Multi-Award Winning

Martial Arts Club Insurance

Instructors, students, clubs, events, weapons and officials. One membership covers it all.

BMABA CIC

The Smarter Way To Insure & Licence Your Martial Arts Club

Martial arts club insurance that works as hard as you do.

Underwritten by AXA XL via Lloyd's
FCA-Registered Introducer Appointed Representative
ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 27001:2022 Under UKAS Accreditation
Not-For-Profit, With A Legal Asset Lock

At BMABA CIC, we provide comprehensive, specialist martial arts insurance built around what real clubs and instructors actually need. This isn't a generic policy dressed up with martial arts branding. It's cover shaped by more than a decade of hands-on industry leadership, designed and managed by a not-for-profit organisation that actively supports, advocates for, and reinvests into UK martial arts.

From instructor insurance and student licensing to free event cover and free club cover for qualifying clubs, we offer a single, easy-to-manage solution covering your insurance, compliance, safeguarding, and growth needs. All from one place, and all underwritten by AXA XL via Lloyd's, accessed through our FCA-registered broker.

As an organisation certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 under UKAS accreditation, and an FCA-registered Introducer Appointed Representative, our governance is as strong as our values. Trusted by more than 100,000 members and 6,500 instructors, assistants, and volunteers across around 1,500 clubs, we are the independent martial arts association the sector has been waiting for.

Everything Your Club Needs. In One Place.

Six covers, one membership, one login. Explore each below to see just how far our cover stretches.

Instructor Insurance Named and Open Allocation cover for instructors across more than 200 disciplines.
Student Insurance Affordable, scalable public liability insurance and licensing for every student at your club.
Club Cover Business-level protection for your club as a legal entity. Free for qualifying clubs.
Event Cover Free, unlimited sanctioned event cover, including full contact and multi-day competitions.
Live Blade Cover Cover for live blade demonstrations, test-cutting, and exempt weapon importation.
Referee & Officials Specialist cover for referees, judges, and ring officials at competitions and tournaments.

BMABA CIC

Why Clubs Choose BMABA Over A Standalone Insurer

Built by martial artists. Backed by AXA XL. Every penny of profit reinvested into UK martial arts.

Flexible And Affordable Monthly or annual plans with no extra charges for multiple styles or weapons. Tiered pricing that gets more cost-effective as your club grows.
Insurance And Membership In One Your policy includes CPD training, safeguarding tools, licensing, club management software, digital certificates, and compliance dashboards. All included, no extra fees.
Expert Guidance, No Pressure Clear, jargon-free support before you join, throughout your policy, and if a claim ever arises. Our team know insurance and martial arts. No call centres.
Martial Arts-Specific Protection Public liability, professional indemnity, abuse cover, products liability, personal accident, and contents. All crafted exclusively for martial arts, underwritten by AXA XL via Lloyd's.
Regulated, Accredited And Impact-Led Certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 under UKAS accreditation, FCA-registered, and Cyber Essentials certified. A multi-award-winning social enterprise with governance to match.
Trusted Across The UK More than 100,000 members and 6,500 instructors, assistants, and volunteers across around 1,500 clubs. Every style, every size, every stage.

Multi-Award Winning & Nationally Recognised

Membership & Insurance, As One

It’s Not Just Insurance. And That’s The Point.

BMABA is a not-for-profit membership organisation, not a commercial insurer. Your insurance is bought as one with membership, typically for a price comparable to insurance alone elsewhere, and everything else we offer comes with it: CPD, safeguarding, licensing, club software, tools and human support. A legal asset lock means our income is reinvested into martial arts, never distributed as profit.

Build your own bespoke cover. Toggle what you need, leave off what you don’t.

