

1. Warm Ups

All activities should first include a thorough warm up, and head to toe stretching and gradual cardiovascular activity. To help reduce injury, specific attention should be paid to those muscle groups that will be used during later activity.

2. Martial Arts involving throwing, grappling and strangling

DOING THE THROWS, TAKEDOWNS & SWEEPS INVOLVED IN THE CANTON MARTIAL ARTS KARATE/KICKBOXING/MUAY THAI SYLLABUS.

The risks include: falling on unsuitable surfaces: landing on the head: damage to the joints from locks: strangulation.

         Safe practice must include:

1. Checking the matted area for suitability, particularly where the mats have been joined.
2. Checking that there are no hard surfaces or sharp/hard objects around the matted area.
3. Having an experience instructor who will ensure that children are not taught to use locks, throws or strangles which will injure their training partner.

3. Martial Arts involving strikes, punches and kicks

SPARRING DURING THE KARATE/KICKBOXING/MUAY THAI CLASSES WITHIN THE CANTON MARTIAL ARTS SYLLABUS

The risks are: 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.

         Safe practice must include:

1.            Light contact only, especially to the head. (Light contact means the technique is targeted but controlled so that whilst the opponent is touched the technique is not followed through). Expert advice from a neurosurgeon is that the use of helmets, mitts or foot pads does not eliminate the risk of brain injury from full contact strikes.
2. 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 exercise
3. EQUIPMENT FOR SPARRING - Karate Mitts, shin/instep pads, gum shields are recommended and compulsory for all students sparring. Male & Female Groind guards along with female chest protectors are highly recommended for normal and competition sparring.  Within Kickboxing/Muay Thai, 12 oz Boxing Gloves must be used as a minimum, we also promote the use of head guard.
4. AGE OF PEOPLE SPARRING - All people within our classes will only spar people similar ages groups.  Even within competition, this is broken down into specific age groups even further.
5. HEIGHT & WEIGHT - Durning classes and at competition, as we have non to light contact these are not considered necessary. But with full contact bouts, then weight is taken into consideration when matching opponents. 
6. MIXED GENDER SPARRING - During normal classes people can spar, as its non to light contact with whomever they wish.  In competitions we split with gender relevant divisions. 
7. SUPERVISION WHEN SPARRING - All sparring sessions will have a minimum of one qualified instructor watching and monitoring each session.  In many cases we often have up to 3-4 coaches watching also.

4. Martial Arts involving weapons

         Some examples are Kendo, Kobudo, Laido and Freestyle Forms Karate

WE DO NOT HOLD ANY WEAPONS CLASSES WITHIN THE CANTON MARTIAL ARTS SYLLABUS, BUT WOULD FOLLOW THESE PRACTICES AS AN EXAMPLE IF WE DID.

         Safe practice must include:

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

          present

2. Safe protocols for the use of training weapons by children
3. Good supervision at all times by Instructors

Above all, safe practice means having 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 CANTON MARTIAL ARTS INSTRUCTORS ARE QUALIFIED, INSURED, DBS & FIRST AID RECOGNISED.

Within all location’s throughout Canton Martial Arts, care and safeguarding is paramount.  The duty of care and instruction is constantly monitored and adhered to by all our instructing/staff team.

Kigen Richard Canton

Founder / Chief Instructor – Canton Martial Arts