We’re not here to throw stones at other organisations, nor do we claim to be the only option. In an ideal world, every club would have the full support of a well-funded, nationally recognised NGB (National Governing Body), with clear policies, effective communication, and affordable tools to help clubs grow. Where that’s working, we encourage it — and we’d never ask you to abandon a healthy relationship with an existing Sport England, Sport Scotland or Sport Wales-recognised NGB.

But we also know the state of the industry better than most.

We’ve been working deep inside grassroots martial arts since 2012. We’ve seen first-hand the frustration, the underinvestment, and the lack of infrastructure so many clubs are left to navigate alone. The truth is, while there are some excellent organisations doing good work, the landscape is also cluttered with pretenders — those who sound official but operate from PO boxes and unregulated structures. The kind of setups that confuse clubs and dilute trust.

So we understand your caution. In fact, we welcome it.

We don’t expect you to drop everything and run to BMABA. And the scepticism you might feel is not just understandable — it’s wise. Our sector has seen too many self-appointed ‘bodies’, too many paper empires, and too many big claims with no accountability behind them. That’s why we’ve always done things differently.

We built BMABA from the ground up — entirely self-funded, entirely independent, and entirely committed to doing things properly.

We’ve been going strong for over a decade, with more than 6,500 instructors, assistant instructors, and volunteers across 3,000+ clubs, representing a combined 94,000+ students. That didn’t happen through marketing spin — it happened because we’ve consistently delivered substance over noise.

Grounded In Practice. Backed By Governance.

What sets us apart isn’t just our tools, platforms, or student management software — though those are second to none. It’s the standards that sit underneath them. The policies, the governance, the vetting, the safety nets.

That’s why we’re not just claiming to be credible — we’ve earned that status.

• We’re the only independent martial arts body in the UK able to issue Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts certification to our clubs through our Club Colours programme.

• Our standards have been audited and accepted by Sport England as exceeding the requirements of The Code.

• Our Club Colours framework ensures every team member is properly vetted, trained, and insured before a licence is issued — a model admired across the sector.

We’re also the only governing body of our kind to be:

• UKAS-accredited ISO 9001:2015 certified

• Cyber Essentials certified

• ICO registered

• CPD accredited

• SCiMA certified at an organisational level

• A registered social enterprise and CIC, regulated by Companies House and the CIC Regulator

• Core members of MASG, members of the Sport & Recreation Alliance, Scottish Sports Association, and Welsh Sports Association

• Recognised by media and seen on BBC, ITV, and The Guardian

We’ve built our organisation around accountability, independence, and professional conduct — not politics, egos, or profit motives.

Don’t Take Our Word For It — Put Us To The Test

We’re not asking you to believe in a promise.

Instead, we invite you to try it for yourself — no obligation, no payment required. Join us under completely free Affiliate Instructor membership, and test-drive our infrastructure. Review our safeguarding policies. Explore our platform. Talk with our team. Access tools, resources, and guidance designed for real clubs, not just marketing campaigns.

You can run everything side-by-side with your existing setup. And if, at any point, you feel we’re the right governing body for you — we’ll be here, ready to support you with licensing, insurance, DBS checks, and all the operational backing you need.