BMABA CIC
Not Just Another Martial Arts Association
Independent, modern, and accountable — BMABA CIC is rewriting what a governing body should look like. We’re professional, regulated, member-driven, and relentlessly focused on raising the standards of martial arts in the UK.
We’re A Different Kind Of Association — And That’s A Good Thing
We get it.
A lot of martial arts organisations start to look the same from the outside — acronyms, insurance, certificates, politics. That’s not who we are.
Since 2012, BMABA CIC has quietly redefined what a modern martial arts association can be. We’ve grown from grassroots to nationally recognised without ever compromising our core values — professionalism, integrity, and meaningful independence. We exist solely to support instructors and clubs, not to dictate syllabus or collect titles.
We’re not here to control. We’re here to empower.
BMABA CIC isn’t just another martial arts organisation — we’re built differently. We represent a modern, professional and principled approach to governance in an industry too often marked by politics, ego, or outdated structures.
As a nationally recognised, fully regulated Community Interest Company (CIC), we exist to raise the bar — and to lead the independent sector with transparency, innovation and accountability at every level.
Transparent
We're a fully regulated Community Interest Company (CIC) with salaried professionals, not a volunteer committee or a faceless PO box. Our members know exactly who we are, how we're structured, and what we stand for — and we welcome scrutiny. You deserve to know who you’re trusting with your club’s governance.
Innovative
We don’t sit still. From pioneering concussion protocols and trauma-informed coaching policies to our bespoke Club Manager platform and safeguarding dashboards — BMABA members benefit from constant, meaningful innovation that puts clubs and instructors first.
Governance
No other UK martial arts organisation has governance like BMABA. We lead the sector in vetting, safeguarding, oversight and accountability — from DBS and identity checks through to ISO 9001:2015 accreditation, SCiMA verification and a fully mapped complaints and whistleblowing framework.
Not For Profit
Plenty of organisations say they're not-for-profit. We prove it. BMABA is a registered CIC, regulated by the CIC Regulator and Companies House. We’re independently audited through ISO9001 and reinvest everything back into our programmes, tools and members — not shareholders or 'honorary' boards.
How we stack up.
BMABA
Most Other Associations
Legal Status
Regulated CIC (Not-for-profit)
Rarely Clear. Often Sole Trader or Dormant Ltd
Transparency
Named team, open, published governance
Often no team structure and hidden ownership
Technology
State of the art technology, AI and communications
Usually e-mail driven with lots of manual processes
Impact
Nationally recognised, funded programmes and verifiable donations to key causes
Rarely any proven charitable impact
Reputation
Multi-award winning, verified credibility
Usually self-proclaimed ranks
Regulation
UKAS ISO9001:2015, SCiMA awarded, CPD Certified
No ISO, no QA, no audits. Completely open to politics.
Multi-Award Winning & Nationally Recognised
We’re not saying every association is bad news — far from it. But let’s be honest. Most are either stuck in the past, tangled in red tape, or built around one person’s ego. That’s not us.
We’re something different. A professional, community-driven, not-for-profit trade body that blends regulation, innovation and real-world impact. No gimmicks, no grandmasters — just a credible, proven organisation that puts clubs first, every single time. From safeguarding and governance to cutting-edge tech and student support, nobody in the sector comes close to what we offer.
We don’t expect you to take our word for it — that’s why we offer free membership, so you can try us for yourself.
- Multi-Award Winning
- 100% Free
