Qualifications & CPD Development
Compliance
Coaching
Social Impact
Technical
Setting the Bar for Martial Arts Education
At BMABA, we believe professional standards in martial arts start with proper training. That’s why we’ve built a qualifications and CPD (Continuing Professional Development) framework from the ground up — one that’s tailored exclusively for martial arts and built to meet the demands of real-world instruction.
For too long, martial arts instructors have had to rely on generic or outdated courses that fail to understand the nuance of what happens on the mats. We’ve changed that. Our qualifications are written by martial artists, for martial artists — combining the discipline and tradition of martial arts with modern educational principles, safeguarding insight, and national teaching standards.
Flagship Qualifications With Real-World Impact
Our qualification suite has been designed to help instructors at every stage of their journey — from entry-level coaches to seasoned instructors seeking specialisms or advanced credentials.
Our Level 1 and Level 2 Martial Arts Instructor Qualifications provide the foundation for safe, effective, and structured teaching. These nationally respected courses cover everything from lesson planning and student development to ethics, safeguarding, and health and safety — providing clubs with instructors who are genuinely qualified, not just technically capable.
We’re proud to lead the sector with specialist qualifications such as our Trauma-Informed Coaching Certification, which gives instructors the tools to recognise and respond to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) with empathy and structure. This is a game-changer in community settings, where many students carry complex personal histories.
Our CHIMA Award — the Concussion and Head Injury Management Award for Martial Arts — sets a new national standard for safety in contact and sparring. It empowers instructors with up-to-date clinical knowledge, supported by our Return to Play protocols and concussion risk frameworks.
We’re also equipping clubs to be more inclusive with the SENCO for Martial Arts qualification — the first of its kind in the UK — which helps clubs understand and support students with special educational needs and disabilities.
Beyond safety and inclusion, we offer essential training in Serious Youth Violence (SYV), helping instructors understand their role in prevention, intervention, and community engagement — particularly in at-risk areas. Our specialist courses also cover pedagogy, safeguarding leadership, risk management, syllabus and grading design, and even entrepreneurial and social enterprise awards, helping clubs grow both ethically and sustainably.
Accreditation, Quality & Recognition
All of BMABA’s qualifications and CPD courses are delivered in line with the ACCREDDITED framework, ensuring consistency, transparency, and national alignment. We’re proudly certified by the CPD Group, one of the UK’s most recognised CPD accreditation bodies — and we’re officially listed on the UK Register of Learning Providers (UKRLP).
We are already well underway in the process of building a fully RQF-aligned qualification — the Recognised Qualification Framework — which would represent one of the first nationally recognised qualifications written specifically for martial arts instructors. This is a major milestone not just for BMABA, but for the martial arts sector as a whole, and reinforces our mission to push the industry towards professional parity with other sports and education fields.
Learning That Fits the Modern Instructor
Training shouldn’t be a barrier — it should be an opportunity. That’s why all of our courses and qualifications are designed to be accessible anytime, anywhere. Whether on desktop, tablet, or mobile, our training platform allows instructors to upskill around their own schedule, with easy access to materials, assessments, and certification.
We use digital architecture that makes training interactive, engaging, and up to modern standards — giving instructors and clubs the tools they need to stay up to date and fully compliant without compromising on quality or convenience.
Empowering Better Instructors, Safer Clubs, Stronger Communities
Our qualifications aren’t about prestige — they’re about purpose. Every certificate issued, every CPD course completed, represents a step towards a more professional, accountable martial arts sector. One that puts student safety, instructor competence, and ethical delivery at the heart of every session.
Whether you’re an instructor looking to level up, a club seeking to raise its standards, or a stakeholder seeking credible training for community coaches — BMABA’s qualifications are the benchmark.
Train with confidence. Qualify with purpose. Teach with pride.
