The independent martial arts governing body for clubs who answer to nobody else.
BMABA CIC is a not-for-profit professional standards body serving more than 6,500 instructors and around 1,500 clubs across over 200 disciplines. Insurance, licensing, safeguarding, CPD, compliance and a full technology estate, from a Community Interest Company that reinvests every penny by law.
Who we are, in about thirty seconds
We are an independent martial arts governing body. Not a style, not a federation, and not a trade club. We set standards for clubs that operate outside the recognised NGB system, and then we give them everything they need to meet those standards.
What that means in practice. Insurance and student licensing on a master policy. DBS, PVG and AccessNI vetting. CPD accredited qualifications from induction to senior coach. A safeguarding lead you can phone. A live compliance framework. And a club management platform, website builder and email system we wrote ourselves, included rather than sold.
Why you can take a punt on us. We are certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 under UKAS accreditation, approved by Sport England to issue Safeguarding Code recognition directly, named in the House of Commons by the Minister for Sport, and regulated as a Community Interest Company with an asset lock. And affiliate membership is free permanently, so you can test every word of that without spending anything.
An introduction to BMABA, in a couple of minutes.
Straight Answers, From The People Who Built It
Short videos on who we are, how our cover works and what membership actually gives a club. No jargon, no sales script, and nobody reading from a card.
Independently Certified.
Externally Verified.
We do not mark our own homework. Every credential below is issued, audited or overseen by an external body with the power to withdraw it.
-
ISO 9001:2015 Certified
The world's most recognised quality management standard. Our processes, governance and conduct are independently audited every year under UKAS accreditation, the same benchmark used for hospitals, universities, and major corporations.
-
ISO 27001:2022 Certified
The international standard for information security, held alongside ISO 9001 as a UK martial arts first. Your club's data, your members' details and our digital infrastructure sit inside an independently audited security management system.
-
Regulated Community Interest Company
We're overseen by the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies, with a legal asset lock that means our income must serve our community purpose forever. Not-for-profit as a legal structure, not a slogan.
-
Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts
The Sport England-approved national safeguarding standard. We hold organisational certification and are the only independent martial arts body authorised to issue SCiMA certification to clubs in-house, through our free Club Colours programme.
-
CIMSPA Training Provider Partner
Recognised by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity. Our CPD and qualifications are developed to CIMSPA's national professional standards, with programmes submitted for formal endorsement, confirmed course by course.
-
Cyber Essentials Certified
A UK Government-backed scheme confirming we hold essential security controls to protect our systems, data, and users from common cyber threats. A key mark of trust when handling sensitive safeguarding and membership data.
-
Certified Social Enterprise
Independently certified by Social Enterprise UK as a genuine business for good. Our income is reinvested into grassroots martial arts, youth projects, and instructor support, not shareholders or private interests.
-
UK Register of Learning Providers
A recognised organisation on the UK Government's official Register of Learning Providers under UKPRN 10098149, affirming our legitimacy as an education and training provider able to work credibly with funding bodies, employers, and public agencies.
-
Registered With The ICO
Legally registered under UK data protection law, meeting our obligations under the Data Protection Act and UK GDPR. Together with ISO 27001, it protects the personal data of every member, club, and partner we work with.
The partner behind the scenes for organisations across UK martial arts
A great deal of our work never carries our name. Style associations, federations and national bodies use our infrastructure, our vetting, our insurance schemes and our technology to serve their own members, because building it themselves would cost more than it is worth.
If you run an association or federation and want to talk about what that could look like for your members, get in touch.
Everything You Need To Run A World-Class Club In One Place
BMABA membership packs a punch. The idea is simple: everything your club will ever need, all in one place.
Award-Winning Technology & Digital Tools
BMABA's platform includes industry-leading technology designed specifically for martial arts clubs. From our AI-powered lesson planner and risk assessment builder, to SEO planning tools, student management, and even professional club website creation, our digital toolkit helps instructors save time, improve safety, and grow with confidence. All from one login.
