Choosing A Governing Body

Do not take our word for it. Ask us the difficult questions instead.

Every association claims to be the best choice for independent clubs. Almost none of them will tell you what they are not, who regulates them, or what happens to your students if you leave. This page does all three, and then invites you to test us for free.

Join Free Today Ask us something difficult

6,500+Instructors and coaches ~1,500Clubs across the UK 200+Disciplines represented £0To join and stay

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In an unregulated sector, the only thing that separates a real governing body from a logo and a bank account is who is allowed to check.

Anyone can register a company, design a crest and start selling memberships to martial arts clubs. There is no legal barrier to doing it, no register of who has, and no authority that will stop them. Which is precisely why so many exist, and why choosing between them is genuinely difficult from the outside.

So the honest way to compare is not to read the marketing. It is to ask each organisation the same six questions and see which answers survive contact with the follow-up. Ours are set out below, in writing, and we will evidence every one of them if you ask.

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Six questions worth asking any governing body

Ask them of us. Then ask them of whoever else you are considering, including the association you are with now.

Who regulates you, and what can they actually do about it?

BMABA CIC is answerable to the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies, and externally audited to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 under UKAS accreditation by the British Assessment Bureau. Those auditors can fail us. Most associations in this sector answer to nobody but themselves.

Where does my membership money go?

Into the next tool, the next course and the next member service, because the asset lock makes that a legal obligation rather than a promise. We are a CIC limited by shares, so we will be precise: the CIC Regulator caps any dividend, and no dividend has ever been declared, in any year since 2019. We have never taken public funding, and more than £2.4 million has been generated and reinvested to date.

What happens to my students' records if I leave you?

Grades sit on the Lifetime Student Grade Register, a permanent national record that belongs to the student rather than to us or to you. It survives a student moving club, and it survives you leaving us. Nothing is held hostage.

Do you require exclusivity?

No. We support dual and multi-affiliation and actively encourage clubs with an applicable recognised NGB to stay registered with them. Ask the same question of anyone else you are considering, and note carefully how they answer it.

Can I see the insurance wording before I commit?

Yes. Cover is arranged on a master policy including public liability, professional indemnity and personal accident, and we hold FCA Introducer Appointed Representative registration for those introductions. If an organisation will not show you the wording, that tells you something.

What does your standard actually check?

RegulationReady assesses your club continuously against your own live data: safeguarding, vetting, qualifications, insurance, risk and record keeping. It is a system that inspects what you do, not a certificate that records what you said.

Ask Us To Evidence Any Of It More about who we are

Common Misconceptions

Think You Know Why Clubs Don’t Join? Think Again.

We used to answer these questions delicately. These days, with UKAS-accredited certifications, national recognition and fourteen years of public record behind us, we can just answer them. Here are the five things people most often get wrong about BMABA, and the facts.

Misconception 01

“BMABA is just about insurance, or just about politics.”

Actually

We're an independent, not-for-profit Community Interest Company, regulated by the CIC Regulator and certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 under UKAS accreditation, with annual external audits. Insurance is one part of what we do. The rest is governance, safeguarding infrastructure, digital tools, qualifications, and national programmes spanning inclusion, mental health and youth violence prevention. And we're proudly apolitical. Our agenda is raising standards, not raising noise.

About BMABA →

Misconception 02

“I'd be lost in red tape, with no freedom.”

Actually

Joining BMABA doesn't mean surrendering your independence. It means strengthening it. We set minimum standards where they genuinely matter, safeguarding, safety, ethics, and stay out of everything else. Your syllabus, your gradings, your teaching style and your club's direction remain entirely yours, and we never charge you to run your own gradings. Gold-tier frameworks like Club Colours and RegulationReady are there if you want them, not because you have to use them.

See Why We're Different →

Misconception 03

“All governing bodies have hidden fees or upsells.”

Actually

Our pricing is published, our membership is all-inclusive, and there are no per-grade fees, no charges for certificates or safeguarding audits, and no surprise renewals. You can start with a completely free Affiliate membership, no payment details required. And because we're a regulated CIC with a legal asset lock, our accounts are filed publicly at Companies House every year, so you don't have to take our word on where the money goes. You can read it.