Instructor Cover & Membership £5M Public Liability, £1M Professional Indemnity, £500K Abuse Cover and £1M Products Liability, plus full BMABA membership and everything that comes with it. From £90.98membership and insurance combined, per instructor, per year, at volume Activate & See Real-Time Pricing
Student Licensing & Insurance £1M Public Liability per student with member-to-member cover confirmed in writing, plus student membership and a formal BMABA licence. From £0.49per student, per year, at volume Activate & See Real-Time Pricing
Club Cover Business-level protection for your club as a legal entity: £5M Public Liability, £1M Professional Indemnity and £500K Abuse Cover. Free for qualifying clubsotherwise £169.99 per year Activate & See Real-Time Pricing
Optional Extras Contents Cover at £75.00, a £10M Public Liability upgrade at £37.00, and a menu of specialist bolt-ons. Add what you need, leave off what you don't. Add what you needleave off what you don't Activate & See Real-Time Pricing

Free unlimited event cover for qualifying clubs
Live blade cover available as an optional extra
Referee & officials cover available as an optional extra
Personal Accident cover available from £3.99

Your cover, your call. See your exact, real-time price in the signup builder before paying a penny.

Our Price Promise We’re confident this is one of the best-value packages in UK martial arts. If you think you’ve found like-for-like cover, membership and support for less, tell us. We genuinely want to hear about it.

Hear It From Our Expert

Real Answers, From The Person Who Built The Cover

Giovanni Soffietto, our CEO, is an expert in policy, governance and insurance, and has spent more than a decade building cover designed around how martial arts is actually taught. These short videos explain exactly how it all works, in plain English.

How Far Does Our Cover Stretch?

A flexible approach to cover, providing only what you need via our Group or Club products. Explore each cover below.

BMABA CIC offers both Named Instructor Insurance and Open Allocation Instructor Insurance to suit clubs of all sizes and structures. Named cover insures a specific individual. Open Allocation provides flexible policies that can be assigned and reassigned between instructors as needed, ideal for clubs with guest instructors or rotating staff.

Both formats include as standard: £5M Public Liability, £1M Professional Indemnity, £500K Abuse Cover, and £1M Products Liability. Worldwide cover applies, excluding the USA and Canada.

Also included as standard with every named instructor policy: free cover for sanctioned events, live and pre-recorded online lesson cover, temporary instructor cover for sickness and holidays, maternity and paternity provisions, birthday party cover, and holiday camp and food preparation cover. These are not extras. They come as standard.

Optional additions include a £10M Public Liability upgrade at £37.00 per year, Contents Cover up to £5,000 at £75.00 per year, and Personal Accident cover across three tiers.

Instructor insurance starts from £67.99 per year for named cover and £77.99 for open allocation at volume. Membership is separate and starts from £22.99 per year at volume. The more instructors your club registers, the lower the per-instructor cost across both membership and insurance.

Cover is underwritten by AXA XL via Lloyd's, accessed through our FCA-registered broker.

BMABA student insurance provides affordable, scalable public liability cover for every student at your club. Every registration includes £1M Student Public Liability Insurance, BMABA Student Membership, and a formal BMABA licence.

Importantly, member-to-member cover has been explicitly confirmed in writing by AXA XL. Student-on-student incidents during training are covered, something not guaranteed by all providers.

You can choose between Named student cover, where each student is individually registered and issued a lifetime licence, or Open Allocation cover, where you insure a number of active student slots without naming individuals. Both options integrate directly with the Lifetime Student Grade Register, our national safeguarding framework, and our Club Management Platform.

Optional Personal Accident cover is available across three tiers for students wanting additional protection for injuries sustained during training, at £4.99 per student per year or £0.49 per month.

Pricing scales significantly with volume. Named student cover starts at £3.70 per student per year for smaller clubs, reducing to £0.54 at 1,000 students or more. Open Allocation starts at £2.40, reducing to £0.49 at volume.

Club Cover provides business-level protection for clubs operating as a formal legal entity, whether a limited company, CIC, LLP, charity, or similar structure. This sits above your instructor and student insurance and protects the organisation itself.