- Club Management Software
- Billing & Invoicing
- Free Club Websites
- Free Expert Developer Help
- Digital Tools, Resources & More
Genuinely Audited & Assured Standards
We're not just another logo or membership badge. BMABA CIC is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 under UKAS accreditation, officially recognised by the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts (SCiMA), and independently audited every year. As a regulated social enterprise, our structure, services, and impact are built to withstand scrutiny, so you can trust what's behind the badge.
- Certified to ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 27001:2022 under UKAS accreditation
- Regulated by the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies
- Empowered to issue the Sport England-funded SCiMA Award
Practical Club Resources That Actually Help
From editable certificate templates and CPD course access to a lifetime student grade register for awarding nationally recognised gradings, we provide the kind of day-to-day tools clubs actually need. Need template documents for safeguarding? Customisable policies? Instructor registers? It's all included. Designed by instructors, for instructors.
Instructor-Focused Support With A Solid Community
Running a martial arts club can be isolating, but it doesn't have to be. BMABA offers expert, human support when you need it, backed by a responsive helpdesk and a deep knowledge base. Beyond support, we foster a national community of like-minded instructors through forums, peer networking, and CPD pathways that encourage learning and collaboration. You're never left to figure it out alone.
Run Your Entire Club From One Powerful Platform
Manage every part of your club with ease, from attendance tracking, belt progression, and grading records to student information, safeguarding, and compliance. Our Club Management Platform also includes full billing and automated payments, plus practical tools like incident log books, accounting modules, club planning tools, and more. Built by martial artists, for martial artists.
Plus So Much More As Standard
Just some of the tools and resources included with membership.
- Instructor Certification & Licensing
- Student Insurance & Licensing
- Free Instructor Qualifications
- Safeguarding Qualifications
- Lead Safeguarding (DSL) Award
- Enhanced DBS Checks
- First Aid Training
- CHIMA (Concussion & Head Injury)
- Instructor Training Pathway (ITP)
- Cadet & Assistant Instructor Licensing
- Trauma-Informed Coaching CPD
- SEND Level 1 & 2 Awards
- Mental Health First Aid CPD
- Risk Management Awards
- Safeguarding Code For Martial Arts
- Safeguarding Model Policies
- National Grading Integrity Scheme
- Lifetime Student Grade Register (LSGR)
- Stock Grading Certificates
- Template Documents & Forms
- Best Practice Guidance
- Free Club Website (Flo by BMABA)
- Link-In-Bio Site Builder
- WordPress Hosting & Free Migrations
- Professional Webmail
- AI For Martial Arts
- Lesson Planner & Pedagogy Tool
- Dojo Planner (Syllabus & Curriculum)
- Club Planner & Digital Whiteboard
- Digital Risk Assessment Tool
- Workspace For Martial Arts
- Strategic Dashboard
- SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) Toolkit
- Website Analytics & Tracking Tools
- Domains & DNS Management
- CANVA by BMABA
- Marketing Toolkit For Martial Arts
- Free Taster Session Bookings
- Club Management Support
- Logos & Accreditation Marks
- Printing & Design
- Clothing & Uniform
- Cyber Toolkit
- Cash Grants & Funding
- Budgeting Apps
- Local & National Networking
- National Club Listings & Advertising
- Entrepreneur's Support
- Event Management Checklists
- Plus So Much More
Free Club Management Software. Exclusively Built By Us, Just For Our Clubs.
BMABA’s Club Management Platform is our in-house, professionally developed all-in-one system. It’s free for all of our members, and comes with a tonne of essential and groundbreaking features as standard.
- Attendance & Grade Tracking
- Student Records Management
- Class Bookings & Timetables
- Flexible Payments & Memberships
- Grading Certificates Generator
- Licence Slip & Documents Generator
- Customised Branding & Functionality
- Data Freedom & Ownership
- Leads & Prospects Management
- Online Video Training Library
- 1-to-1 Tuition Management & Billing
- Events Management & Ticketing
- Secure Safeguarding Case Management
- Manage Events & Competitions
- Student Portal & Member's Content
- Concussion & RtP Management
- Digital Incident Log Book
- Digital Risk Assessments
- Task Management
- Registrations & Waivers
- Built-In Club Community & Forums
- Manual Invoicing
- Accounting & Budgeting
- Staff Management & Staffroom
- Calendar & Scheduling
- Business Management & Planning
- Easy To Use Parent Accounts
The club management platform other associations charge for. Ours is included.
