East Coast Collegiate Karate Union of the ISKF

JD Swanson, Ph.D.
Director, National Collegiate Karate Association
Director, East Coast Collegiate Karate Union

15 September, 2020

re. Guidance for ISKF Collegiate Cubs in a COVID Environment

Dear Collegiate Club Instructor,

On behalf of the National Collegiate Karate Association (NCKA), and East Coast Colligate Karate Union - Welcome to a new college year! While September is always an exciting time full of opportunity for college students with the promise of new beginnings, this year will be different. As we all know the world has changed considerably from the norm due to the COVID-19 pandemic and in particular, karate training has been rocked and we as instructors have had to adapt along with it. It has been difficult, but always remember the opportunity you provide college students is something that will always be a major part of their college experience and contributes significantly towards their growth as individuals as well as the overall future of Shotokan Karate.

As we enter a new college year, I would like to provide some guidance as to how to adapt in this very fluid, evolving, situation to help you continue to build your clubs, and continue to practice karate in a safe and productive manner.

First, remain in close contact with the administrator at the college who oversees the university side of your club, this will most likely be your athletics department. Ask them for their university guidance and adhere to it! This will be informed by university, local, state, and federal guidelines. If the university decides that it is safe to practice (albeit with social distancing and masks) then you may, if they are not allowing in-person practice, think of other formats you can use such as zoom (most likely your university will have some virtual platform, if it does not you can use Facebook live to a private group, or use the free, restricted zoom).

Secondly, follow any and all ISKF guidelines. This may include the use of the new waivers that were distributed by ISKF Honbu a few weeks ago.

Thirdly, as an instructor, and given these guidelines, you need to weigh the pros and cons of in-person vs. virtual training yourself. If you feel the university designated room is too small to conduct training, request a larger one from the university so that social distancing can be maintained. Your comfort level, and the safety of your students must always come first. However, no matter what format you use, it is imperative that you maintain contact with your university, and continue classes (either in person, virtual, or hybrid) to keep your clubs together and engaged. Document your trainings so that the University can see your efforts and continue to fund you, make sure that the students have done the university paperwork necessary to keep the club officially active. All of these are critical, not just for now, but to keep your club active once we come out the other side of this.

Finally, it will be important to follow some basic guidelines should you decide to resume in-person training. This can include: Having hand sanitizer, other disinfectant for common surfaces
(chairs, benches, equipment, etc.) on hand, and masks (if locally required) available; hand sanitize before and after training (and any time between if necessary); help insure social distancing by marking the training floor; students should not congregate or have lengthy conversations in the dojo; if possible, consider a different entry and exit for students to avoid close contact; consider the option of more classes to accommodate students and insure social distancing; implement simple health screening, by asking them at the door - if students do not feel well (not necessarily just Covid-19 symptoms) they should not attend class; if local regulations do not require masks then eliminate kiai or use silent kiai; instructors should wear a mask during close student interaction/instruction and should avoid any form of physical contact; and basic kumite can be performed with social distancing (no contact) - the instructor and students should concentrate on proper technique and timing.

Unfortunately, given the situation we are in, I have made the call to suspend all official NCKA ECCKU events for the fall semester. Since the ISKF has had to postpone US Nationals, we will not be able to have our yearly training together, nor our national colligate championships. In terms of ECCKU events, I am also suspending all camps for the fall semester. We will revisit this in November with respect to spring events :- expect a message from me in November.

So, what will the NCKA/ECCKU do for you? To make up for this, I am happy to plan one to two virtual collegiate training events in the Fall semester. These will be open to you and a way to connect with each other. I will have more details to follow as I move forward.

As we move forward during these very strange times, I have found that despite not being able to punch with others, that my karate has grown, and my connections with other karate-ka has also grown. Know that you as a collegiate instructor play such an important role in the development of the next generation of karate-ka and also the development of our organization. This semester will be difficult but knowing that we are in this together and reaching out together will only make us stronger. Keep up the fight.

Please reach out to me if you need any support as you move forward.

My very best,

JD Swanson, Ph.D.
Director, NCKA/ECCKU
[email protected]

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Second 2019/2020 ECCKU event underway. Good group and great times! ISKF, JKA, and NACKC all at Cornell University. Brown, Salve, Cornell, MIT, Harvard, Boston College, Bucknell, U Rochester, Penn College of Tech, and Lycoming, Represent!

Hello friends of our Collegiate Karate Organization here on the East Coast!

This e-mail serves as an announcement of the Second 2019/2020 collegiate event that will be hosted at Cornell University, in Ithaca New York, Feb 29-March 1, 2020.

All events will be held in Willard Straight Hall, Memorial Room (407) on the Cornell University Campus
The address is Willard Straight Hall, 136 Ho Plaza, Ithaca, NY 14853

The times for the event are as follows:
Saturday 29 February
Training #1 10.00 - 11.15pm Kihon
Training #2 11.30 – 1.00pm Kumite
Training #3 2.15 – 3.30pm Kata
Training #4 3.30 – 4.00pm Special Training (Combined) and instructors’ workshop

6pm Dinner plans are TBA

1. In keeping with our training theme concept, each of our three collegiate events will be themed around different karate principals. The instructors are required to teach all lessons around a particular theme in karate and apply it to their particular group and subject for the day. This event’s theme is FOCUSED ON Breath and Posture.

The instructor’s workshop will be centered around relating to new students of different styles of Karate. Instructors, this is great event to both practice your judging and teaching. You will get to see how other instructors instruct, as well as get direct feedback on your instruction and judging.