What We Offer →

Misconception 04

“Joining doesn't mean I'm part of real change.”

Actually

Every membership directly funds measurable impact: thousands of trees funded and clean water projects supported through verified partners, national safeguarding leadership recognised in Parliament, and programmes tackling serious youth violence, supporting women and girls, and opening martial arts to those who'd otherwise be excluded. None of it is a marketing side-quest. It's the legal purpose of the organisation, and most of it is publicly trackable.

Our Social Impact →

Misconception 05

“This feels like ego-led martial arts politics.”

Actually

We're mission-led by legal design, not by promise. In 2025 our founder voluntarily converted BMABA into a regulated Community Interest Company, surrendering nearly £2 million in private value, locking those assets permanently behind an asset lock that makes profiteering legally impossible. We are a CIC limited by shares, so to be precise: any dividend is capped by the CIC Regulator, and none has ever been declared. There are no titles to defend and no politics to play. The structure itself guarantees the focus stays on ethics, impact, and community.

Why Make BMABA My Governing Body? →

One More Thing

Heard Something Different About Us?

Some instructors arrive here having been told things about BMABA that simply aren’t true. Sometimes it’s an honest misunderstanding. Sometimes it’s a claim repeated so confidently, for so long, that it has started to sound like fact. We’re not going to trade insults, and we won’t name names. We’ll just say this: you don’t have to take anyone’s word for who we are. Including ours.

Almost everything about us sits in official, independent public records that nobody, including us, can edit. Our accounts and community interest reports. Our UKAS-accredited certifications. Our mention by name in the House of Commons. Our authority under the Sport England-funded Safeguarding Code. Our environmental funding, live to the tree. If what you’ve been told doesn’t match what those records show, that tells you something worth knowing. And it’s worth remembering that an organisation warning you away from us usually loses your fees if you leave. So don’t trust the loudest voice. Check the record.

And if you’d rather just ask us straight, please do. Live chat, real people, and honest answers, including to the awkward questions.

While We’re At It

“Free membership must have a catch.”

It doesn't. Twelve months of free Affiliate membership, no payment details, no obligation, no auto-upgrade. Our asset lock means we're not built to squeeze anyone; free members who see the value tend to stay, and that's the entire strategy.
“I'd have to start over or re-qualify.”

You wouldn't. We recognise existing grades, qualifications and experience through fair assessment and recognition of prior learning, and our Black Belt Equivalency process covers ungraded styles. Your journey counts. We verify it; we don't reset it.
“A national body won't care about my small club.”

Most of our members are individual instructors and single clubs, and our support is a full-time, in-house team who answer on live chat, backed by clever AI for instant answers. Village hall or multi-site academy, the membership and the care are the same.

See For Yourself. With A Year’s Free Membership.

We don’t need to oversell it. We’d rather you just experience it. Join BMABA today with twelve months of free Affiliate membership and see exactly how our support, standards, and social impact work in practice. No hidden fees. No contracts. No catch.

Explore Membership

How We Stack Up.

Governance isn’t glamorous, but it’s what stands behind your club when it matters. Here’s the honest picture.

BMABA Most Other Associations

Legal Status Regulated Community Interest Company, not-for-profit by law, with a permanent asset lock Rarely clear. Often a sole trader or dormant limited company

Regulation & Audit UKAS-accredited ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022, externally audited every year No ISO, no quality assurance, no external audits

Safeguarding Dedicated DSL-led safeguarding unit, national policy, and in-house SCiMA certification approved by Sport England Varies club to club, often a policy template at best

Data Security ISO 27001:2022 certified and Cyber Essentials assured, so your members' data is properly protected Rarely any recognised information security standard

Transparency Named team, published governance, income and spending shared openly with members Often no visible team structure and hidden ownership

Technology Modern member platforms, club management tools, AI and 24/7 digital access Usually email-driven, with manual processes and paperwork

Impact Nationally recognised, funded programmes and verifiable giving to key causes Rarely any proven charitable impact

Reputation Multi-award winning, recognised in Parliament, verified credibility Usually self-proclaimed ranks and titles

The difference in one line: we’re externally audited, so you don’t have to take our word for any of it.