Attendance and registers, grade and belt tracking, subscriptions, payments and invoicing, student records, a member portal, safeguarding reporting, digital risk assessments, the incident log, concussion and return to play, budgeting and business planning. One login, one system, everything talking to each other.
We wrote it ourselves rather than reselling somebody else’s, which is why there is no per-student pricing, no seat fees and no commission on your income. It won Best Use Of Technology at the UK Business Awards, and it is funded by our not-for-profit mission rather than by charging you more as you grow.
Everywhere else you might want to go next
Every part of what an independent martial arts governing body should provide, with a page behind it that explains itself properly.
A qualification framework, not a certificate shop.
Every course is CPD accredited, written specifically for martial arts rather than adapted from generic sports coaching, delivered through MyBMABA on browser or app, and examined rather than simply completed. In 2026 we rebuilt the entire catalogue as Generation 2.
The coaching pathway
- BMABA Induction Training Award
- Level 1 Foundation Coach
- Level 2 Qualified Coach
- Level 3 Senior Coach
- Cadet Coaching Award (under 18s)
- Instructor Training Pathway
Safeguarding & welfare
- Child Safeguarding in Martial Arts
- Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
- Trauma-Informed Coaching L1 & L2
- Mental Health First Aid
- Knife Crime & Serious Youth Violence
- Coaching Children & Young People
Inclusion & safety
- SEND in Martial Arts L1 & L2
- Coaching Neurodiversity
- CHIMA concussion management
- First Aid for Martial Arts
- Risk Management
- Curriculum Design & Pedagogy
Running the club
- Club Management Award Level 1
- Club Management Award Level 2
- Event Ready
- National Referee & Officials Award
- Dan grading pathways
- Lifetime Student Grade Register
CIMSPA is the chartered professional body for the UK sport and physical activity sector. We are a recognised Training Provider Partner, and we hold a seat on its Workforce Governance and Registration Scheme advisory board, which means we are involved in setting the workforce standards the sector will be held to rather than only meeting them.
We map our qualifications to recognised professional standards wherever we can, and where a course has been formally submitted, reviewed and certified as CIMSPA Endorsed CPD, we say so on the course itself.
Independent martial arts is the largest unregulated youth activity in Britain, and almost nobody is responsible for it.
There is no legal requirement to be qualified to teach martial arts in the United Kingdom. No licence, no register, no mandatory vetting. For most disciplines there is no recognised national governing body at all, and where one exists it typically serves a competitive pathway rather than the church hall club teaching forty children on a Tuesday.
That gap is not theoretical. It is where safeguarding failures happen, where uninsured clubs operate, and where a parent has no way of telling a serious professional from someone who bought a black belt online.
Our mission is to close it without waiting for legislation. We build the standards, the training, the vetting, the insurance and the technology that a club would otherwise need a governing body, a software vendor, a broker and a compliance consultant to provide, and we make the entry level free so that cost is never the reason a club goes without.
We are, deliberately, easier to join than we are to keep pretending to. Our frameworks check what a club actually does rather than what it says on a form.
Founded in 2012 with twenty pounds and a very specific frustration.
BMABA was not launched by a governing body, a funder or a committee. It was started by an instructor who could not find an association that took safeguarding seriously, did not charge for things that should be free, and did not treat independent clubs as second class.
Fourteen years later we represent more than 6,500 instructors and around 1,500 clubs, have taken no public funding, and have converted to a Community Interest Company with a legal asset lock so that surplus cannot be extracted by anyone. The frustration turned out to be widely shared.
Meet the team and committee
Built by someone who actually trains.
BMABA was founded by Giovanni Soffietto, and it matters that he is a martial artist first. Not an administrator who found a gap in a market, and not a consultant who read about the sector. He trains in both traditional and modern disciplines, has spent years on the mat as a student and an instructor, and still trains weekly now.
That is why the organisation is built the way it is. Martial arts changed the direction of his life at a point where it could easily have gone another way, which is the same thing thousands of instructors say about their own students. Every decision here starts from the assumption that the club in the church hall matters, because that is where it started for him.