Cover includes £5M Public Liability, £1M Professional Indemnity, and £500K Abuse Cover for the club as a legal entity.

For qualifying clubs, Club Cover is provided completely free. If you hold a RegulationReady Bronze score or above, insure your instructors through BMABA, and register your students through BMABA, the full annual Club Cover cost is gifted to your club. That is our investment in clubs that take governance seriously.

For clubs not yet qualifying, Club Cover is available at £169.99 per year or £16.99 per month.

If your club requires Employer's Liability or premises cover, we operate a referral process to connect you with appropriate providers.

Assistants and volunteers do not require standalone insurance policies. Provided they are fully supervised and not leading classes independently, they fall within the scope of the lead instructor's cover.

For clubs wanting to formally register, licence, and recognise their assistants and volunteers, dedicated registrations are available. These provide formal BMABA recognition, access to MyBMABA, exclusive CPD including the Instructor Training Pathway (ITP), safeguarding, concussion management, SEND, and first aid training, and full integration with your club's compliance framework.

Assistant Instructor registration costs £24.99 per person annually, or five for £100.00. Volunteer registration costs £9.99 per person annually, or five for £39.96. Monthly options are available at £2.49 and £0.99 respectively.

Qualifying clubs can run unlimited sanctioned events completely free of charge. Free event cover is included automatically for clubs with active instructor insurance and student licensing through BMABA.

Cover extends to events with up to 500 participants and up to 250 students. Full contact and multi-day events are included. All attending competitors must hold a valid BMABA licence, which is nationally transferrable across the UK. Non-BMABA competitors can be added to student licences or covered at £2.50 per head.

Our dedicated event management platform is available to help you plan, manage, and document your events from start to finish.

For clubs not yet qualifying for free event cover, or for events requiring bespoke arrangements, our team can discuss options on request.

Specialist cover is available for referees, judges, and ring officials working at competitions, fights, and tournaments. This is a standalone cover designed for those officiating at events rather than instructing or competing.

Referee and Officials cover is available from approximately £3.33 per month, making it one of the most affordable specialist covers in UK martial arts.

If you run events and want to ensure your officiating team are properly covered alongside your competitors and instructors, this is the cover to add.

Live blade cover is available to BMABA members and is fully activatable online through MyBMABA. Cover applies to live blade demonstrations, test-cutting, and martial arts exempt weapon importation in approved instructional contexts.

Border Force letters and certification are available on demand through your MyBMABA account, providing the documentation you need quickly and without unnecessary process. This is particularly relevant for disciplines including Iaido, HEMA, Kenjutsu, and traditional weapons-based practice.

Cover requires supervised use, controlled environments, and use justified for traditional, instructional, or technical martial arts purposes. Safe storage and transportation practices are required as standard.

Questions, Answered Honestly

Everything You’d Want To Ask First

Joining, pricing, instructor and student cover, what’s included, and just as importantly, what isn’t. If your question isn’t here, the handbook goes deeper, and our team are a message away.

Joining BMABA

We welcome instructors across more than 200 disciplines. The standard route asks for 1st Dan or equivalent (BJJ Purple or above), a minimum of three years and eight months of training, or certification from a reputable body we can verify. If your style doesn't use belts, or your grading history is complicated, our Black Belt Equivalency Process offers a respectful, structured route to recognition with no cost and no requirement to hold a black belt at all. Checking your eligibility is free, confidential, and carries no penalty if the answer isn't yet.

Eligibility Criteria Black Belt Equivalency

No. Membership and insurance are separate, and you can join on our genuinely free Affiliate membership with no payment details required, explore everything, and add insurance only if and when you want it. Many clubs join free first, look around, and time any insurance switch to their existing renewal date so nothing overlaps and nothing lapses.

Join Free

The policy conditions require every insured instructor to be suitably qualified in the discipline they teach, hold a valid enhanced DBS check (or national equivalent) where teaching children or at-risk adults, and hold a current first aid certificate. Our safeguarding qualification is required for Abuse Cover to be effective, and your suitability vetting status in MyBMABA must reflect who you actually teach. All of the training involved is available online through membership, most of it free.

