We require all eligible (6 years and up) in-person keiko participants to be fully vaccinated. That is two weeks after your second vaccination of Moderna or Pfizer, OR two weeks after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine

In addition, starting January 13, 2022, we will require all eligible participants to have gotten a booster shot.

Even if you are fully vaccinated, and boosted, you are not 100% protected from Covid-19 infection, or infecting others. Activities like kendo increase the risk of transmission. The harder we breathe, the more potential Covid-19 particles and aerosol we exhale. In addition, other groups and people are are using the same space that we use. The chances of this are low, but not zero.

Our goal is to practice kendo, together, in-person! But, we must do so this a way that decreases the risk of Covid-19 infection for each other, as well as others who use the same space as us. Although practicing in-person has its own inherent risks, we will do everything we can to make practice as safe as possible.

To join Kenchikai's in-person practice at this time, you must agree to the Covid-19 protocols we have in place:

Before Practice

  1. Fill out the health screen at home. If the answer to any of the screening questions is “yes,” do not come to the dojo and please text message or call Jaered if you won't be there (participants will receive a phone number in their practice confirmation email).
  2. Register for the practice you'd like to attend. We are currently enforcing a maximum number of participants per in-person keiko. If it's your first registration, you will need to upload an image of your CDC vaccination card. Only Jaered will see it and this won't be shared with others. Please also bring it with you to practice, just in case.
  3. If you are wearing a men, you are required to use a mouth shield or similar device in addition to a mask. You can purchase a plastic mouth shield one on  e-bogu or Tozando, or you can buy one, at cost ($12), when you register for a Kenchikai practice and we'll have it for you at practice.

At the Dojo

  1. We require you to wear a mask at all times (that includes covering your nose!), whether you're wearing men or not. Note that you may need an additional or different type of mask if you're wearing men. Please test your mask with your men to make sure it stays on and isn't uncomfortable. If you are having trouble keeping your mask up, we've found that using a band-aid to tape it to your  nose works well.
  2. Please use hand sanitizer (or bring your own) before and after practice. Please avoid touching your face as you put on and remove your men.
  3. Avoid crowding in the bathroom or changing areas.
  4. We are putting on our bogu from a sitting position, now. That said, if this makes you uncomfortable, you may put on your bogu, do mokusou, bow, and the like from a standing position.

During Keiko

  1. You are required to wear a mask at all times, even during keiko. We recommend you wear a surgical or higher grade mask (such as a KN94 or N95), as they are more effective in reducing spread.
  2. If you are unable to keep your mask up above your nose, please use tape or a band-aid to hold your mask in place.
  3. No large, extended, or "wet" kiai. We are currently doing sharp, short kiai, counting, and henji.
  4. When it's difficult for someone to hear you, don't stand closer to them or shout. Just wait for a break in training to speak to them.
  5. Do not touch your face. Be extra careful about wiping the sweat off your face after removing your men. Touching your face after touching various surfaces increases the risk of infection via surface transmission.

After Keiko

  1. Wash and sanitize your hands!
  2. Again, try to avoid crowding bathrooms and changing areas.

If you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions, please don't hesitate to reach out. If you would like to join our practice, please register via the email you received as we limit our keiko to a maximum number of participants per practice.