Terms and Conditions
Please read and return to waiver form to agree.
Section 1: Blood-Born Policy
To protect participants against the risk of disease, the Staff has adopted the following policy intended to minimize the risk of transmission of HIV, Hepatitis-B, and other blood-borne pathogens during training activities. Current available medical evidence suggests that the risk of transmission of HIV during the type of body contact that occurs in Aikido training is extremely slight. Organizations such as the NCAA, the National Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Sports Medicine and the U.S. Olympic Committee have concluded that persons infected with blood-born pathogens, particularly HIV, should not be barred from participating in contact sports. Certain federal and state antidiscrimination laws may also prohibit such a ban. These organizations have concluded that the already slight risk of transmission of HIV, and of other blood-borne diseases, can be reduced further by adoption of the Center for Disease Control recommended “universal precautions” with regard to exposed body fluids.
In the dojo, we will observe these 'universal precautions.' Generally, this means that instructors and all persons training in this dojo shall treat all exposed bodily fluids as if they are infected. Specifically, the following measures will be observed at all times:
1. Preparation for Training
The most frequent points of contact between training partners are the hands. Other parts of the body subject to particular risk of cuts and abrasions are the feet and the area about the face and neck. For these reasons the following procedures must be observed.
A. You will inspect the exposed parts of your body prior to participating in Aikido training to ensure that there are no breaks in your skin such as abrasions, open cuts, or sores.
B. You will inspect your hands and feet to ensure that fingernails and toenails are trimmed and smooth in order not to be cause of cuts.
C. You will wear a freshly laundered dogi to the first class which you attend each day.
D. You will never enter the training mat wearing a dogi, which is blood or bodily fluid stained to any degree whatsoever.
If you have any open cuts or sores, you will clean them with a suitable antiseptic and cover them securely with a leak proof dressing before coming on the training mat. You will make sure that they stay covered while you are training. If your hands or feet have broken skin, suitable taping, gloves or tabi will be worn to cover these areas. If you notice that someone has an open cut or sore you will immediately notify him or her of the fact and cease training with the individual until the appropriate covering is in place. If a person does not immediately remedy the situation you will immediately notify the instructor.
2. Procedure for Wounds Incurred During Training
If a wound becomes uncovered, open, or is bleeding even to a minor extent during training, the person bleeding shall immediately stop training and leave the mat until the bleeding stops and the wound is securely covered as described below. Immediate measures shall be taken to stop the bleeding. If the injured person needs assistance with this procedure, each person so assisting shall wear a pair of latex gloves (which are available at the training area first aid table). All used gloves and bloody cloths or dressings will be placed in a leak-proof plastic bag provided for that purpose, and disposed of carefully. Hands shall be washed with soap and hot water immediately after gloves are removed. Minor blood stains on dogi will be treated with a disinfectant solution available at the first aid table. If there are major blood stains or soiling, the dogi shall be removed immediately, placed in a leak-proof container, and handled carefully until it can be laundered or disposed of.
3. Procedures for Contact with Another’s Blood
If you come into contact with the blood of another, make an immediate attempt to locate and alert the individual who is the source of the bleeding, leave the mat, and follow Procedure 2 above.
4. Procedures for Blood on the Mat
If blood becomes present on the mat during training, the partner of the person bleeding will ensure that other students training do not come into contact with the blood. The blood, regardless of amount, will be cleaned up immediately by wiping down the exposed surface with disinfectant solution provided for that purpose. Each person assisting in this task shall wear latex gloves (available at the training area first aid table.) and shall dispose of the gloves and cloths used for cleanup in the manner described in Procedure 2 above. Upon completion of the cleanup, each assisting person shall wash his or her hands with soap and hot water immediately after gloves are removed.
5. Responsibility for Health and Safety on the Mat
There are diseases and illnesses other than those known to be transmitted through blood and bodily fluids. You are reminded that you are responsible for not only your own health and safety, but also the health and safety of your training partners. If you know or suspect that you have any illness which might affect or infect others, or which might impair your ability to train safely, you have the obligation to refrain from training until you are not a risk to others.
Section 2
I acknowledge that the sponsors of The May Workshop, and the facility host - CYO Retreat Center, carry no insurance against liability for injury to any of its students or persons present at the May Workshop at CYO Retreat Center (hereafter referred to as “The May Workshop”). I agree that before using the mat or any equipment at The May Workshop, I will inspect the facilities and equipment I use, and if I believe anything is unsafe, I will immediately advise the instructor present and will refuse to participate in training any further.
