NEWS

I'm putting in an order for new t-shirts soon. At the same time I can get more zip up IKFA jumpers. I know spring is coming, but they'll last till next winter too! They're $80 and I'll only order what people want. They look like this. For size reference, Halinka wears Small, Shane wears Medium, I wear Extra Large. If you're interested, let me know asap please. Thanks.

Please note the new email address for the Illawarra Kung Fu Academy. Please use this with all emails for adults and kids kung fu, and all qi gong classes. Thanks! Email: [email protected]

This is to let you know about all the finish and restart dates for classes around term 3 and 4 for 2022. Unfortunately there's also information about a fees increase. I've held this off as long as possible, but costs are rising too much. More on that below. Firstly, here are the relevant class dates: Adult Kung Fu Classes Continue as usual. Adult Kung Fu grading will be on Saturday 22nd October at 9am. Kids Kung Fu Classes Last class for term 3 – Monday 19th September (and grading for those who are ready) First class back in term 4 – Monday 10th October Qi Gong/Tai Chi Classes Last class for term 3 – Thursday 22nd September - despite the sudden Public Holiday, this class will go ahead First class back in term 4 – Monday 10th October Fees Sadly, costs are rising. Some of the rents I pay have gone up, insurance fees have gone up, etc., not to mention general expenses like petrol for getting around. So unfortunately, I'm finally at a place where I need to pass some of that on. Fees have remained the same for some time and hopefully these small increases will not be too brutal. As from Term 4 fees will be as follows: Adult Kung Fu: 10 Class Pass $175 / $20 casual Kids Kung Fu: 10 Class Pass $150 / $20 casual Qi Gong: 10 Class Pass $175 / $20 casual Membership/insurance fees for the year will remain at $75 per person, payable before the end of February each year. That’s it for now. Please help us spread the word about our classes by telling family, friends, colleagues and class mates. Word of mouth is the best advertising we can get. Thank you, and see you at class.

All classes are now back to normal for the rest of term 2 with a couple of exceptions detailed below. Adult Kung Fu Classes Adults classes will continue through as per usual with the exception of Monday June 13th (public holiday). Kids Kung Fu Classes No class on Monday June 13th (public holiday). Last class for term 2 – Monday 27th June First class back term 3 – Monday 18th July Qi Gong/Tai Chi Classes No class on Monday June 13th (public holiday). ALSO No class on Monday June 27th, as I'll be in Perth (apologies!) Last class for term 2 – Thursday 30th June First class back term 3 – Monday 18th July Any questions, drop me an email, text, etc. Thank you! Sifu Alan

Please see below all the class dates across term 1 and 2 for 2022. They’re a bit of a mess, so my apologies in advance! Adults Kung Fu Classes will continue as normal with no break except for: Monday 25th April – ANZAC Day Wednesday 27th April will be a grading class Kids Kung Fu Last class for term 1 is Monday 4th April – this will be our grading class for those who are ready to grade. Classes return on Monday 2nd May due to ANZAC Day on the 25th April. Qi Gong/Tai Chi Please pay close attention to which class/es you attend: Monday class end of term 1 is Monday 4th April, returns Monday 2nd May (due to ANZAC Day) Wednesday class end of term 1 is Wednesday 6th April, returns Wednesday 27th April Thursday class is a bit complicated: 24th March - No class 31st March - No class 7th April - There will be class 14th April - There will be class 21st April - No class 28th April - There will be class and this is the official first class of term 2.   I'm sorry this is such a mess, but a couple of unavoidable disruptions on Thursdays has made this a bit tricky.   School Holidays: Friday 8th April to Tuesday 26th April Monday 25th is ANZAC Day These dates are taking into account the usually school holidays, plus ANZAC Day, plus some other working commitments on my part that I have to work around. Apologies for any confusion. If you have any questions at all, please get it touch.   Fees Please remember that membership fees for the year are due again now. The annual insurance/membership fee of $75 per person needs to be paid if you haven't already. That’s it for now. Please help us spread the word about our classes by telling family, friends, colleagues and class mates. Word of mouth is the best advertising we can get.  

First of all, Happy New Year! And as we're fast approaching Chinese New Year (February 2nd) can I also say Gong Hei Fat Choy! I hope the Year of the Water Tiger is going to be good for all of us. This post is to confirm all the restart dates for classes. Please note, Adult Kung Fu will now start on the 31st of January, not the 24th as previously stated. And the Friday morning Jamberoo Qi Gong class will not resume in Term 1 2022. So restart dates are as follows: Adult Kung Fu Classes First class back in 2022 – Monday 31st January For the foreseeable future, Adult Kung Fu classes will run from 6.00 to 7.30pm for everyone, not 8.00pm as before. Kids Kung Fu Classes First class back in 2022 – Monday 31st January Qi Gong/Tai Chi Classes First class back in 2022 – Monday 31st January (Kiama) Wednesday morning in Gerroa and Thursday evening in Kiama will both commence as from the 2nd and 3rd of February respectively. PLEASE NOTE: These dates are subject to change if the Covid rules change, but at this point will resume and we will keep to the required distancing in class. Masks MUST be worn throughout class, and only people who are fully vaccinated will be allowed to attend. The vaccine is available for the 5 to 11 age group now, so while that isn't a requirement at this stage for the kids class (as it's only been available since January 10th) it will become a requirement in future. I believe we all have to do all we can to keep ourselves and each other safe. Fees Please remember that insurance membership fees for the year will be payable once classes resume in 2022. This is still $75 per person, payable before the end of February, please. All other class costs will remain the same for the time being. (There is a membership fee family discount for multiple members of the same family - ask me about this if it applies to you.) We have finally organised new t-shirts (with the dragon and tiger yin yang design on the back) for the kids and adults kung fu class - they are $40...