Instructor Insurance Explained

Joining can be completed online in minutes. Once your lead instructor eligibility is verified, membership, credentials and platform access follow quickly, and the wider migration of students, records and digital tools happens entirely at your pace, with our team handling the heavy lifting wherever you want us to, including free website migrations.

Thinking Of Switching?

Pricing

Everything is priced upfront, payable monthly or annually, with volume discounts that reduce the per-person cost as your club registers more instructors and students. Membership and insurance are itemised separately so you can see exactly what each costs, and the signup builder shows your exact, real-time price before you pay anything. No hidden charges, no surprise renewals, no percentage-of-turnover fees.

Explore Real-Time Pricing

Named instructor insurance starts from £67.99 per year and open allocation from £77.99 at volume, with membership separate from £22.99 per year at volume. Optional additions include a £10M Public Liability upgrade at £37.00 per year, Contents Cover at £75.00, and Personal Accident across three tiers from £3.99. The more instructors your club registers, the lower the per-instructor cost across both membership and insurance.

Instructor Insurance

Named student cover starts at £3.70 per student per year for smaller clubs, reducing to £0.54 at 1,000 students or more. Open Allocation starts at £2.40, reducing to £0.49 at volume. Every registration includes £1M Public Liability, student membership and a formal BMABA licence, with optional Personal Accident cover at £4.99 per student per year.

Student Licensing

Yes. NHS staff, Emergency Services personnel and Armed Forces members past and present, including Reserves and anyone holding a Blue Light Card, receive 10% across all memberships for life. Club Colours members receive a further 5% across all memberships and insurance products. Contact the team with proof of service for a code.

Contact The Team

Instructor Insurance

As standard: £5M Public Liability, £1M Professional Indemnity, £500K Abuse Cover and £1M Products Liability, with worldwide cover excluding the USA and Canada. Every named policy also includes free sanctioned event cover, online lesson cover, temporary stand-in cover for sickness and holidays, maternity and paternity provisions, birthday party cover, and holiday camp and food preparation cover. These aren't extras. They come as standard.

Instructor Insurance Explained

Named cover insures a specific individual and is the right fit for most clubs. Open Allocation gives you a number of active policies that can be assigned and reassigned between registered instructors as needed, ideal where guest instructors rotate or several people share teaching duties without all teaching at once. If ten instructors rotate but only two teach simultaneously, you can hold ten memberships and two active policies.

Named vs Open Allocation

Yes, and we'd rather you knew now than at claim time. Public Liability is capped at £2M until you hold a recognised coaching qualification, at which point the full £5M becomes effective. This isn't a technical ability test; it's about evidencing the disciplines behind safe coaching, like risk assessment and duty of care. Our Level 1 Instructor Qualification satisfies it immediately, is entirely online, and is free with membership, and equivalent external or properly documented in-house coaching training counts too.

The Full Detail

Yes, free. We were the first martial arts association to offer free temporary cover switching, designed for sickness and holidays. Tell us in writing who is covering (name, date of birth, style, rank) and for exactly how long; they must be technically able to teach unsupervised, properly vetted including an enhanced DBS where children are involved, and registered to BMABA. Fair usage typically allows around six occasions per year.

Temporary Cover Rules

Both, with conditions. Outdoor instruction is covered provided you have the landowner's permission, have formally risk assessed the space, and follow all other policy conditions. Remote and video classes are covered with the insurer's recommended precautions, including opening safety advisories, teaching existing members only, and recording sessions, which can materially help if a claim ever arises.

Instructor Insurance Explained

Student Insurance

Every registration includes £1M Student Public Liability Insurance, BMABA Student Membership and a formal BMABA licence, integrating directly with the Lifetime Student Grade Register, our national safeguarding framework and our Club Management Platform. Optional Personal Accident cover is available across three tiers for students wanting additional injury protection.

