The choice of more than 6,500 instructors and clubs nationwide.
Multi-Award Winning, Not For Profit, Politics Free & Completely Independent
Built To Raise Standards. Designed To Support Clubs. Committed To Doing Things Right.
We’re not just another association. BMABA CIC is a completely independent, multi-award-winning, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping clubs thrive — from safeguarding and insurance to qualifications, compliance, and technology.
Our job is to help you grow your club and raise standards, without the politics, red tape, or outdated ‘old boys’ networks’ that hold too many martial arts organisations back.
Founded in 2012 with just £20 and a mission to change the industry, today we support more than 100,000 members across 6,500 clubs and 100 disciplines throughout the UK.
The UK’s Leading Independent Trade Body for Martial Arts Instructors & Clubs
We’re completely self-funded, not for profit, and proudly politics free. BMABA CIC is run by martial artists, for martial artists — supporting clubs and instructors who are serious about doing things right. That’s why more than 100,000 members across 6,500 clubs in 100 disciplines trust us to lead from the front.
Celebrating 13 years 🎉
Take Back Control Of Your Club
We’ve passionately believed that for far too long clubs have been forced to withstand politics, control and who’s who within their association. It’s not fair, and doesn’t need to be the case.
It’s your club and only you know best what helps support your students. If you’re looking to go indepedent without dropping standards or losing support, BMABA could be the right fit for you.
BMABA vs NGBs — The Real Picture
There is no legal or Sport England-backed requirement to join a National Governing Body (NGB) in martial arts. BMABA CIC is not anti-NGB — we welcome and support clubs that hold NGB recognition when it’s the right fit. But we also understand that, for many, the cost, red tape, or internal politics can be a barrier.
We’re here to offer a credible, professional alternative — with or without NGB membership.
Sector-Leading Standards & Recognition
The Highest Standards. No Compromises.
No other independent martial arts organisation — or NGB — offers the same breadth and credibility of recognition. BMABA CIC is proud to hold ISO9001:2015 certification under UKAS accreditation (Cert No. 267261), UK Learning Provider status, CPD Group accreditation, and SCiMA authorisation to issue the Sport England Safeguarding Code In House. We don’t just meet the standard — we help define it.
We're here to help your club grow, the right way.
We’re experts in helping clubs grow ethically and professionally, with a focus on the best outcomes for your students.
Whether it’s in IT, marketing or social media through to safeguarding, insurance or legalities – BMABA can help your club reach new heights. This is always driven on the basis of being sustainable, ethical and fair.
A Professionally Run Organisation, Not A Political Quango
We set four key promises to our members back in 2012, and to date we’ve stood by each and every commitment.
- The greater benefit of our community will always come before profit
- We will always remain autonomous and independent
- We'll never try and govern anything we're not experts in
- We'll never accept cash for grades or status
BMABA is a martial arts trade body fit for the 2020's.
Professionally Run
We have a dedicated team led by our Chief Executive Officer from our purpose-built 1,250sqft offices in West Sussex - not a kitchen table.
Unparallel Resources
We believe if you put the number of resources and tools BMABA offer against that of your current offering, there will be absolutely no chance we're not the better value for money.
Techhnological Innovators
Technology and the modern world isn't going to go backwards, so your club needs to move forwards. Too much of the competition remains in the 1990s. We're at the forefront of digital innovation in martial arts.
Led By Industry Experts
Whilst we're proud to have a dedicated team of specialists in the office (Customer Services, Safeguarding, Operations etc) we have some of the martial arts world's top talent guiding our technical matters and procedures.
MULTI-AWARD WINNING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR
Founded in 2012 by the now renowned Giovanni Soffietto.
Imagine a natural born entrepreneur and life-long martial artist who, despite being born into poverty, could setup with just £20 a now multi-award winning national organisation that champions everything martial arts. That’s us in a nutshell.
Not sure if we're the right fit?
Lots of new members tell us their old association tried to scare them away from joining with tales of cowboys, scams or just about anything else they could dream up.