He built BMABA from nothing, from a working-class start and twenty pounds, and it is now recognised in Parliament and by Sport England. He has also chosen to lock the money in so that nobody, including him, can take it out. That is not an accident of structure. It is the point.
Membership is designed to pay for itself
We are often asked how a not-for-profit can give away this much. The answer is that we are not giving it away, we are pooling it. Set against what a club typically pays out separately, membership is built to land close to cost neutral, and for a lot of clubs it comes out ahead.
What we are not, said plainly
Being clear about the limits of our authority is part of being trustworthy about the rest of it. We would rather you knew this from us than discovered it later.
We are a private not-for-profit company. We are answerable to the CIC Regulator and we work with government, but we are not part of it and we have never claimed to be. Nobody in this sector is.
No such regulator exists. What we operate is a voluntary standards framework that clubs choose to be held to, and which we will withdraw from a club that falls short. That is meaningfully different from a legal power, and we say so.
Your syllabus, your grades and your lineage remain yours. We record and protect them through the Lifetime Student Grade Register, but we do not award your dan grades or tell you how to teach.
We support dual and multi-affiliation and actively encourage clubs with an applicable recognised NGB to stay registered with them. Very few organisations in this sector will put that in writing.
We provide sector-specific guidance, frameworks and tooling built over fourteen years. Where a question genuinely needs an accountant, a solicitor or a doctor, we will tell you so rather than answer it anyway.
Who has actually checked us
Anyone can describe themselves as a leading association. These are the people with the power to say otherwise.
Three standards, and they build on each other
Most associations offer a logo. These are assessed positions, and the third of them is national recognition we are authorised to issue directly.
RegulationReady
The most comprehensive governance framework in UK martial arts, and it does not sit still. It assesses your club continuously against your own live data across safeguarding, vetting, qualifications, insurance, risk and record keeping. Where you fall short it names what is missing. Where you meet the standard, the mark issues automatically.
Explore RegulationReady
Club Colours
Our flagship award, and the closest thing independent martial arts has to a school of excellence licence. Assessed against safeguarding, governance, professional conduct and student welfare, with passmarks and evidence handled through your dashboard rather than a paper submission. Deliberately harder to earn than membership.
Explore Club Colours
Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts
Our frameworks are mapped directly against the Safeguarding Code and formally approved by Sport England, which makes us the only independent martial arts body able to issue recognition under the Code directly. Eligible clubs earn it through MyBMABA automatically, with no third-party submission and at no cost.
How recognition worksSport England lists the Safeguarding Code on its own safeguarding pages. A club displaying recognition under it is making a claim that somebody else has checked, which is precisely what makes it worth displaying.
Ministerial Commendation And Parliamentary Recognition
“Organisations such as the British Martial Arts and Boxing Association support unaffiliated martial arts providers to adopt the safeguarding code… Providers with recognition under the code can display a logo on their promotional materials to show participants that their safety measures have been vetted.”
BMABA CIC has been recognised at the highest levels of Government for our commitment to safeguarding in martial arts. During a House of Commons debate on combat sport safety, the Minister for Sport, Stephanie Peacock MP, highlighted the British Martial Arts & Boxing Association by name for our work in supporting independent and unaffiliated clubs to adopt the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts. This direct mention in Parliament demonstrates that our efforts to raise standards and protect participants are shaping the national conversation on safety in combat sports.
Following that debate, the Minister for Sport wrote formally to commend BMABA’s work, praising our role in raising safeguarding standards across the independent martial arts sector. She described our contribution as “extremely useful” to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s ongoing policy development, and thanked us for our ongoing efforts to make martial arts safer for children. This recognition reflects the trust placed in BMABA to help Government address urgent safeguarding challenges highlighted by recent tragedies within combat sports.
For our members and the wider martial arts community, this recognition underlines BMABA’s credibility as a leading voice for independent martial arts in the UK. It demonstrates that our grassroots-driven mission, to promote safe, inclusive, and properly governed martial arts for all, is influencing national policy and gaining ministerial support. Being referenced in Parliament and commended in writing by the Minister for Sport reinforces that BMABA is not just a governing body, but a sector-shaping organisation working to protect participants and secure the future of martial arts.
“I appreciate your ongoing efforts to make martial arts safer for children.”