Due to the strange alignment of dates around Xmas, the break this year is a little longer than normal. Please pay close attention to your particular class for end and restart dates. Adult Kung Fu Classes Last class for 2021 – Wednesday 15th December First class back in 2022 – Monday 24th January Kids Kung Fu Classes Last class for 2021 – Monday 13th December First class back in 2022 – Monday 31st January Qi Gong/Tai Chi Classes Last class for 2021 – Friday 17th December First class back in 2022 – Monday 31st January Xmas Party We will let you know about any Xmas parties - given the Covid situation still affecting things, we may not end up having one. Fees Please remember that membership fees for the year will be payable once classes resume in 2022. These will remain at $75 per person, payable before the end of February, please. Class costs will remain the same for the time being. That’s it for now. Please help us spread the word about our classes by telling family, friends, colleagues and class mates. Word of mouth is the best advertising we can get. It’s been an honour and an absolute pleasure to teach and train with you all during the tumultuous year of 2021, and we still have a few weeks left. We look forward to an even better and hopefully far less disrupted year in 2022.

Covid compliance Hi everyone With the return to in-person classes from the 25th October, the following requirements are in place. This is to keep us in compliance with NSW Health guidelines, and from a personal perspective, to do all we can to protect each other and our families and the community at large. If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch. Entry Requirements – to attend any of our classes: You will need to show your vaccination certificate or official medical exemption to attend. This can be done by downloading a PDF from MyGov or using the Medicare app, My Health Record, Apple Pay or Google Wallet and more. For full details please see this Service NSW help page. Regulations still require masks to be worn indoors in public spaces for everyone over 12 years old. Children attending the Kids Class do not need masks or vaccination at this point, but any accompanying adults must be fully vaccinated and we will need to sight their certificate. (Drop off and pick up without entering the class is no problem. We encourage parents not to stay during class to reduce overall numbers in the room.) Therefore, if you plan to attend a class, please provide your proof of vaccination asap. We will keep records of everyone who has done so, but we won’t share those records with anyone and will not keep the proof after we’ve updated our files. We will need to see your PDF certificate or your vaccination digital certificate, or the equivalent official documentation of a medical exemption, sent to [email protected] asap please. Other Class Precautions In order to keep all students and instructors safe, we will also insist on: QR code check-in on arrival Hand sanitiser use before entering a class Mask wearing throughout attendance (for people over 12 years old) If you have any symptoms for which NSW would require a covid test (see details here), please do not attend class. Please Note In order to keep students safe and comply with NSW regulations,...

Following the announcement today that restrictions are going to be extended for another month, we have to adapt with how we’re dealing with things. I really hoped a month off would result in restrictions easing, but we can’t afford to take any more time off and I’m sure you’re all keen to resume training to some degree. So, as from next Monday, August 2nd, we will resume our normal class schedule, but with the following restrictions in place: - If you live or work in the red zone (Sydney, Shellharbour or Wollongong LGA) I’m afraid you cannot attend class. I’m really sorry about this, but the guidelines are currently inflexible on this point. It’s especially frustrating for the Shellharbour LGA, but it’s out of our control. Otherwise, for people who haven’t visited any of the red zones, the following restrictions apply: - Qi Gong on Monday morning and Thursday evening in Kiama will resume. We have to follow 4 square metre distancing, so numbers are restricted, but at this stage that shouldn’t be an issue. Class will be for 1 hour duration. MASKS will have to be worn throughout class. - Kids Kung Fu will resume on Mondays from 4 to 5pm. We have to follow 4 square metre distancing. MASKS will be worn by all instructors throughout class, and any parents or carers during drop-off and pick-up must wear a mask. We would encourage parents and carers not to stay for class, but you’re welcome to wait outside the main hall. - Adult kung fu will resume on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Classes will be shorter than usual, probably finished by 7.30 at the latest. We have to follow 4 square metre distancing. MASKS will have to be worn by everyone throughout class. There will be no contact drills or padwork during this time, so we’ll focus on forms and combo training. The 4 square metre rule and masks requirement is mandated by NSW Health, so this isn’t something we can change. I recognise that training with a mask on is far from ideal, but these are strange times. Any queries,...

Apologies for not communicating sooner, but we’ve been watching the development of restrictions and trying to figure out the best way forward. Sadly, given all the variables and the fact that a large proportion of students in all our classes either live or work in the red zones, we’ve decided to continue suspending classes until the end of July. This is incredibly frustrating, but we need to do all we can to stem this outbreak and while we technically could run classes in Kiama and Jamberoo, it would be difficult. Not only the geographic issue mentioned above, but also the need for greater social distancing and masks inside makes teaching and training problematic. I’m really hoping the restrictions are at least eased a bit for our region at the end of July. If not, we may look at this again and consider some kind of limited class, but for the moment, we’ll simply stay on hiatus. With any luck, classes can kick off again on August 2nd. Fingers crossed! Any questions, give me a shout any time. Meanwhile, my apologies, and try your best to train at home in the meantime. Cheers Alan and Halinka