Named Student Cover Open Allocation Student Cover

Yes. Member-to-member cover has been explicitly confirmed in writing by AXA XL, so student-on-student incidents during training are covered under our student public liability policies. This is genuinely not guaranteed by all providers and is one of the most important things to check carefully when comparing options, because the instructor's own policy excludes participant-to-participant liability; it's the student policy that carries this protection.

Student Cover Explained

No. Named cover registers each student individually with a lifetime licence, while Open Allocation lets you insure a number of active student slots without naming individuals, managing your own records through our free Club Management Platform. Both routes are valid; Open Allocation simply trades individual licences for flexibility and a lower per-head cost at volume.

Temporary Student Cover

BMABA student licences are nationally transferrable, so licensed students are covered at sanctioned events across the UK, including at other BMABA clubs' events. Participants without a BMABA licence can be added to student licences or covered at £2.50 per head for the event.

Students At Events Events Insurance

What's Covered

More than 200 disciplines and styles are covered, from Aikido to Wushu, and the approved list can be revised with our insurer on request wherever a genuine discipline requires endorsing. Training weapons are covered within approved disciplines, and live blades are covered under the separate Live Blades extension, activatable online through MyBMABA, including Border Force documentation for exempt weapon importation.

Approved Disciplines & Weapons Live Blades

Martial arts based fitness and stretching is generally supported, provided you don't stray into dedicated fitness or personal training territory. The policy also covers the sale of martial arts related goods and light, non-cooked food. Teaching from home has its own dedicated guidance covering the conditions involved. Each has a full handbook article worth reading before you rely on it.

Fitness & Stretching Selling Goods & Food Teaching From Home

Assistants and volunteers fall within the scope of the lead instructor's cover provided they are fully supervised by a qualified, insured instructor at all times and are not leading classes independently. Dedicated registrations are available for clubs wanting to formally licence and train their assistants, including through the Instructor Training Pathway.

Insuring Assistants

Cover follows the person, not the venue. Any covered instructor or student can teach or train at any location, under any BMABA-registered club, in any approved style, with worldwide cover applying to instructors excluding the USA and Canada. What the policy doesn't do is insure the venue itself, which is covered in the next section for good reason.

Instructor Insurance Explained

What's Not Covered

The honest list, because you deserve it upfront: injury arising from treatment beyond emergency first aid; activities not disclosed to underwriters; participant-to-participant liability on the instructor's own policy (this is what student policies exist for); deliberate or intentional acts; premises, leases and venues; live blades without the dedicated extension; and an absolute coronavirus exclusion. Equipment cover carries its own conditions, including no theft cover from unattended vehicles overnight. Always read the full policy wording rather than relying on any summary, including this one.

Conditions & Exclusions In Full

No. Instructor and club policies exclude cover for premises, leases and venues, so if you own or lease your training space, or your landlord requires premises cover or Employer's Liability, those need arranging separately. We operate a referral process to connect clubs with appropriate providers for these, and our team can point you in the right direction.

Employer's Liability Explained

The conditions exist to keep everyone safe, and breaching them can void cover: no participation under the influence of alcohol or drugs or against medical advice; instructors must hold the required qualification, DBS and first aid; instructor-to-student ratios must be respected (1:16 standard, 1:8 for under-8s, with agreed deviations up to 1:35); suitable protective equipment must be worn while sparring; parents must remain in the hall for 3 and 4 year olds; and training areas must be regularly risk assessed with records kept. None of this is onerous for a well-run club, and all of it is exactly what you'd want in place anyway.

Instructor To Student Ratios

Report it to us immediately, even if you're not sure it will become anything. We manage the notification with the insurer on your behalf, and we would always rather raise a case that never becomes actionable than miss one that does. Never admit liability; simply say you'll report it to your association. Our claims history with AXA XL has been consistently positive for members who are on-side with the guidelines.