Based on our experience of the sector. There are other good associations out there, and “most” means exactly that: most, not all.

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Independently Certified.
Externally Verified.

Everything below is issued, audited or overseen by somebody outside this organisation, with the power to take it away.

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 (UKRLP), 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.

Explore Our Awards & Accreditations

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.

The framework

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

The award

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

National recognition

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 works

Sport 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.

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What you are actually getting, beyond the crest

Most associations sell insurance with a certificate attached. This is the rest of it, and every part links to a page that explains itself properly.

Insurance & licensing Public liability, professional indemnity and personal accident cover on a master policy, with student licensing alongside rather than bought separately. Explore cover An award-winning club platform Attendance, grades, payments, invoicing, records, risk, safeguarding and budgeting in one system we wrote ourselves. No per-student pricing, ever. See the platform A safeguarding lead you can phone A qualified, full-time Designated Safeguarding Lead, same day advice, and liaison with statutory partners when a concern needs it. Safeguarding support CPD that goes somewhere A full coaching pathway plus specialist awards in safeguarding, SEND, trauma-informed practice, concussion, first aid and club management. See all CPD Grades that outlive your club A permanent national record that belongs to the student, survives them moving away, and survives you closing. The grade register Around forty tools, included Website builder, hosting, professional email, marketing, risk assessments, policy generation and compliance dashboards, none of it metered. Everything included

Eligibility & Entry Requirements

Membership That Means Something. Standards That Open Doors.

Carrying the BMABA name tells parents, students and venues that you’re a vetted, credible, professional instructor, backed by one of the UK’s most respected independent martial arts bodies. That reputation only works because we check who joins. Our eligibility criteria exist to keep out the cowboys and McDojos, and to make our recognition genuinely worth displaying on your club’s wall.

Don’t have a black belt? You’re still very welcome. Plenty of brilliant instructors come from ungraded styles, and we built a dedicated route for exactly that. There are two ways in, and one of them will fit you.

Route One

I Hold A Recognised Grade

For traditional, belted disciplines such as Karate, Judo or Taekwondo, where grades are the norm. You'll need one of the following:

A 1st Dan Black Belt or above (or equivalent, including BJJ from Purple Belt upward), earned over a minimum of 3 years and 8 months of continued practice.
or
An instructor's certificate issued by a trustworthy, reputable organisation, earned over the same minimum period.

You'll be asked for proof of your grade when applying. A photo, scan or digital copy is fine, and the application walks you through it.

Read the full criteria →

Route Two No cost. No black belt needed.

I Don't Have A Black Belt

For ungraded disciplines such as MMA, Muay Thai, self defence, HEMA or boxing-based styles, or if you've trained somewhere that simply didn't grade. Our Black Belt Equivalency process, established in 2012, has helped thousands of credible instructors join. You'll need:

A minimum of 4 years' continued practice in your discipline, with some form of supporting evidence.

Plus at least one of the following:

Written testimony from an instructor or coach confirming you're skilled, technically competent and ready to teach unsupervised.
or
Documented evidence of your training alongside a short video snapshot of your abilities. Existing footage of training, fights or competitions works too.
or
An instructor's certificate or qualification from a reputable organisation.

Evidence we can work with:

Video snapshots
Instructor references
Licence books & certificates
Club memberships
Fight & competition records
Photos & promotional material

The process is free, and our style-specific experts will guide you through it. If you're unsure whether your evidence is enough, just ask before you apply.

Explore Black Belt Equivalency →

It Only Applies To Lead Instructors

These criteria apply to the lead instructor on an application. Assistant instructors and team members under a lead don't each need to meet them separately, and if you're joining as an individual instructor, you'll be the lead. You'll need to be 18 or over to register as an individual.
Character Counts As Much As Skill

We look for honesty, integrity, professionalism and compassion, the qualities that make a genuinely good instructor and role model. Technical skill gets you through the door. Attitude is what we're really recognising.
A Criminal Record Isn't An Automatic Bar

We take an ethical, balanced, risk-assessed approach, and we know some of the best instructors have lived challenging lives. Because our members work with children and vulnerable groups, you must disclose spent and unspent convictions when applying. Speak to our office in confidence first and we'll advise honestly.
Teaching Multiple Styles?