Multi-Award Winning & Nationally Recognised
Where the money goes, since you are entitled to ask
We have taken no public funding. Every pound we have ever spent came from membership, and the asset lock on our CIC status means it cannot leave as profit. In practice that has funded a software estate a commercial vendor would charge a monthly subscription for, a CPD catalogue that would otherwise be bought course by course, and a full-time UK team including a qualified Designated Safeguarding Lead.
It also funds the parts that will never pay for themselves: the free affiliate tier, the free SEND and concussion qualifications, our social impact work, and the time we spend in policy rooms arguing for independent clubs who are not in them.
Everything Membership IncludesThe commitments behind that
- Affiliate membership free, permanently, with no card
- No per-student or per-venue pricing at any tier
- No commission taken on your club’s income
- Surplus legally reinvested, not distributed
- Dual affiliation welcomed, never penalised
-
Martial Arts Safeguarding Group (MASG)
MembersThe cross-sector body for martial arts safeguarding in the UK, with engagement from DCMS and Sport England. Our membership means we contribute to national safeguarding standards, helping shape best practice across the industry.
-
CIMSPA
Training Provider PartnerThe professional development body for the UK's sport and physical activity sector, incorporated by Royal Charter. As a recognised Training Provider Partner, we develop professional education mapped to CIMSPA's national workforce standards.
-
Armed Forces Covenant
SignatoriesOur pledge to the forces community: lifetime membership discounts for serving and veteran forces personnel, active support through our REBOOT programme, and a commitment to ensuring those who serve are never disadvantaged.
-
British Assessment Bureau
Certified OrganisationOur ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 certifications are issued and audited annually by the British Assessment Bureau under UKAS accreditation, the UK's national accreditation body. External audit is the backbone of everything on this page.
-
Sport & Recreation Alliance
MembersThe SRA unites more than 300 governing bodies and sports organisations. Our membership ensures BMABA has a voice in national policy and access to resources supporting good governance, inclusion, and community sport.
-
Welsh Sports Association (WSA)
MembersThe WSA represents the interests of sport and recreation in Wales. As members, we ensure our Welsh clubs are represented in national policy conversations and benefit from devolved sports support frameworks.
-
Scottish Sports Association (SSA)
MembersThe SSA advocates for sport and recreation in Scotland. Our membership helps ensure Scottish martial arts clubs have a voice and a support structure aligned with national priorities.
-
Association of Child Protection Professionals
MembersThe respected professional body for experts in child safeguarding. Our membership helps align BMABA's safeguarding policies with leading-edge thinking in child protection across sectors.
-
Children's Rights Alliance
MembersA coalition promoting the rights and wellbeing of children in the UK. Our membership reflects our commitment to children's rights, reinforcing our policies on inclusion, safety, and empowerment.
-
Anti-Bullying Alliance
Full MembersThe ABA leads national anti-bullying efforts across schools, sport, and youth services. As full members, we reinforce our zero-tolerance stance and equip clubs with the tools to tackle bullying effectively.
-
Sported
MembersSported supports community sport organisations delivering social impact. As members, we're part of a UK-wide network focused on grassroots change, funding access, and capacity building.
-
Social Enterprise UK
Certified MembersThe national body for businesses that trade for social and community benefit. Our certified membership formally recognises BMABA as an organisation that reinvests its income into positive social impact.
-
End Child Poverty Coalition
MembersA nationwide coalition addressing the root causes of child poverty. Our involvement reflects our social mission to make martial arts accessible and inclusive for children from all backgrounds.
-
Disability Confident
Committed EmployerA UK Government scheme supporting employers to recruit and retain disabled people. Our commitment covers how we hire and how we work, reflecting the same inclusion we champion on the mats.
-
Ecologi
Climate PartnersThrough our environmental partnership we fund tree planting and carbon reduction projects, part of our commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our organisation and our sector.
What Do Our Members Say?
-
D Hurt 10 Out Of 10Well I was with another organisation for 4 years and came across these guys. They have great vetting, were really helpful at every stage of my application, the actual app is amazing with training opportunities for members, also student membership. All round 10 out of 10.