What To Do After An Injury

Right now, before joining, and we actively encourage it. Full policy schedules and wording documents are linked from the relevant handbook articles, alongside plain-English explanations of each cover. We want you informed, confident and in control of your decision, and if anything is unclear, our team will happily talk it through with no pressure. There's never such a thing as a stupid question.

The Handbook Ask The Team

More Than Insurance. An Entire Ecosystem, Included.

When you join BMABA, you’re not just buying a policy. You’re joining a not-for-profit association that reinvests every penny into UK martial arts. Alongside comprehensive insurance, every member gets access to our full suite of CPD and qualifications, governance and safeguarding frameworks, club management software, tech tools, resources, and expert support. All included. No hidden fees.

Cost Neutral Membership

The Membership That Can Pay For Itself

Here’s the honest version. You might not want to change the providers you already use, and that’s completely okay. Many are excellent, and we’d never ask you to cancel anything. But your club has to have insurance anyway, and ours is priced like an insurer’s while including everything below. Use what you want, when you want. If you don’t, no pressure. If you do, the savings add up fast.

Tick the things your club is already paying for, and watch them become free.

Club essentials you might pay for elsewhere

Training & compliance (per person, counted once)

The Tech Hub, all included

Coaching Levels 1 and 2, SEND Level 1 and concussion (CHIMA) training are included as standard. The wider CPD library needs Silver membership or above.

Estimated yearly saving £0

All included with membership From £39.99/yr

Tick what you already pay for elsewhere, and watch it become free.

About these estimates*

These prices are estimates based on middle-of-the-road paid providers, and your numbers will vary. We’re not suggesting we’re the best at every one of these. Plenty of specialist tools are excellent, and you’re welcome to keep using them. We just think we’ve built a bloody good system, and everything above is included with membership. Per-person training costs are counted once here, the wider CPD library needs Silver membership or above, and exact membership pricing is always shown in the signup builder.

And the core compliance stack lives here too. One login, one renewal.

First Aid Training
Safeguarding Qualifications
DBS & PVG Checks
Coaching Qualifications
Concussion & Head Injury (CHIMA)

No Ultimatums. Ever. We’re not here to cost your other providers their customers, and we won’t tell you our tools are better than theirs. Test-drive ours alongside what you already have, see where value overlaps, and only step away from something if it genuinely makes sense for your club. That’s where savings appear naturally, and if they never do, you’ve still got the insurance and cover you needed anyway.

Get Started Free See Worked Examples

More Than Insurance. We're The UK’s Independent Martial Arts Association Backing Your Club

Unlike insurers who offer nothing more than a certificate and a premium, we’re a not-for-profit, community-first organisation built to serve you. Not shareholders.

When you insure with BMABA CIC, you’re not just ticking a legal box. You’re unlocking a complete ecosystem of tools, training, governance, and support. All included, and all at no extra cost.

Explore pricing and build your own bespoke club cover package.

Select what you need, leave out what you don’t. Join the community.

Testimonials

What Do Our Members Say?

Matthew Johnson
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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From a £20 Start-Up to a Nationally Recognised Powerhouse. Built From Scratch, Driven By Purpose.

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.

CLUB MANAGEMENT & BILLING

A Completely Free, Easy-To-Use Club Management System That Makes Running Your Club Simple.

BMABA’s Club Management Platform is our comprehensive, all-in-one system, built exclusively for our members and completely free to use. It handles everything from student records, grading, billing, and attendance through to safeguarding, compliance, finances, budgeting, communications, and so much more, all under one simple, intuitive roof.

Professional, Expert Certification & Licensing

Whether it’s your student licence slips for the next event, or your instructor insurance documentation for the primary school you’re about to start teaching at, you need to know that the certification you hand over is professional, and will have your back.

We’ve issued over 1,000,000 certificates since 2012, across a range of insurances, licences and memberships, and all of our documentation, both digital and in print, looks the part and helps you do your part.