Sunday March 1
Training 10-11am Combined/Tournament Registration
Tournament 11.15-2 Collegiate Shiai

Once again for advanced students there will be an option to compete with BOTH Jiyu Ippon and Shobu Ippon Kumite
_____________________________________

Please by Friday February 21 e-mail Jason Haase ([email protected]), with the number of people coming to the tournament, and what university you will represent.

In a separate e-mail, if you intend to be an INSTRUCTOR or JUDGE please e-mail me at [email protected], your name and judges and/or instructor’s rank, (Trainees, or A, B, C, D, or unranked) so I can plan the trainings accordingly. If you do not e-mail me before Friday, February 21, I will not allow you to into the teaching rotation.

IT IS CRITICAL THAT YOU GET IN TOUCH WITH US BY FEB 21 AS CORNELL HAVE VERY STRICT REQUIREMENTS THAT WE REPORT TO THEM ATENDEES OF THE EVENT ONE WEEK BEFORE.
___________________________________

Deanna Kocher ([email protected]) has provided the following extra logistical information:

1. Parking: There is a small parking lot behind the building on Campus road. Recommend carpooling, as parking on campus can otherwise be tricky - even on weekends.

3. Lodging: Best Western: 1020 Ellis Hollow Rd Ithaca
https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotel-rooms.33065.html?iata=00171890&ssob=BLBWI0003G&cid=BLBWI0003G:yext:website:33065

Quality Inn Ithaca: 356 Elmira Rd Ithaca
https://www.choicehotels.com/new-york/ithaca/quality-inn-hotels/ny199

4. Saturday Lunch: There is a cafe in Willard Straight Hall that should be open and have lunch food.
5. Saturday Dinner: We are currently working on a group option in downtown Ithaca

Club instructors, please forward this to any of your students who may want to attend, the first day of training is open to anyone (collegiate or non-collegiate) who wants to train.

This will be an awesome event!!! AND ITHICA IS GEORGIOUS (sorry I had to…)

See you there

My very best

JD Swanson, Ph.D.
Director of the East Coast Collegiate Karate Union

Jason Haase,
Coordinator of the ECCKU

Deanna Kocher,
Cornell University

Great to see collegiate peeps involved in the wonderful event!

Awesome first 2019/20 ECCKU event at the College of William and Mary!

Awesome to see this level of commitment to collegiate karate!

Shihan Okazaki instructing Temple University student Levi Meadows on how to make proper front stance today after class .

Hello friends of our Collegiate Karate Organization here on the East Coast!

This e-mail serves as an announcement of the First 2019/2020 collegiate event that will be hosted at the College of William and Mary, in Williamsburg, VA, Oct 26 and 27, 2019.

All events will be held in The Adair Hall on the William and Mary Campus
The address is Adair Hall, 251 Ukrop Way, Williamsburg, VA, 23185

The times for the event are as follows:
Saturday 26 October
Training #1 10.00 - 11.30pm Kihon
Training #2 11.45 – 1.15pm Kumite
Training #3 2.45 – 4.15 Kata
Training #4 4.15 – 5.00 Special Training (Combined) and instructors workshop

6pm Dinner at the Peking buffet (120 Waller Mill Rd suite J, Williamsburg, VA).

In keeping with our training theme concept, each of our three collegiate events will be themed around different karate principals. The instructors are required to teach all lessons around a particular theme in karate and apply it to their particular group and subject for the day. This event’s theme is FOCUSED ON Translation/elevation of center within movement.

The instructors workshop will be centered around judging principles of Kata. Instructors, this is great event to both practice your judging and teaching. You will get to see how other instructors instruct, as well as get direct feedback on your instruction and judging.

Sunday 10 February
Training 10-11am Combined/Tournament Registration
Tournament 11.15-2 Collegiate Shiai

Once again for advanced students there will be an option to compete with BOTH Jiyu Ippon and Shobu Ippon Kumite
_____________________________________

Please by Friday October 18 e-mail Shaun Lee ([email protected]), with the number of people coming to the tournament, and what university you will represent.

In a separate e-mail, if you intend to be an INSTRUCTOR or JUDGE please e-mail me at [email protected], your name and judges and/or instructor’s rank, (Trainees, or A, B, C, D, or unranked) so I can plan the trainings accordingly. If you do not e-mail me before Friday, October 18, I will not allow you to into the teaching rotation.
___________________________________

Both Shaun Lee and Irene Williams ([email protected]) have provided the following extra logistical information:

1. Parking: Street and adjacent parking deck will not be enforced (see attached picture) (Gym doors open at 9am)


3. Lodging: Westgate Historic Resort of Williamsburg ~$70/night and 1mile/15min walk to Saturday dinner.
4. Saturday Lunch: School cafeteria 2 blocks away (Commons Dining Hall)
5. Saturday Dinner: Peking buffet near the hotel
6. A list of events in the Williamsburg area is included

Club instructors, please forward this to any of your students who may want to attend, the first day of training is open to anyone (collegiate or non-collegiate) who wants to train.

This will be an awesome event!!!

See you there

My very best

JD Swanson, Ph.D.
Director of the East Coast Collegiate Karate Union

Jason Haase,
Coordinator of the ECCKU

Shaun Lee
Asst. Coordinator of the ECCKU

Awesome training with the Philly clubs of the East Coast Collegiate Karate Union. Go Temple, UPenn, and Drexel. Thank you to Okazaki Shihan for leading the training! See you all at Fall camp!