The Reality of Martial Arts in the UK

Martial arts can be a fantastic activity for children, providing confidence, discipline, fitness, and self-defence skills. The vast majority of clubs are run by well-intentioned instructors who want to see children succeed and develop. However, it is important to recognise that not all martial arts clubs operate to the same standard.

Some clubs are purely commercially driven, focused on maximising profits rather than ensuring high-quality training and safeguarding. Worse still, some clubs are completely unsafe, either due to poor training standards or, in rare cases, deliberate negligence and abuse.

Unlike many other sports, martial arts in the UK is entirely unregulated. This means that anyone can buy a black belt, call themselves an instructor, and start teaching classes without any checks, qualifications, or safeguards in place. This gives potential access to children without any oversight, which is why it’s crucial for parents to do their own research before enrolling their child in a club.

Who Are BMABA?

The British Martial Arts & Boxing Association (BMABA) is a multi-award-winning martial arts association and a not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC). We are widely regarded as the leading independent organisation for safeguarding in martial arts and work extensively with Sport England’s Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts (SCiMA).

We are also the only independent martial arts association with a dedicated safeguarding and compliance unit, meaning we take safeguarding incredibly seriously. If a club or instructor is BMABA-registered, it means they have gone through our stringent vetting process and are held to the highest possible standards.

Why Choose a BMABA Instructor?

BMABA-registered instructors are subject to extensive checks, making them one of the safest choices for parents looking for a martial arts class for their child. Our rigorous vetting process includes checks on:

• Technical ability – ensuring instructors hold legitimate black belts or equivalent qualifications.
• Professional suitability – requiring instructors to hold an enhanced DBS check, safeguarding qualifications, first aid training, and public liability insurance.
• Ongoing compliance – maintaining the highest safeguarding standards through continual professional development.

While no process can ever fully guarantee a ‘safe’ instructor, we provide a wealth of tools and resources to help our instructors upskill and improve safeguarding within their clubs. We also operate a zero-tolerance policy on safeguarding failures.

As a parent, you can verify whether an instructor is BMABA-licensed and see what checks they have passed by visiting bmaba.org.uk/verify.

What Can Parents Do to Ensure a Safe Club?

Before enrolling your child in a martial arts class, you should ensure the instructor and club meet two key criteria:

1. Technical Ability

Your child’s instructor should have legitimate experience and credentials. A good standard is a 1st Dan Black Belt or equivalent in any style that uses gradings. If the style does not use belt ranks (such as Muay Thai or MMA), check their background, experience, and affiliations.

You should be satisfied not just with their qualifications but also with who awarded them their grade or qualification. Do some research—Google their name and check for public domain verifications like association databases or governing body websites.

2. Professional Suitability

Any instructor working with children should have the following as a minimum:

• An enhanced DBS check (England & Wales) or an active PVG enrolment (Scotland), renewed annually.
• Recognised safeguarding qualifications.
• First aid training.
• Public liability insurance.

What Else Should a Good Club Have?

• A Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to handle concerns.
• Comprehensive safeguarding, compliance, and conduct policies.
• A clear complaints process.
• A SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) to support children with additional needs.

What You Should Check

• Don’t be afraid to ask for proof of DBS checks, safeguarding qualifications, and policies.
• Check the club’s website – does it list safeguarding processes and a governing body affiliation?
• Verify their governing body – Does the association they claim to belong to have clear safeguarding policies?

What to Do if You Have Concerns

If you’re unsure about a club’s standards, raise your concerns with them before your child starts training. If you don’t receive a satisfactory response, avoid the club.

If your child is already training and you have concerns, follow the club’s safeguarding protocol. If your concerns are not taken seriously, escalate them to the governing body.

Find a BMABA-Licensed Instructor

To ensure your child’s instructor has been vetted to the highest standard, search for BMABA-registered instructors at: http://britishmartialartsandboxingassociation.org.uk/