With enhanced security features like UV stamps, embossed foils and unique identification numbers linked to national instructor registers, nobody else in UK martial arts does the quality of your teaching justice quite like BMABA.

Why Join?

Because We’re A Martial Arts Governing Body. Not A Corporate Insurer That Doesn’t Understand What You Do.

Insurers don’t speak up for martial arts. They sell policies. When the sector faces serious pressure, whether it’s COVID lockdowns, safeguarding reform triggered by coroner inquests, or growing calls for national regulation, most insurers stay silent. They won’t fight for independent clubs, push for better standards, or represent your voice where it matters.

BMABA CIC is different.

We lead from the front, representing our clubs at the highest levels with Sport England, DCMS, media, and beyond. We don’t just react. We help shape the future of martial arts in the UK. Whether it’s safeguarding, concussion protocols, or governance reform, we’re the voice for instructors who would otherwise be left out of the conversation.

And because we know how unclear insurance can be, we don’t just hand you a lengthy policy document. We translate everything into plain, martial arts-specific guidance through our handbook, so you know exactly what’s covered, without the guesswork.

Monthly or AnnuallyWe’ll support your cashflow with flexible payment options. Pay monthly or annually, whichever suits your club best.
Bespoke ArrangementsCan’t find what you need? We’ve quoted and configured countless unique club setups. If your structure is a bit different, we’ll do our best to help.
Always UpdatedWe’re constantly releasing new features, training, resources, and tech. All existing members benefit, not just the new ones.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you can’t find the answer to what you’re looking for, please jump onto web chat and we’ll be happy to help.

We're not here to tell you what you should do. That decision is entirely yours. What we can say is that BMABA CIC is a not-for-profit association certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 under UKAS accreditation, recognised across the martial arts sector for governance, safeguarding, and compliance leadership.

When you join, you don't just get an insurance policy. You gain access to a full membership package including licensing, instructor support, safeguarding training, live verification, digital certificates, club management software, and much more. All included at no extra cost, with the total price typically equal to or less than what you would pay for insurance alone with a standalone provider.

That is possible because we are a not-for-profit. We don't pay shareholders. We reinvest into better tools, resources, and support for the martial arts community.

Yes, absolutely, and we actively encourage it. We publish comprehensive handbook articles explaining each part of the cover in plain English. Each insurance product also includes access to the insurer's policy schedule and wording documents, so you can review everything carefully before committing.

We want you to be informed, confident, and in control of your decision. Here are the core handbook articles covering the main aspects of cover:

Instructor Insurance Open Allocation Instructor Named vs Open Explained Named Student Cover Open Allocation Student Cover Business (Club) Insurance Eligibility Criteria

We understand that insurance can feel overwhelming, especially if this is your first time arranging cover. While we cannot offer specific insurance advice as it is a regulated activity, we can explain your options clearly and help you understand what is available.

Most small clubs typically start with instructor insurance, which includes Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, and Abuse Cover as standard. You may also choose to register students, but there is no pressure to include anything you don't need straight away.

Our team is here to talk through your options. Use web chat or contact us directly and we will help you find the right starting point.

We avoid the term blanket cover as it can be misleading, but yes, we offer a flexible model called Open Allocation that works in a similar way.

For students, you don't need to name each individual. You cover the number of active student slots at your club and manage your records accordingly. Our free Club Management Platform makes this straightforward.

For instructors, you purchase the number of active insurance policies needed at any one time. If ten instructors rotate but only two teach simultaneously, you can hold ten memberships and two active insurance policies. It is a flexible and cost-effective way to protect your team.

Quite a lot. Your membership includes a free club management platform, free website with design and migration support, branded professional email, digital risk assessments, safeguarding tools, policy builders, CPD training, licensing systems, SEO and growth support, AI tools, design software, and access to hundreds of resources. All included, all at no extra cost, and all managed through one MyBMABA login.

No. Cover is provided on a per-instructor and per-student basis, not tied to a specific venue. Any covered instructor or student can train or teach at any location under any BMABA-registered club, across any style.