You'll need to meet the eligibility for each discipline you want to be recognised for, though closely linked styles are treated with common sense. If you're not sure how your background maps across, ask us first and we'll gladly clarify.

Not sure which route fits, or whether your evidence is enough? Our style-specific experts will tell you honestly, in confidence, before you apply.

Speak To The Team

Still Not Sure? The Fastest Way To Find Out Is To Apply.

Applying for free membership gives you an application number you can attach your evidence to, which is the easiest way to put your case in front of our compliance team. It’s completely confidential, and it doesn’t count against you if you decide to discontinue at any point. We can often give you an indication on eligibility before you apply, but the real test is a formal review of your evidence once you have. And if you’re successful, free membership unlocks a huge amount of tools and resources from day one. If in doubt, apply, and best of luck.

Apply For Free Membership

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Wherever your club is right now

What a club needs from a governing body at fifteen students is not what it needs at three venues. The support changes with you, and none of it costs more as you grow.

Stage one Starting a club

What you need before your first session, in order, with nothing to pay while you have no income yet.

Starting a club Stage two Growing your club

Filling the room, retaining students, and building something that sustains itself rather than sustaining you.

Growing your club Stage three Scaling your club

Multiple sites, a staff team, and running it as a business rather than a hobby that got big.

Scaling your club

And The Technology

Around forty tools, written by us, so you are not the club that got left behind

Club management, payments, registers, a website builder, professional email, marketing, compliance dashboards and AI lesson planning. All built in-house rather than resold, all running on infrastructure we own and audit, and all included from Bronze upwards with nothing metered or capped.

Technology is where most associations quietly stop keeping up. It is also the single clearest way to tell whether an organisation is investing your fees or collecting them.

See The Full Technology Estate Or the club platform itself

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When we are not the right answer

A page like this is supposed to tell you we are perfect for everybody. We are not, and saying so is the most useful thing on it.

You compete internationally under a recognised NGBIf your athletes need a sanctioned competitive pathway to national squad or Olympic selection, that comes from the recognised NGB for your sport. Stay with them. You can hold us alongside, and many do.

You want us to run your dan gradingsWe are not a grading authority over your art, and we never issue 1st Dans. Your syllabus, your grades and your lineage stay yours, and we do not sit over your day to day grading process. What we can do is support senior instructors with time-served and vocational grading recognition where it is genuinely warranted, and record and protect every grade on the national register.

You want a statutory licenceNo such thing exists for martial arts in the UK. Anyone implying they can give you one is describing something that is not real, and we would rather lose your membership than pretend otherwise.

You want the cheapest possible logoThere are associations that will sell you insurance and a certificate for very little and ask nothing of you. If that is the requirement, we are the wrong organisation, because our frameworks are designed to actually check.

Common FAQs

Thinking Of Switching?

The questions clubs and instructors ask us most before making the move, answered honestly.

At BMABA, we believe that every martial arts club should have the freedom to operate in a way that reflects its values, vision, and style, without interference or unnecessary control.

That's why, although we operate under a framework certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 under UKAS accreditation, this framework exists only to ensure minimum standards are upheld in critical areas such as safeguarding, health and safety, ethics, and governance. It's not about micromanagement. It's about protecting the integrity of our sector.

Beyond this baseline, your club remains entirely autonomous. The way you run classes, structure your syllabus, develop lesson plans, and deliver gradings is entirely your decision. We don't oversee your pedagogy or teaching methods, and we'll never charge you to run your own gradings or courses, a practice still common in some associations.

In short, we exist to support, not to interfere. As long as your club operates in a safe, ethical and professional manner, you'll always retain full sovereignty and direction. We're here to help you grow, not tell you how to run your club.

