Campaigning For Regulatory Reform In Martial Arts
Our Position
We don’t believe it’s the Government’s place to directly regulate martial arts — but we do believe our sector must take urgent, unified action to protect those who participate in it. Working together, we must establish and adopt clear, universal minimum standards that safeguard children, protect adults at risk, and uphold the integrity of martial arts in every community. Reform doesn’t need to come from legislation — it needs to come from within.
BMABA has long led this charge. We've proactively developed industry-leading protocols, qualifications, and compliance frameworks covering safeguarding, head injury and concussion management, trauma-informed coaching, mental health first aid, and disability inclusion. Thousands of our instructors and clubs have voluntarily adopted these higher standards — accepting rigorous vetting, compliance audits, and enhanced oversight not because they’re mandatory, but because it’s the right thing to do. This is how we keep children safe. This is how we protect the future of martial arts.
What We're Doing to Push This Forward
At BMABA, we’ve never waited for permission to lead. Our #RegulationReady campaign is a national call-to-action for clubs and instructors who want to futureproof their coaching and demonstrate a clear commitment to safety, ethics, and professionalism. This isn’t just about ticking boxes — it’s about building a culture of accountability. The initiative provides a structured, accessible route for instructors and clubs to vet their in-house credentials — such as DBS checks, safeguarding qualifications, insurance, and first aid — against nationally benchmarked standards. With peer-to-peer benchmarking, clubs can also gauge their performance relative to others, fostering transparency and sector-wide growth.
But #RegulationReady goes far beyond account verification. It helps clubs embed best practice through model policies, inclusive frameworks, and guidance on everything from trauma-informed coaching and SEN provision to concussion protocols and safeguarding culture. We support clubs in transforming their internal ethos — creating safer environments for students, and more confident, compliant spaces for instructors to operate.
We’ve walked the walk for years. BMABA has been an active member of the Martial Arts Safeguarding Group (MASG) since 2017, and we were among the first organisations to champion and uphold the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts (SCiMA) from its very inception. Our in-house Club Colours Award already exceeds SCiMA requirements, showcasing our robust approach to governance, risk management, and safeguarding delivery at scale.
No stone has been left unturned. We’ve adopted ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems, voluntarily undergoing external audits to ensure our processes meet internationally recognised standards. We’re proudly affiliated with trusted national bodies including the Sport and Recreation Alliance, Sport Wales, SportScotland, and the Welsh Sports Association — affirming our place in the broader sporting community while pushing martial arts forward.
Despite our impact, BMABA has received no public funding or national financial support for these initiatives. We’ve made repeated attempts to engage directly with major stakeholders — including Sport England — but independent martial arts often fall through the cracks of traditional frameworks. With no available funding and little institutional backing, we’ve self-funded every element of our campaigning, training development, and standard-setting. Time and again, we’ve made decisions that go against commercial gain to uphold the greater good — because for us, safeguarding lives and preserving the integrity of martial arts will always come before profit.
No other martial arts organisation in the UK is moving this fast, doing this much, or pushing this hard for a safer, more inclusive, and better-regulated future. We’re not waiting for change — we’re building it.
Setting the Standards Others Will Follow
Regulation doesn’t need to mean red tape. For us, it’s about clarity, safety, and fairness — for everyone.
By creating clear, nationally accepted minimum standards, we make it easier for:
Parents to quickly understand whether a club is safe and reputable
Stakeholders (schools, funders, local authorities) to assess standards and compliance
Instructors and club owners to understand exactly what’s expected of them
This transparency allows martial arts to grow — ethically, safely, and with legitimacy. It also protects the very students and communities we all serve.
Sparring & Concussion: National Concussion Protocols
While BMABA does not sanction or endorse competitive events, we’ve taken bold steps to lead on safety in sparring, contact, and grappling. Our nationally recognised Head Injury & Concussion Management Policy is considered the gold standard across the UK by thousands of independent clubs.
This is supported by our free, digital Return to Play (RtP) Protocol — a phased, clinically informed recovery system designed to help clubs responsibly manage suspected head injuries. Developed with medical experts, the system enables instructors to:
> Record and triage head injuries
> Monitor symptoms and recovery
> Apply graduated return-to-play stages
> Refer to healthcare professionals where necessary
This is not an optional extra — it’s essential for any club teaching contact martial arts. BMABA has been years ahead in safeguarding students through structured, accountable head injury protocols.
Safeguarding Children & Adults At Risk
Safeguarding is not a policy — it’s a culture. BMABA has built one of the UK’s most comprehensive safeguarding frameworks, ensuring every member instructor is vetted, trained, and supported to protect students at every level.
All BMABA instructors are required to meet rigorous safeguarding standards, including:
> Enhanced DBS checks
> Accredited safeguarding qualifications
> Appointed welfare officers
> Regular policy reviews and compliance audits
We go further by mandating trauma-informed training, mental health first aid, and inclusion protocols — helping clubs move beyond basic compliance toward meaningful protection. Our safeguarding frameworks help instructors deliver safer lessons, reassure parents, and build trust in the heart of the community.
Trauma-Informed Practice
Trauma affects how people learn, trust, and engage — especially in martial arts, where discipline, contact, and authority are core components. BMABA is the first martial arts body in the UK to embed trauma-informed coaching into our safeguarding expectations and instructor development pathways. Our trauma-informed qualifications help instructors:
> Understand Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
> Spot trauma responses in students
> Deliver compassionate, structured coaching
> Avoid re-traumatisation through poor communication or unsafe practice
This is about creating emotionally safe spaces for learning — not just physically safe ones. Our approach is shaping a new standard for ethical instruction in martial arts, especially in high-need communities.
Disability Inclusion & SEN Support
Inclusion isn’t a policy — it’s a responsibility. BMABA is leading the way in ensuring students with disabilities or additional needs are welcomed, supported, and safeguarded within martial arts environments. We require every club to:
> Appoint a SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator)
> Adopt a written Inclusion Policy
> Complete CPD training in adapting lessons for diverse needs
> Follow best practice for physical accessibility and emotional support
Our inclusion protocols are supported by practical guidance, community consultation, and ongoing development. BMABA clubs are not only open to all — they are actively prepared to meet the needs of all students.
Our Commitment to Reform, Safety, and the Future of Martial Arts
We will continue to fight for meaningful reform in UK martial arts — not through restrictive legislation or bureaucratic mandates, but through leadership, collaboration, and a shared ambition for a safer, stronger, and more inclusive future.
Martial arts has the power to change lives. It builds physical strength, mental resilience, discipline, and community. It offers profound social benefits, especially for young people, those at risk, and communities that are too often overlooked or under-supported. We believe that everyone — regardless of background, ability, or circumstance — deserves access to safe, ethical martial arts. But that access must be underpinned by clear standards, trusted systems, and responsible leadership.
That’s why BMABA will continue to evolve and champion the gold standard for professional martial arts instruction. We will keep investing in the frameworks, qualifications, and best practice guidance that define what excellence looks like — and we will support instructors and clubs across the country in meeting and exceeding those expectations.
We call on all stakeholders — including local authorities, schools, safeguarding bodies, community organisations, and national agencies — to engage with us in building a better martial arts sector. Most importantly, we urge government departments such as DCMS, and national sporting bodies like Sport England, Sport Wales, and Sport Scotland, to set clear, universal minimum standards that apply across all martial arts disciplines, and to prioritise working with trusted organisations like BMABA CIC to roll these out urgently across independent martial arts.
Change is already happening — from the ground up. But to protect the future of martial arts, and to ensure it continues to serve and inspire generations to come, we must act together — and we must act now.
