Raising Standards in Martial Arts
Professionalising Practice. Protecting Students. Preserving Tradition.
Why Standards Matter Now More Than Ever
Proactively Building a Safer Martial Arts Sector
BMABA has been at the forefront of UK martial arts reform for years. We’ve proactively developed and implemented comprehensive standards that far exceed the industry norm — not because it’s required, but because it’s right. This includes:
Safeguarding frameworks that are used as national reference points
Mandatory DBS checks, safeguarding qualifications, and first aid for all instructors
Trauma-informed coaching, mental health first aid, and disability inclusion training baked into professional development
Welfare Officer and SENCO appointments required for every affiliated club
Gold-standard concussion protocols and return-to-play systems — adopted even without event sanctioning responsibilities
These are more than minimum standards. They’re a cultural shift — one that gives parents peace of mind, instructors a clear code of conduct, and students a genuinely safe space to learn and grow.
Technology Built for Accountability
We know that creating frameworks is only half the battle. Without digital systems that enforce, validate, and make those standards accessible, they become hollow. That’s why BMABA has invested heavily in sector-leading technology — offering the most advanced digital infrastructure in UK martial arts today.
Our in-house platforms provide instructors with the tools they need to record compliance, track professional development, and automatically validate key credentials like insurance, safeguarding, DBS, and first aid. And unlike paper certificates or outdated PDFs, our platforms are dynamic and verifiable.
Every BMABA-registered instructor is linked to a real-time National Records Database — searchable by parents, schools, stakeholders, and the public. This system makes it quick and easy to confirm whether an instructor is genuinely qualified, insured, and compliant. It helps good clubs prove their legitimacy — and helps expose those who may otherwise try to fly under the radar.
No other martial arts organisation in the UK offers this level of public-facing transparency. It’s one more way we’re changing the conversation from “trust us” to “check for yourself.”
Raising the Bar — Not the Barrier
We believe in raising standards — not making it harder for good instructors to teach. That’s why our systems are designed to be supportive, not punitive. We provide:
Clear guidance and templates to help clubs meet expectations
Support from trained safeguarding professionals and compliance staff
Step-by-step pathways for upskilling and achieving higher credentials
Peer-to-peer benchmarking and coaching development plans
By embedding support and education into our compliance model, we help passionate instructors become professional leaders — with the confidence to teach safely and the credibility to grow sustainably.
Looking Ahead: Raising Standards Across the Sector
We know that raising standards in one organisation isn’t enough. That’s why we’re calling on the wider martial arts sector to come together around clear, universal minimum standards. We’ve already developed the frameworks, systems, and qualifications needed — now we need alignment, cooperation, and rollout at scale.
BMABA continues to engage with stakeholders across government, education, community sport, and safeguarding to build consensus around what safe, inclusive, and professional martial arts delivery should look like. We’re ready to lead — and ready to support others in joining us.