Switching associations doesn't mean starting over. We know how much time, effort, and passion goes into achieving your instructor qualifications, and we respect that. At BMABA, we recognise existing grades, certifications, and experience through a transparent, fair assessment process. Whether you're a seasoned instructor or transitioning from another governing body, our goal is to uphold the credibility of your qualifications while supporting continued development.

Our framework allows for recognition of prior learning (RPL), mapped recognition, and, where needed, straightforward verification, without belittling or undermining your journey. We understand that your position as a lead instructor is earned, not just awarded, and we're here to support your status through formal records, professional recognition, and access to nationally respected CPD and certification pathways.

Our reputation is everything to us, and we work hard to protect it. That's why we proactively vet the credentials of every lead instructor joining under our name. It's not about gatekeeping; it's about upholding the integrity of our community and ensuring only genuine, qualified martial arts instructors gain BMABA affiliation. This safeguarding of standards not only protects our organisation. It protects your club, your students, and your reputation under our care.

Our in-house compliance team maintains a detailed vetting database containing thousands of known organisations, instructors, and governing bodies. In most cases, we can verify your credentials quickly upon sight of your certification. For those joining from ungraded or non-traditional styles, our Black Belt Equivalency Process offers a respectful, structured route to formal recognition, without forcing anyone to conform to a singular syllabus or style.

Transferring student licences, grades, and records can feel like one of the most complex parts of switching associations, but with BMABA, it doesn't need to be.

We offer total flexibility when it comes to student licensing, insurance, and record management. You're free to bring across your students with all previously awarded grades intact. We don't question your grading history or ask clubs to jump through hoops. It's a straightforward, respectful transfer.

We also stay out of your grading process entirely. Provided your club follows our National Grading Integrity & Ethics Policy, which promotes fair, merit-based progression, we don't interfere. You won't pay us for grading events, updates, or approvals. Grade promotions are a club-level affair, and you retain complete autonomy. That means no fees per grade, no need to notify us, and no bureaucracy. Just professional, compliant support that respects your teaching.

We know that for many clubs, cost is a deciding factor, but so is clarity. That's why BMABA operates with complete transparency and fairness when it comes to fees.

There are no hidden charges, mandatory upsells, or unexpected renewals. Our membership options are clearly priced and publicly available, and we don't charge for additional essentials like grade updates, club gradings, safeguarding audits, or issuing certificates, which are often monetised elsewhere.

What you see is what you get, and that includes access to our full suite of services: instructor credentials, insurance, safeguarding, digital tools, training resources, club management software, and much more. Even better, we offer a completely free membership tier to let you test the waters, with no obligation and no payment details required.

As a regulated Community Interest Company, our accounts and community interest reports are filed publicly at Companies House every year, and our legal asset lock means any surplus must be reinvested into our mission, never shareholders. You can be sure your fees are funding sector-wide impact, not lining pockets.

One of the first questions we're asked is what happens to existing insurance mid-term, and the honest answer is that it depends on your current provider's terms, so it's always worth checking your policy before you commit to anything.

The good news is that you don't have to time it perfectly. Many clubs join us on free membership first and simply align their move with their existing renewal date, so nothing overlaps and nothing lapses. Others switch straight away for the added cover and support. Either way, our team will happily talk through your current position, in confidence and without pressure, so you can move at whatever pace protects your club and your students best.

Usually far less time than people expect. Joining itself can be completed online in minutes, and once your lead instructor eligibility is verified, your membership, credentials and platform access follow quickly.

The wider migration, students, records, insurance, and any digital tools or website moves, happens entirely at your pace. Some clubs transfer everything in a week; others phase it over months around their renewal dates. There's no deadline, no pressure, and our team handles the heavy lifting wherever you want us to, including free website migrations if you're moving your online presence too.

Yes. There's no exclusivity requirement, and plenty of instructors hold membership with us alongside a style-specific association or National Governing Body, particularly where they compete under one body's rules while using our governance, insurance, tools and support day to day.

Dual affiliation is common, sensible, and entirely your choice. If you're unsure how the two would fit together in your circumstances, ask us and we'll give you an honest answer, including if we think staying put serves you better.

