Our COVID-19 Response

Dear students and parents,

Our top priority and concern is always the health and safety of our students and their families, and in a crisis like what we are now facing each of us is only as healthy as the people we come into contact with (and the people they come into contact with). We have been following the situation regarding the Coronavirus/COVID-19 closely and believe that it is in the best interest of all of our students, Instructors, and our families that we cancel all classes at the Dojo effective immediately through the remainder of March.

All private lessons scheduled for the rest of this month will be rescheduled once the Dojo is able to reopen. We will continue to monitor the situation and follow guidelines from state and federal health officials, in addition to taking common-sense measures like closing at this time rather than waiting for a mandate to be issued. If the quarantine does become mandatory going forward (we expect that it will), or if the danger of contracting and spreading this virus is still high as we near the end of the month, we will suspend all membership tuition beginning on April 1st until April 15th, and will continue to postpone billing in two-week increments until we are able to reopen and resume regular group and private training. At that time we will begin rescheduling private lessons that were scheduled between March 16th through March 31st.

We also realize that with all schools closed and most events/gatherings being cancelled, many students will have an abundance of free time and energy on their hands. In the time that the Dojo is closed, we will be hosting group classes, workouts, and tutorials online via video and live stream. We’ll be sure to post these on our social media and streaming services that our students can easily access and interact with, and workouts/classes will be designed with smaller training areas in mind. We encourage parents and other siblings to join in as well. Click Here to see our first "Quarantine Karate" at-home training videos!

To help our students make the most of their at-home training, we are also offering to allow them to check out kicking/striking mitts from the Dojo to take home. If you would like to reserve some mitts for check out, please reply to this email or send us a text with your name and which pick-up time works for you. We’ll have a table outside with the requested equipment ready for those who reserved on a “first-come, first-served” basis at the checkout times and dates listed below:

Monday, 3/16 (tomorrow) between 10:00 and 11:00 am

Or

Tuesday, 3/17 between 6:00 and 7:00 pm

We’ll also be issuing weekly video challenges to keep students engaged. Please send us your martial arts-themed clips of how you’re holding up during the quarantine so we can share with the rest of the Dojo fam!

Unfortunately, we will be cancelling the Spring 2020 Dojo Tournament as well as the May Belt Tests, and the USSD SoCal Tournament has been postponed until August 1st. The City of San Clemente has also canceled their Campalooza event at Vista Hermosa Sports Park.

Our annual self-defense summer camp, Bully Blockers, will also remain on schedule for the time being (August 5th~7th). Click Here to learn more about that.

We plan on being in contact with all of our students over the coming weeks, and we encourage you to call, text, or email us with any questions related to billing or specific techniques that you’re working on. We ask that you please bear with us in this difficult time, until the full scope of this situation is fully understood by health and government officials and we are able to provide you with more definitive information about reopening.

Please, please, please stay informed on the dangers of COVID-19 and precautions that you and your family can take to protect yourselves and all of the people you come into contact with, so that we can better protect those who are at greater risk of becoming ill or requiring hospitalization. In the event that state or federal government does not take measures to protect families in quarantine zones, and you or your family is worried about how you will be able to make it through the next few weeks without a steady income, please contact us so we can put you in touch with local resources and groups organizing to safely trade and deliver goods to those in need.

We are all facing difficult times ahead, and it will be much harder for some than for others, so please let us know if you are able or interested in taking part in an effort to support other members of our Dojo family who may find themselves in need in the coming weeks. As martial artists, we have a responsibility to look out for those who are struggling as they look to us for leadership. That begins with demonstrating that we are taking this pandemic seriously by taking measures to protect the vulnerable and self-isolating if at all possible. Team San Clemente is known for our toughness and we can make it through this together!

Keep an eye out for our first at-home training videos that will be sent out to all of our students tomorrow, and we hope to have the live streams set up for Teen and Adult group training this week as well. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay in the loop!

Be safe out there, Team San Clemente! And keep practicing!

In Love, Strength, and Solidarity,

Miss Meka

USSD Martial Arts San Clemente