Facebook recommendation -
Peter R They Go Above And BeyondBeen a member for a number of years and they go above and beyond to support their members. Everything from safeguarding and legalities to certified courses, websites, club manager software, just to name a few of the benefits.
Google review -
Giles H Exemplary OrganisationA huge resource of helpful information and support for those setting up or running a martial arts club. Well put together coaching courses and great safeguarding advice and policies. Really pleased to have access to this exemplary organisation to help me with my new kickboxing club.
Google review -
VORTEX Martial Arts & Fitness More Than Just A Governing BodySimply amazing. BMABA are more than just a governing body for martial arts, they are a team of incredible people, always willing to go the extra mile to make sure you feel supported. Incredible customer service, amazing response time, and an honour to be governed by.
Google review -
Lena S Professional And High QualityPreviously searched for similar organisations but after speaking to Giovanni over the phone I knew that BMABA was the right one for me. He was very informative, patient and had a lot of time to answer any questions. Extremely reassuring and helpful. Their website and documentation are also very professional and high quality.
Google review -
Luke T Far More Helpful Than Any Other AssociationHaving been a part of BMABA for a short while, I can say that already they have been far more helpful than any other association I have been involved in. After 10 years of martial arts, I hope to continue instructing under BMABA for many years.
Google review -
Chris J Great People To Work WithGreat people to work with.
Facebook recommendation -
Matt J Can't Rate Them Highly EnoughHaving left my previous association in November, and being very daunted by the prospect of being responsible for all my own compliance and everything else I can honestly say BMABA have made the whole thing possible and even pleasant. The training resources are great, it's been fantastic for me to be able to quickly up skill my team, the insurance is really easy to sort out, the team are super friendly and helpful, the perks on Gold membership are also fantastic.
Member review -
John Tomsett Outstanding Club Association and Insurance ProviderI have been a customer of BMABA for two years now, and I am extremely impressed with their services. First and foremost, the customer service provided by BMABA is exceptional. Their team is responsive, professional, and genuinely dedicated to ensuring that our needs are met. Whenever we had a query or require assistance, they responded rapidly and effectively.
Member review -
Georgina E Really impressive, 21st century MA organisation. 10/10Found these guys in Martial Arts Illustrated doing a piece on professionalism in martial arts and thought, as an instructor, they might be worth looking at further. Really impressed from the moment I hit their website through to now, 3 months on as a member. Great staff, Giovanni is rediculously knowledgable and our club is now growing under the banner of what has got to be the best martial arts org in the UK.
Member review -
Michael Willington Definately recommended. Unbelievable Association.The BMABA are unlike any other org I've come across in this industry. Their honest, professional, politics free and most importantly, they know what they're doing. Website is leaps and bounds ahead of the rest, insurance is comprehensive and their overall customer service is just unlike anything else I've had in 25 years of martial arts. Amazing through and through. Would definitely recommend.
Member review -
Jonathan D BMABA – the Martial Arts Association you NEEDI joined the BMABA right in its infancy (I believe I was their second member!). Giovanni is the most helpful, respectful and genuine person who has turned the possibility of a non-political, highly respected and supportive Martial Arts Association into a reality. I could bang on for hours about the BMABA but don't take my word for it – go and visit the BMABA website and see for yourself.
Member review -
Fabian Burdett This Team Deserves A MedalAs we all know 2020 has been the year from hell for martial arts. One thing that has come out of that is BMABA have done everything in their power to keep clubs like mine up to date with what's happening and tried to push the government to notice us. Couldn't wish for a better association to be a part of. Once again big THANK YOU to you guys for all the help. 💙🐺👊
Member review -
Matthew Robert Cooling-Stones These guys are the real dealAs i'm heading into the brave world of starting up my own small self defence club in our village, i can say with complete honesty and satisfaction that BMABA have been the most supportive and upfront association i have come across. i have seen and had first hand experience with the Mcdojo's offering you the greatest adventures of a life time. but these guys are the real deal… i hold my head high, and say with great pride "i am a BMABA member"
Facebook -
Anna Martensson Highly IMPRESSED by the BMABAAs someone with 22 years of experience in martial arts, who saw enough big egos and leaders who only look after their own benefits… I am highly IMPRESSED by the BMABA. I wanted to make sure they don't just promise the world but actually deliver. They support us all the way and constantly look for new ways of making our whole industry better for ALL of us. THANK YOU!!
