With the completion of the clinic series, we have shifted to fully in person classes for the remainder of the summer.We appreciate the continued training each of you has done on Zoom over the past several months.
Summer Term Class Schedule (concludes on September 5th, 2021). • Tuesday All Ranks Classes (6:30PM – 8:30PM) • Friday All Ranks Classes (6:30PM – 8:30PM) • Sunday All Ranks Classes (6:00PM – 8:00PM)
BKA Summer Celebration The BKA will host our return to dojo summer celebration on Tuesday July 20th, 2021 (from ~8:30PM-9:00PM). This is a delay of one week due to instructor and student availability. Come out and celebrate the accomplishments of the organization and its members over the past 18 months. Awards and rankings will be presented. The instructor team would love to get photos of everyone at this event, so if you can make it out, please attend! :-).
Effective Friday July 2nd, in person classes will resume at the Grandview dojo for Black Belts only on Tuesdays and Fridays (until the end of the clinic series). Black belts may still join classes via zoom if they prefer during this window. All kyu belts are welcome via zoom.
Effective Sunday July 4th, Sunday classes will resume at the Grandview dojo for all ranks (outdoors).
Effective Tuesday July 13th, all ranks are welcomed back to the Grandview dojo for all classes.
Sunday Zoom sessions will end with the class on June 27th. Tuesday and Friday Zoom sessions will end with the completion of the clinic series on July 9th.
Summer Class Times effective Tuesday July 13th: Tuesday/Friday Classes: 6:30PM – 8:30PM (All Ranks) Sunday Class: 6:00PM – 8:00PM (All Ranks)
Class Structure Notes
BKA strongly encourages full vaccination (i.e. 2 doses) against the Covid-19 virus for all members.
BKA commits to following all guidance set forth by the City of Edmonton and Alberta Health Services.
All classes for the month of July will be socially distanced.
Classes are planned to be taught outdoors in the grass or on the back tarmac. Please bring appropriate footwear for training outdoors. During summer training students can choose whether to wear their gi or an athletic top. We recommend that students bring a gi top in their bag, in case of partnered work involving gripping.
Should weather prevent us from training outdoors (heat or storms), we will move into the dojo, and remain distanced.
Partnered Work (tentative start: August 2021, subject to change)
BKA will not do any group interactive drills for the duration of the Summer 2021 term (i.e. rolling line, roaming striking shields, etc).
BKA will commit to offering both partnered and solo versions of drills for the duration of the Summer 2021 term.
Notes on partnered activities:
If two students are comfortable working as partners in the class for drills, they are welcome to do so, but both partners must agree to this on an individual basis.
No student should feel obligated to work with a partner if they are uncomfortable doing so. Solo versions of all drills will also be offered.
If partnering, BKA asks that students stick with a single dedicated partner for the time being.
As a reminder, if you feel unwell, stay home.
BKA will continue to practice enhanced cleaning measures (see full documentation of Covid precautions) as well as providing hand sanitizer at all dojo entrances.
Club Celebration Day on July 13th, 2021 On our first official class back for all members on (Tuesday July 13th), we will take some time at the end of class to celebrate the accomplishments of the members of our organization in the past year. Come out to support the organization, and your fellow club members! Pictures will be taken! 🙂
Thank you everyone. Please feel free to reach out to myself or Sensei Bernadine if you have any questions.
The grading in Alberta is now complete. Thank you to the Joseki Board members, and congratulations to the candidates at today’s event! Twenty-nine candidates, forty-three joseki members, one great day! We were thrilled to see well over 100 people in the zoom session throughout the day, and almost 200 more viewers on YouTube.
On behalf of the Bushido Karate Association and the SWKKF, thank you to everyone who came out to support the event today! Congratulations to everyone who graded today — and of course, a special congratulations to Sensei Mike and Sensei Adam on your Sandan ranks!
The Northern Alberta Black Belt Pre-Grading has been scheduled and will be hosted by the BKA. The pre-grading process is strongly recommended for all students looking to grade in May, so that they can be assessed by instructors outside their dojo, and received constructive feedback to assist in their success on grading day. This event will be open to all brown belt students and up. Southern Alberta grading candidates are welcome to attend this event if they are unable to attend the grading in their region.
Date: Sunday March 7th, 2021 Time: 10:00AM – 2:00PM
Online Registration for this event must be competed by end of day on February 27th.
This event will be a fully digital session via Zoom. Zoom information will be distributed to registered participants and joseki members in the week before the event.
Primary focus will be on grading techniques, katas, and kihon combinations. No jiyu kumite or contact karate will be tested at this event.
This event is open to attendees from all clubs, ranked Brown and up. Only pre-grading candidates will be assessed by the Joseki board.
Registered Joseki Board members must be ranked Sandan or above.
Action Item: Complete Registration Online for Grading Candidates, Participants, and Joseki Board by end of day on February 27th.
Students, with the completion of the youth term on Saturday, we have moved to a modified schedule for the balance of December. All classes will be taught in the high belt virtual dojo room on Zoom.
Tuesday, December 8th Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm Ranks: Adults, All Ranks Instructor: James Freeman
Friday, December 11th – Grading Time: 7:00 – 9:00 pm Ranks: Adults, All Ranks Instructors: James Freeman, Craig Pettie, Scott Knowles
Sunday, December 13th Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm Ranks: Adults, All Ranks Instructor: Scott Knowles
Tuesday, December 15th Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm Ranks: Adults, All Ranks Instructor: James Freeman
Friday, December 18th Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm Ranks: Adults, All Ranks Instructor: James Freeman
Sunday, December 20th Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm Ranks: Adults, All Ranks Instructor: Scott Knowles
Tuesday, December 22nd Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm Ranks: Adults, All Ranks Instructor: James Freeman
Friday, December 25th Time: Class Cancelled
Sunday, December 27th Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm Ranks: Adults, All Ranks Instructor: Scott Knowles
Tuesday, December 29th Time: 6:30 – 8:30 pm Ranks: Adults, All Ranks Instructor: James Freeman
Friday, January 1st Time: Class Cancelled
Sunday, January 3rd Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm Ranks: Adults, All Ranks Instructor: Scott Knowles
As you have likely heard, Alberta Health Services has put in place a two-week restriction on all sporting activities. As such, in-dojo training will cease for the next two weeks for students.
However, BKA has been simulcasting classes digitally via zoom since the beginning of the term. This framework will allow us to continue to offer classes to our members at the standard training schedule. Students are encouraged to take advantage of these classes to continue their training during this short shutdown. The links to attend your classes have been supplied via email. This will continue though at least November 27th.
For youth classes, a minimum of two instructors will be present on every zoom call. This is done for the comfort and security of youth members and parents on the call, and will also allow instructors to provide feedback to help students continue to progress.
We will be in touch in the coming days as we learn more. Our team is proud of the work we have done in creating a safe training environment over the past two months. To our knowledge, no cases linked to our activity have occurred. The BKA will continue to be adaptable and remain steadfast in its commitment to providing quality training in a safe and enjoyable way for all of our members.
Thank you, and keep training hard. See you online!
