Greetings USAWKF Family,
The last several weeks have been very hard. The rapid spread of COVID-19 has strained resources and caused uncertainty. Our familiar routines are disrupted. We are in uncharted territory and the ground keeps shifting beneath our feet.
For coaches and teachers, the measures we must take to stop COVID-19 have directly affected your livelihoods. You’ve been told you must close your schools but with no idea when you might be able to reopen. This is very hard on you and it’s very hard on your families.
Students, this pandemic is hard on you, too. School systems are closed indefinitely, so you’re at home indefinitely. And with nearly everything closed, there’s no place you can go to stay active.
These times are difficult, but our martial arts spirit will get us through them. It’ss time to be creative. Teachers’ post online lessons that will help all your students stay active whatever style they practice. Some schools are already successfully doing that. Students’ take advantage of the resources your teachers make available to you to maintain your discipline and keep your skills sharp. Everyone do what you can to establish new routines and keep them going.
More than anything, though, communicate. Teachers stay in touch with your students and their families. Students stay in touch with your teachers and your fellow students. Staying connected and engaged with one another will keep alive the sense of community that means so much to all of us.
COVID-19 is very dangerous. To weather this crisis, we should all follow the advice of the CDC and medical professionals: practice social distancing, cover coughs and sneezes, clean and disinfect the surfaces in and around your home, avoid close contact with people who are sick, stay home and away from people if you’re sick, avoid touching your face and be sure to wash your hands often. If we do this we can all stay safe and stay healthy and can ensure those around us will be, too.
Sincerely,
Anthony Goh
President