Communicable Conditions

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[Unregistered]

Has anyone ever "caught" something from a dojo? Have communicable conditions ever been an issue, since there is such close contact at an aikido dojo? Lice, athlete's foot, scabies, ringworm, etc...

Just wondering...I recently caught something and have been wondering what the probability of someone at my dojo giving it to me (and spreading it to others :( ) is.

[BC]

I know someone who got a nasty skin condition/rash from a dirty university wrestling mat where he had assisted in classes.

[warriorwoman]

Mats, especially canvas ones, are an potential sources of communicating a variety of nasty things. If you are training in a dojo where the sensei is responsible, there should be someone assigned to cleaning the mat with a chlorine, peroxide, or other germicidal solution after every practice session.

janet dtantirojanarat

www.warriorwoman.org

[pointy]

common colds do seem to get around at our dojo. i've been really stringent more recently about washing my hands right after class.

sometimes i think i get pimples on my forehead from lying face down on the mat. but who knows..

[Michael Owen]

SYPHILIS

[JJF]

Mats, especially canvas ones, are an potential sources of communicating a variety of nasty things. If you are training in a dojo where the sensei is responsible, there should be someone assigned to cleaning the mat with a chlorine, peroxide, or other germicidal solution after every practice session.

janet dtantirojanarat

www.warriorwoman.org
I have only practiced on canvas mats a few times, so I have little experience in that issue.

With regards to the 'disinfection' of mats after each practice I have to disagree. It is not allways a good thing to keep everything sterile. In dansih hospitals it was custom to use surgical spirit for allmost any type of cleaning which led to killing allmost every germ. ALLMOST. Actually it appeared that killing all those germs that couldn't handle the rough treatment gave bette living conditions for the less sensitive germs, thereby in reality increasing the number of serious infections.

The proper thing to do is to use surgical spirits/other disinfectants only when it is absolutely needed, and for all other places just use soap and water.

Recent recearch (the way I have heard it refered) show as well that a certain amount of dust and germs helps to maintain our imunity towards these dangers. So we should beware of becomming too tidy, and find a good balance in cleaning as well as in our aikido.

Germs are not necessarily bad, but of course we should keep our mats clean. I recommend washing the mats on a regular basis (every second training session or so) with water and a mild soap (no perfume).

Just a few thoughts from a dirty mind :)

[Unregistered]

Has anyone ever "caught" something from a dojo?
I never saw any information on the difference between canvas and other types of matts. I know of a school that wound up getting ringworm and the athlete's foot bacteria in their matts and they were the new Swain or Zebra tatami type matts.

I know that when I was an uchi-deshi many of us were in a constant state of fighting colds, but we trained with the kids too (9 jr. classes per week). I only got sick once, but it was a doozie.

I think that's where the courtesy of hygene comes in. Like, don't cough into your hand then grab someone in katate dori, don't wipe your nose on your gi, and if you've got feverish chills, just sit the classes out 'til you're recovered.

anon

[Unregistered]

Colds go around our dojo, but colds also go around the office and especially around day-care centers. Think twice before shaking hands with a three year old.

I've only caught foot yuckies (in my case plantar's warts) from a public swimming pool.

[Unregistered]

Conjunctivitis. But not at my current dojo.

[rachmass]

Athletes foot goes around a lot in the winter time or at summer camps. A bleach solution of water in summer for cleaning the feet before getting on the mat seems to cure all the summer foot ickies, however I don't know why this isnt the practice more in the winter (the rationale I've been told is we have dirty feet when we are outside without shoes on, or with sandals). I've seen folks get some kind of major rash happening on their wrists at summer camp if they have particularly hairy wrists. Otherwise, colds, flus and the like. I make it a point never to train if I am sick, because it really PO's me when someone doesn't afford me that same curtousey.

best,

Rachel

[Janet Rosen]

The first winter I helped with kids classes I had colds and laryngitis FOUR times! Then I wised up and made a beeline from the mat to the sink, and before doing anything, esp touching my own face, scrubbed well with soap and water. Since then, nothing.

It is possible that fungi or under some conditions bacteria could start thriving on a mat. Basic cleaning, without antimicrobials, will work to keep the bacterial count to "normal" and in terms of fungi if the surfaces are kept clean and DRY they should not (pardon the expression...) gain a toehold.

If its verified that more than one persons have picked up a specific infection from a mat, then, yes, an appropriate antifungal or antimicrobial should be used.