Dear Karate Ka,

After a week of opening in the midst of the spread of COVID, you are doing a great job in helping to keep the dojo open. In this regard, you are diligently working on sterilizing the dojo, maintaining social distancing, and following my opening procedures. There are some changes and updates on operating procedures. The first change allows for green belts and brown belts to stay later and for black belts to arrive earlier, but if you do this you must yield your space to the instructor's needs and assist in instruction if called upon.

Some of you may want to greet each other with a hug or handshake, but I insist that you bow to each other to maintain social distancing. NO HUGS!! NO HANDSHAKES!

Some of you may feel comfortable not wearing a mask while training or milling about when social distancing is more than 6 feet or outside. In light of the governor's order that masks must be worn in public places and keeping in mind that others in the dojo not in your immediate training area may feel different than you, a mask must be covering mouth and nose while training regardless of your location or how many are in your area.

In the past to keep costs down we have saved paper cups for repeated use. After using a paper cup, throw it out. The tissues on the fountain are there to use as a shield for the cup and the dispenser mechanism. So if you use the cup or your finger to touch the mechanism, use a tissue as a shield. Wipe off the mechanism with disinfectant as often as you like. Bringing your own water container is safest.

Some of you have spent considerable time and effort to keep the dojo open and have made cash donations to help with the costs of operating. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping to keep the dojo functioning.

I am looking forward to seeing you soon. I am here working from home to assure that you have a safe environment and the best instruction possible. Thanks to Kyoshi Kembre and Renshi Schmidt we have had a successful opening. And with all of your help and cooperation, I am sure the Honbu will once again thrive throughout this epidemic.

Okusan

P.S. I am enclosing the class hours again, as some students got confused as to when they were. They are subject to change in the future as more experience is gained during this difficult time.

Classes will be by level to minimize the number in attendance.

a.	6:30-7:10	White, Yellow, Orange
b.	7:15-7:55	Green and Brown
c.	8:00-8:40	Black Belts

Saturday morning classes:

a.	10:00-10:40	White, Yellow, Orange
b.	10:45-11:25	Green and Brown
c.	11:30-12:10	Black Belts

Dear Honbu Students,

Thank you for your patience during the COVID-19 shut down. Our plan is to open on Tuesday, July 7th. The class times will be as follows:

Classes will be by level to minimize the number in attendance.

Tuesday and Thursday evening classes:

a.	6:30-7:10	White, Yellow, Orange
b.	7:15-7:55	Green and Brown
c.	8:00-8:40	Black Belts

Saturday morning classes:

a.	10:00-10:40	White, Yellow, Orange
b.	10:45-11:25	Green and Brown
c.	11:30-12:10	Black Belts

The following guidelines will be instituted:

1. Don't come to the dojo if you are exhibiting any symptoms of COVID-19 or any other ailment. We will do temperature checks.
2. No loitering, only members are to come in and take class.
3. No hanging out after class.
4. Only 2 men and 1 woman in their respective locker rooms at a time.
5. Masks are to be worn at all times by visitors and students. Masks to be worn during class and is dependent on the number of students in attendance.
6. Maintain at least 6 feet distance from each at all times. Remember bowing is the Japanese from of greeting.
7. No partner work, only basics and kata.
8. Wash hands before class.
9. No shower use.
10. Wear your gi without the belt as well as jacket over the gi to the dojo. No changing at the dojo.
11. Students will mark their own card.
12. Students pay dues via check or cash given in an envelope deposited under the plexi-glass and/or deposited through the mail slot in the office door.

If you are concerned about coming back to class at this time we understand. Please let me know if you plan to return at this time or if you plan to return at a later time.

Best Regards and Stay Safe,
Okusan

Dear Chito-Kai members,

What a difference a week makes because About a week ago I was hearing that gyms may be allowed to open in the Commonwealth about May 1, but obviously the Commonwealth bumped gyms into the category with salons and who knows now when I can legally open. The attached outline contains the procedures that will be in place whenever I decide to open. One additional procedure that will be required is that face masks will need to be worn. Other procedures may be implemented, but I prefer to wait and see what the governor says when he approves the opening of gyms. From what I am hearing, I may have to present to the Commonwealth my opening procedures including what precautions will be taken upon opening and I will need time to sort all this out. Once I am satisfied that I can legally open I will be in touch with you to announce a date. I look forward to seeing you so our training can continue down the path.

When I do open the dojo, business cannot be conducted in the same manner prior to COVID-19. Some of my selfimposed operation guidelines follow and are subject to change. These guidelines are designed to protect you, me and follow the social distancing guidelines that will remain in effect.

1. Classes will need to be smaller so white, yellow and orange will train for 40 minutes and 5 minutes to bow out and change and leave the dojo. Another 40-minute session will follow for green and brown belts and 5 minutes to bow out. Finally a session for black belts will occur allowing for bowing out by 8:30. All instructors must adhere to the training schedule. I will let you know the start times later.
2. There can be no loitering in the dojo and sitting across from my workstation.
3. Family members who do not train and or not there to train cannot wait in the dojo for a family member to finish training.
4. All present should Continue to keep their distance of 6 feet.
5. Classes will not involve partner drills. Sanban kumite, kaisetz, bunkai, are included in this ban. Anything that involves a partner will be prohibited.
6. After classes there will be a disinfecting wipe-down. Normal cleaning can occur during any class session as determined by the instructor or shared by the groups.
7. If you are sick DO NOT COME TO THE DOJO! It does not matter whether you think you have some sickness unrelated to COVID-19. This does not include prolonged illness battles like cancer. However, if you believe that you are at high risk should COVID-19 enter your system, you should decide what social distancing means to you.

While training, all students need to stay 6 feet away from each other. If a group is too large to accomplish this on the main deck, then the group can be divided and some sent to the upper deck.

When the State of Ky, says that a business such as ours can open I am sure they will have set guidelines that we must follow.

For those who are training doing what they know, you are continuing down the path and getting better. You are also maintaining your health and muscle fiber so that when we train together your system will not be shocked by the long shutdown.

We are all in this together and no one more them myself wants to see the dojo back as it once was, but to get there we must all cooperate with what is to be the new normal.

Regards to all, stay healthy
Okusan