I agree that I know and understand and will follow all safety procedures in using equipment and training weapons at The May Workshop. I agree that at no time will I bring steel swords or other non-training weapons to The May Workshop training area (hereafter referred to as “training area“) without the written consent of instructor Mr. Robert Nadeau. If there is any question as to what proper safety procedures are, I will specifically ask Mr. Nadeau or the instructor at the training area.
I have been advised not to attempt any skill level in training or any other activity of which I am not fully capable. I realize that the study of Aikido requires proper conditioning and training.
I fully understand that:
A. There are risks and dangers associated with Aikido training including but not limited to bodily injury, communicable diseases, partial or total disability, paralysis and death. In accordance with the law, the sponsors of The May Workshop, do not exclude individuals with medical conditions that do not pose a medically recognized threat to the health or safety of other students in the normal course of training. I understand that there are some unavoidable circumstances where these conditions may require special caution on my part to minimize danger to myself and others, and I acknowledge that it is my responsibility to act accordingly.
B. In particular, I understand that some students may be infected with diseases such as HIV/AIDS or Hepatitus-B which can be transmitted by exchanges of blood or other bodily fluids and that I may be training with them. I acknowledge that I have read and will follow explicitly The May Workshop Blood-Borne Pathogen Policy, a copy of which is attached to this release, Consent and Assumption of Risk Statement;
C. There are social and economic losses and damages which could result from those risks and dangers described above which could be severe:
D. These risks and dangers may be caused by my negligence, the negligence of my training partner, or the negligence of others around me who are training or doing any other activity, or by the negligence of The May Workshop or other agents or instructors of The May Workshop;
E. There may be other risks not known or foreseeable at this time which could arise.I EXPRESSLY AND VOLUNTARILY ASSUME ALL RISKS OF DEATH, ILLNESS, OR INJURY SUSTAINED WHILE PARTICIPATING IN OR OBSERVING THE APRIL WORKSHOP, WHETHER OR NOT CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES DESCRIBED IN 7 BELOW.
I accept and assume all such risk and responsibility for all losses and damages following any such injury, illness, disability, paralysis or death, however caused or alleged to be caused including injuries caused in whole or in part by the negligence of The May Workshop, its representatives, agents, employees, instructors, or other participants, or owners or lessees of the premises, CYO Retreat Center including their officers, directors, agents and employees.
I release CYO Retreat Center, The May Workshop, Mr. Robert Nadeau, and other guest teachers of The May Workshop, agents and employees of and all individuals associated with The May Workshop (hereinafter referred to as “the released parties”) from any and all liability, claims, demands or actions whatsoever arising out of the damage, loss or injury to me while upon The May Workshop premises or while participating in Aikido training or any other activities contemplated by this agreement, whether such loss, damage, or injury results from negligence or otherwise.
I agree that this Release, Consent and Assumption of Risk Statement covers each and every time that I train or otherwise participate in any activity, listed or unlisted, at The May Workshop
I agree that I WILL NOT SUE OR MAKE A CLAIM AGAINST the released parties as the result of my participation at The May Workshop or at any other location where training takes place.
I agree to INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS THE RELEASED PARTIES from all claims, judgments and costs including attorney’s fees incurred in connection with any action brought as a result of my participation in any activity at The May Workshop.
I understand that Aikido is an educational system. I agree to strictly abide by the training rules posted at the dojo and to follow explicitly all instructions given by instructors during the course of my training. I agree to watch out for others in the training area and while training on the mat and to follow all the rules posted and otherwise explained to me. Should I break any of these rules, I understand that it is the decision of Mr. Nadeau whether or not I may continue training. I will abide by his decision.
In signing this agreement I am stating that I know what I am doing, that I take responsibility for my own acts, that I have read carefully and understand this agreement and that I fully agree with each statement contained in this agreement and that I am responsible for myself and will be considerate of others. I am aware that I may have the agreement reviewed by legal counsel.
I understand that this Release, Consent and Assumption of Risk Statement is in effect from the moment I arrive until the moment I leave The May Workshop at CYO Retreat Center, even if I am not training when something happens.
I have read and understood, and agree to explicitly follow The May Workshop Blood-Borne Pathogen Policy which is attached to this Release, Consent and Assumption of Risk Statement.
If any portion of this agreement shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable to any extent and for any reason by any Court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this agreement shall not be affected thereby and shall be enforceable to the full extent permitted by law, proper conditioning and training.