Aikido in lockdown: October edition

[Jen de Beyer]

Hi everyone

It's now been 6 months since we suspended training. This is the longest I've gone outside the dojo for over a decade and I miss you all. I hope this finds you all safe and well, and that you've been finding movement replacements for your aikido. I've been trying out YouTube yoga and been surprised at how much I've enjoyed it! Its no substitute for getting flung about the mat though :) What have you all been up to? 

Fees

A huge apology for us not making an official announcement about fees as soon as it became clear that practice would be suspended for a long while. As long as you are not training, please do cancel your regular standing orders! If you have been paying and would like to organise a refund for the past 6 months, please get in touch. We'll need to figure out a plan for insurance renewals when we return to training. If you resume training at another dojo before we start up, please do not assume your insurance has automatically been renewed! Check in with Richard first. 

Freshers fair 

7 October 2020 is the Oxford University Freshers Fair and the student committee is busy finalising their virtual stall and preparing a video of FAQs. They'll report back next month with how it all went. 

Iffley Sports Centre reopening 

The University is looking into reopening the Iffley Sports Centre and allowing practices in the dojo with restricted numbers, with details still to be released. However, that doesn't mean we will definitely be resuming classes - the number restrictions alone might make it impractical. To help us with planning, please drop me an email if you would consider joining indoor practices and mention any caveats. (No pressure! I personally probably wouldn't join in person training for a while yet)

Virtual First Thursday

Virtual first Thursday continues this Thursday, 1 October (tomorrow!), from 8pm on Zoom. To join, just click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87008778548?pwd=M3E3TXFaUVFaMDYwRVZDRjE1bHhMdz09

I will activate the link ~10min before the start time. You can join with either just audio or audio and video.

(In case you need this info, the meeting ID is: 870 0877 8548 and the password is 581577). To prevent Zoom-bombing, please don't post this link on social media or email it beyond known Club members. 

I've now set this link to be recurring, so you can use the same link every month. 

Practice in lockdown

Informal practice continues outside in Botley! Sessions are advertised by email each week, as we need to take account of the weather. We'll continue these sessions as long as it is practical, with the days drawing shorter and colder. 

Stay safe everyone,

Jen