At BMABA, we believe that modern martial arts governance needs modern tools. That's why we've invested in building a comprehensive digital ecosystem to support your club's operations, without the need for third-party software or endless subscriptions.

From the moment you join, you'll gain access to MyBMABA, our member portal packed with features like digital student records, attendance tracking, licence and insurance management, renewal tools, club documents, and more. For those looking to go further, our Club Management Platform offers advanced capabilities like grading logs, event bookings, invoice generation, communication tools, and full student dashboards, all integrated and included with your membership tier.

Best of all, we don't upsell core functionality. Whether you're a traditional club or a progressive, tech-savvy organisation, you'll have access to secure, powerful, and easy-to-use tools built specifically for the martial arts sector. And because we build in-house, we listen to feedback and continually improve the system to meet your evolving needs, not those of a faceless software vendor.

Our tech doesn't replace good teaching. It amplifies it. Whether you're a pen-and-paper club or ready to go fully digital, we provide the systems, security, and support to help your club thrive in the modern era.

We pride ourselves on being one of the most responsive, supportive governing bodies in the industry. Whether you're a club with hundreds of students or an instructor just starting out, you deserve to feel heard, and supported, without delay, red tape, or scripted responses.

BMABA offers multi-channel, human-first support that includes email, live chat, helpdesk, and platform-based guidance, often with responses within minutes. Our internal systems allow us to keep your enquiries linked to your club's history, so we can provide relevant, informed help without asking you to repeat yourself.

More than just ticket replies, we offer true operational support, helping clubs with complex safeguarding queries, DBS and vetting challenges, insurance nuances, policy writing, funding applications, and more. Behind the scenes, our systems and dedicated staff mean nothing is lost or ignored, even during peak periods.

We don't believe support should be a premium add-on. It's core to what makes us different. That's why every BMABA club gets access to real help from real people, with the kind of care, professionalism and dedication we'd expect ourselves.

At BMABA, we believe that a governing body should be more than just a service provider. It should be a community and a source of recognition for the incredible work instructors and clubs do on the ground.

We're proud to foster one of the most inclusive, politics-free communities in UK martial arts. Whether you're teaching in a village hall or running a multi-discipline academy, you'll find peers, mentors, and allies across our digital platforms, community spaces, and member forums.

We also go the extra mile to recognise and celebrate the achievements of our members. From national awards and public-facing club recognition to media exposure and charity campaigns, our network creates visibility for your work, not just within the martial arts world, but across wider community and social impact spaces too.

BMABA isn't just somewhere to register. It's a place to belong, to be seen, and to be supported.

A Voice For Independent Martial Arts

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.”

Stephanie Peacock MP, House of Commons Debate on Combat Sport Safety

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.”

Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth

Awards & Recognition

Multi-Award Winning & Nationally Recognised

ISO 9001:2015 certified under UKAS accreditation

ISO 27001:2022 certified under UKAS accreditation

Testimonials

What Do Our Members Say?

Matt J
Can't Rate Them Highly Enough
Having 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 Provider
I 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. 10/10
Found 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 NEED
I 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
2020 This team deserves a Medal
As 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 deal
As 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"
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Anna Martensson
Highly IMPRESSED by the BMABA
As 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!!
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Adrian Jackson
Always quick to respond and thoughtful
Always 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 with
Simply 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.
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Radical Transparency

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
FCA Register (Insurance Introductions) We act as an Introducer Appointed Representative of Pulse Insurance Limited (FCA Registration 308626). View Pulse's entry, and its representatives, on the public Financial Services Register.
IAR of Pulse Insurance, Reg. 308626 View the FS Register

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.

Our Story

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.

25 Reasons We Might Be A Good Fit

No Pressure

The free tier exists precisely so you never have to take our word for anything.

Affiliate membership costs nothing, needs no card and has nothing to cancel. Join, take a qualification, run our compliance framework against your club, and judge the standard of it yourself. If we are not right for you, we would genuinely rather you found that out for free.

Join Free, No Card Thinking of going independent?