Facebook -
Adrian Jackson Always quick to respond and thoughtfulAlways quick to respond and thoughtful. Great service delivered at a very reasonable price and very supportive of the community. Been a member for a couple of years now and recommend highly
Member review -
Daniel Leaver Simply the best organisation I have ever worked withSimply the best organisation I have ever worked with. Everything is so stress free and I am definitely sticking with them for the rest of my career.
Facebook
Don’t Take Our Word For Any Of It.
Every credential on this page can be checked without asking us. Here’s each one, its registration, and the independent public register where you can verify it yourself, in about thirty seconds.
-
ISO 9001:2015 Certification Issued by the British Assessment Bureau under UKAS accreditation. Verify us directly on UKAS CertCheck, the national accreditation body's own public register.Certificate 267261 Verify on UKAS CertCheck
-
ISO 27001:2022 Certification Issued by the British Assessment Bureau under UKAS accreditation following our July 2026 audit. Listed on the same UKAS CertCheck entry as our ISO 9001.Certified July 2026 Verify on UKAS CertCheck
-
Companies House & CIC Status Our full filing history as a Community Interest Company, including our annual CIC community interest reports, is public at Companies House.Reg. 10676965 View our filings
-
ICO Data Protection Registration Our registration under UK data protection law, on the Information Commissioner's Office public register.ZA241917 View the register
-
Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts Sport England's own safeguarding pages publicly reference our Club Colours provision under the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts. Read it on their site, not ours.Club Colours Approved Read it on Sport England
-
UK Register of Learning Providers Our listing on the UK Government's official register of learning providers, under provider reference 10098149.UKPRN 10098149 View our listing
-
Social Enterprise UK Our listing in Social Enterprise UK's public member directory, certifying BMABA as a business trading for social and community good.Certified Member View our listing
-
Group Policy Schedule Member cover sits under a group policy underwritten by AXA XL Insurance Company UK Limited and placed through an FCA-authorised specialist broker. We publish the schedule and wording in full rather than summarising them.AXA XL Insurance Company UK Limited Read the documents
And While We’re Being Transparent: What We Don’t Claim
Credibility cuts both ways. These are the things you won’t hear us say, because they wouldn’t be true.
- We are not a Sport England-recognised National Governing Body, and we don't pretend to be. As a multi-style organisation we're broadly ineligible, and we're honest about what NGB recognition does and doesn't mean.
- Our Cyber Essentials certification is the standard tier. We don't claim Cyber Essentials Plus, and we won't until we hold it.
- We're a CIMSPA Training Provider Partner. Individual courses are submitted for formal CIMSPA endorsement and we confirm endorsed status course by course, never wholesale.
- Every award we display was genuinely entered, judged and awarded. Finalist means finalist, winner means winner, and we label each one accordingly.
From A £20 Start-Up To A Nationally Recognised Powerhouse. Built From Scratch, Driven By Purpose. That’s BMABA CIC.
We’re not here because of government grants, NGB status, or Sport England funding. We’re here because thousands of instructors and clubs believed in a better way. BMABA CIC is entirely independent, self-funded, and not-for-profit. We have never taken shortcuts or silver spoons, but we have earned recognition at the highest levels of UK sport, including Sport England, DCMS, and national media, purely on merit. More than £2.4 million generated to date, reinvested into the UK martial arts community.
No gimmicks. No politics. No hidden shareholders.
We built one of the UK’s most trusted martial arts ecosystems from the ground up. A comprehensive, style-agnostic governance system. Sector-leading safeguarding and compliance. Affordable insurance. Free club management software. Dozens of tools, licences, guidance, and expert support, all included, all in one place.
We didn’t inherit a legacy. We forged one.
Whether you’re stepping out for the first time or have always been proudly independent, this is your home. To high places by narrow roads isn’t just a slogan. It’s how we got here.
Judge us on the free tier. It is the honest test of a governing body.
Affiliate membership with the independent martial arts governing body costs nothing and always will. Take the qualifications, put your club on the map, run the software, and decide for yourself whether the rest is worth having.
