New training location in Longbridge at Bournville College

BWCSK are pleased to announce the opening of a new location for training on Saturdays. Unfortunately since the national Covid-19 lockdown in March we have been unable to run our usual Saturday classes due to circumstances beyond our control and that venue has been unable to reopen as soon as we had hoped it would. Fortunately we have now been able to find a new location in the same area for our students which we hope will be equally as convenient to those who used to train at the previous venue. We would like to introduce the Bournville College dojo, this is located at Bournville College, 1 Longbridge Lane, Longbridge, B31 2AJ with training taking place at 1pm on Saturdays’ in the Sports Hall.

We are still subject to Covid restrictions and so can currently only accommodate up to fifteen (15) juniors on a class and five (5) adults on a separate parallel class which will take place at the same time. The juniors (under 18s) class is now available for booking via the usual booking form but the adult seniors (over 18s) class is not available for bookings and is invitation only at present to ensure that all seniors can get a chance to train on one of these when available. We may review the possibility of bookings for the adult class in the future.

Below is a picture from our first class at the new venue.

Enter the Dojo! BWCSK Weoley Castle Dojo Reopens

We are pleased to announce that training resumed at our Weoley Castle dojo from the 27^th July 2020. It seems like a long time since we had to close our doors due to the rising Covid-19  infections and eventual national lock down. Since then we have continued training online offering eight free classes a week (split between Juniors and Seniors)  to our members via the Zoom application. Those classes finished last Saturday with the reopening of the dojo but we would like to thank all the instructors who gave up their time  and resources and all those who helped make those classes happen over the last three months. We would like to also thank all the students and their family members who trained on those classes or made it possible for others to train.

This week was a soft reopening with Sensei Hession contacting each member individually to inform them of the reopening plans and the new Covid-19 safety rules and restrictions in place and to allow everyone to get used to the new rules. We are pleased to say the reopening went well and that the club is now open again to all. Unfortunately due to the new Covid-19 safety measures we have had to implement a booking system as only a limited number of spaces are available on each lesson in order to mantain social distancing and where possible electronic payment upon the booking of a session to avoid the handling of cash and change which might be a vector for transmission. Please contact Sensei Susan Hession if you wish to book a place on a class, unfortunately if the places are already taken you will not be able to train that day unless someone drops out. Please do not attend if you are feeling unwell, are exhibiting any symptoms of Covid-19 or have come into contact with someone who has symptoms.

We would also encourage students where possible to arrive in their gi and to try and avoid bringing unnecessary items into the dojo. Please bring your own full water bottle so that you will have a drink available during training. Hand sanitiser will be present throughout the building and temperature checks will be performed before entry into the church building is allowed. Unfortunately if you have a temperature you will not be allowed to enter and train. We appreciate that it may not be possible or advisable for everyone to wear their gi to the dojo such as those who take public transport and you will be able to change in a designated location but please try and minimise the items you bring to the dojo as much as is possible. Mitts, gumshields and other protective equipment wont be needed as no sparring, partner or pad training will be taking place.

Students must have a current license to train, please contact Sensei Hession if your license has expired so that it can be renewed.

All classes are £5 per student and class times are as follows:

These classes are split into various rooms with no contact for students between each class or room. Please do not park in the church car park unless you will be staying for the entire night as we need to leave space for students to enter and exit without contact with other groups.

We will provide details of when the Longbridge dojo will be reopening when we have further information but we are currently not expecting to be able to return to Longbridge this month.

Training together whilst apart

Calling all current BWCSK students.  Karate still goes on even whilst we are locked down in our homes, we are still training together whilst apart. If you would like access to free exclusive content and online training sessions please contact us, either directly by phone, email, messaging app or social media.

Unfortunately we can only provide these options for existing students and we are sorry for any inconvenience that may cause.

We would like everyone to stay safe and take care and we look forward to hearing from you.

New class times on Wednesdays

Due to a increase in class size we are adjusting the start times for the Wednesday night class at Longbridge Methodist Church. This is so that we can ensure all students get suitably focused tuition for their grade.

The new times starting this week will be:

• Beginners to Purple & White Belts: 5.30pm – 6.30pm
• Brown and Black Belts: 6.30pm – 8pm / 8.30pm (8pm – 8.30pm subject to students demand on the day).

Christmas 2019 & New Year Closure and Re-opening dates.

There will be a small Christmas Party in the back room of the Weoley Castle dojo on Thursday 19/12/2019. Training will be as usual for those wishing to train in the front room.

The last training session for 2019 will be Saturday 21/12/2019 at the Longbridge dojo.

Late May Bank Holiday Closure

The Weoley Castle dojo will be closed on Monday 27^th May 2019. All other classes are running as normal.