Last updated 21 October 2026
Privacy policy
This policy covers the EmptyHands student app: the app in the App Store and Google Play and the same app on our website. It’s run by EmptyHands KaraTe School (St Andrews Church Hall, The Drive, Ilford IG1). You can contact us at info@emptyhands.co.uk or on 07931 300470.
What we collect
- Account details you give us: email address, password (stored only in encrypted form by our sign-in provider), the student’s name, an optional parent or guardian name and phone number, the classes attended, which dojo, and karate grade.
- Messages and posts: what you write in the group chat, the training journal and private messages to Sensei, and which homework you’ve ticked off.
- App activity: when you last read each channel, so we can show what’s new.
- Notification token: if you turn on notifications, a code from Apple or Google that lets us send notices to your phone.
We don’t collect your location, contacts, photos or advertising identifiers. The app has no adverts or tracking, and we don’t sell or share your information with anyone for marketing.
How we use it
- To run your account and show the dojo calendar dates and notices that apply to you.
- So Sensei (our instructors) can see who is registered, accept new students, set homework and get in touch about classes, gradings and dojo closures.
- To run the group chat, training journal and private messages.
- To send notifications, if you’ve turned them on.
Our lawful basis is our legitimate interest in running classes for our students, and your consent for notifications (which you can turn off at any time in your phone’s settings).
Who can see it
Only EmptyHands Sensei can see student details and private messages. Group chat and training journal posts can be seen by every accepted student and their family, so please don’t share private information there. Information is stored with Google Firebase: student details in Cloud Firestore in London, and sign-in details in Firebase Authentication, which Google may process outside the UK under its standard data protection terms. Notifications are delivered by Firebase Cloud Messaging and Apple Push Notification service. They process data on our behalf only.
Children
Many of our students are children. A parent or guardian should create the account for a child under 13 and can manage or delete it at any time.
How long we keep it
We keep your information while you have an account. If you stop training with us we may remove you from the student list. You can delete your account at any time.
Deleting your account and your rights
In the app, go to Profile → Delete my account. This permanently deletes your profile and sign-in. You can also email us to ask for a copy of your information, to correct it or to delete it. If you’re unhappy with how we handle your information you can complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ico.org.uk).