It is with a heavy heart & a huge amount of frustration that we will need to move all classes back online for the period of 'Lockdown 2.0' (from Thursday 5th November until Wednesday 2nd December). COVID is looming large over the country & therefore this is the right thing to do.
We are disappointed for all the students who have come back firing on all cylinders after the first lockdown & also for the whole Instructor team across Family Martial Arts Centres who have worked so hard to keep you safe, get back up & running & make up for the time when physical classes were not possible. It is testament to the work of the Instructors that not one case of COVID has been attributed to any of the Centres.
However, we all need to play our part in protecting the NHS & hopefully keeping cases & unnecessary deaths to a minimum. It is annoying that the burden seems to be falling disproportionately on certain industries, including ours - for me, I would like to see schools closed too in order to really minimise the spread within households.
That said, we've been burning the candle at both ends to make sure that classes during Lockdown 2.0 are bigger & better than ever - plans include:
Zoom classes every day of the week
Classes available for each group of students every day (eg: Tigers, White to Blue Belts, Green & Red Belts & Dan Members)
Workshops focussing on particular elements of the syllabus (eg: hyungs, blocks, strikes, kicks, etc)
Specific Bassai workshops for Red Belts (& anyone else to learn)
Library of previous classes/workshops available to access outside of the normal class time
One-to-ones via Zoom for students struggling with particular elements of their training or may wish for additional support
Additional support for the Dan Candidates to prepare them for their Dan Tests later this year
So, despite the lockdown, we want students to return to physical classes in December 'better than ever'. If you've never engaged with the online classes & material, give it a go - I'm sure that many of those that have will be able to attest to how good it can be. If you engaged with the online classes last time, worry not; it will be bigger & better than before.
Keep up to date through the website, our app (http://wix.to/UkAxAmQ?ref=cl), our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FMACNorthManchester) or the main facebook group page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/336458025038)
We'll see you soon online 👍