to: All Aikido Fellowship instructors and students

from: Hanshi and the Fellowship Committee

I hope that all of you and your families have stayed safe throughout this awful pandemic and my thanks and best wishes go out to all of you operating on the front line and working to maintain essential services.

As the lockdown moves towards phase 2 (whatever that may hold and when), I have conferred with the Committee and senior instructors to provide you with a statement on the current and future position for Aikido Fellowship clubs and courses.

As things stand today, I can tell you that we have received a letter from the Chairman of the British Aikido Board stating that ALL AIKIDO INSURANCE POLICIES HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED.  Therefore, NO INSTRUCTORS, STUDENTS or CLUBS hold any valid insurance and SHOULD NOT PRACTICE AIKIDO until insurance has been reinstated.

The health and safety of our students and instructors are our first priority so whilst we have been advised not to practice, we have agreed we will only recommence classes when we deem it safe to do so and when adequate insurance is back in place.

As a full contact activity, the outlook for Aikido is clearly going to be extended closure for the foreseeable future and we will continue to look to the Government and the BAB for guidance as and when it becomes available.

With regards Fellowship events, we advise the workshop planned for Sunday 17th May is cancelled.

We are also forced to take the unprecedented step of cancelling Summer School for this year.

I know that most of you will be disappointed, as are we, but we know you will understand these are extraordinary times and hopefully we will be able to arrange a special event once we are operational again.

I have no doubt you are missing Aikido as much as we are and hope you have found solace in your Aikido spiritual training where lockdown has been tough going at times.

Please keep in touch with us and each other. Check the web site for updates and feel free to contact me through the Aikido Secretary email if you want to with any questions or if you just want to share how things are going.

In the meantime, stay strong and stay safe.

We WILL be practicing Aikido together again.

Don't stop practicing at home, remember Aikido is a lifestyle, you do not need a dojo 😀.

Best wishes,

Hanshi