Yes. Member-to-member cover has been explicitly confirmed in writing by AXA XL. Student-on-student incidents during training are covered under our student public liability policies. This is not guaranteed by all providers and is worth checking carefully when comparing options.

Yes, for qualifying clubs. Unlimited sanctioned event cover is included at no additional charge for clubs with active instructor insurance and student licensing through BMABA.

To access free event cover, clubs complete our online compliance checklist, provided through our free event management platform, which gives you all the tools and resources needed to plan and run your event compliantly in one place.

The only condition is that all students attending must hold a valid BMABA student licence. Licences are nationally transferrable, so students from other BMABA clubs are covered automatically. Any participants without a BMABA licence can be added to student licences or covered at £2.50 per head.

Yes, if your club qualifies. Club Cover, normally £169.99 per year, is provided free to clubs holding a RegulationReady Bronze score or above with instructor and student insurance through BMABA. It is our way of rewarding clubs that take governance seriously.

Our team supports you through the claims process from start to finish. We don't hand you a phone number and wish you luck. You contact us, we help you understand the process, liaise with the broker and insurer where needed, and make sure your claim is handled properly. Our claims history with AXA XL has been consistently positive for members who are on-side with our guidelines.

Yes. A 10% discount is available for NHS staff, Emergency Services personnel, and Armed Forces members, including past and present serving members of any branch and Reserve forces. Anyone holding a Blue Light Card qualifies. Contact our team with proof of service for a discount code. Club Colours members also receive a 5% discount across all memberships and insurance products.

Club Management & Billing

A Completely Free, Easy-To-Use Club Management System That Makes Running Your Club Simple.

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
Manage Events & Competitions
Student Portal & Member's Content
Concussion & RtP Management
Digital Incident Log Book
Digital Risk Assessments
Task Management
Registrations & Waivers

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What Cover Does & What It’s For

A plain English guide to each type of cover we offer, what it protects against, and who needs it. Summaries only. Always read the full policy wording in the handbook.

Public Liability is the most essential type of insurance for any instructor, club, or student. It protects you if a third party, including students, parents, spectators, or bystanders, suffers injury or property damage due to negligence during a martial arts activity.

Cover levels: instructors hold £5,000,000 as standard once a recognised coaching qualification is held (our free Level 1 qualification satisfies this), with an optional upgrade to £10,000,000 available at £37.00 per year. Clubs hold £5,000,000 and students £1,000,000 as standard.

Public Liability is the most common type of claim in martial arts and is considered essential for anyone delivering instruction or participating in organised training.

Professional Indemnity covers claims arising from advice, guidance, or information you provided in your professional capacity that resulted in financial loss or reputational damage to another party.

Cover level: £1,000,000 included automatically for all instructors and clubs.

For example, if you recommend a course of action to a student that leads to financial loss, or if something published on your website or social media results in a defamation or copyright claim, Professional Indemnity is the cover that responds. It does not cover physical injury. That is the role of Public Liability.

Abuse Cover is a specialist form of insurance that provides legal protection in the event of an allegation of abuse. It is not included in standard Public Liability or Professional Indemnity policies and is only available through a small number of specialist insurers.

Cover level: £500,000 provided automatically for all instructors and clubs, subject to holding our safeguarding qualification and a verified enhanced DBS.

If an instructor is accused of inappropriate conduct, this cover helps fund legal defence costs. It can also protect the club if it is implicated in a safeguarding oversight or failure in duty of care. Cover applies even where allegations are ultimately unfounded, which is precisely when legal costs can be most significant.

Products Liability covers claims arising from injury or damage caused by a physical product you supply, sell, or recommend in connection with your martial arts activity. This includes training equipment, branded merchandise, supplements, or any other goods associated with your club.

Cover level: £1,000,000 included automatically with all instructor insurance policies.

This cover is often overlooked but is relevant to any instructor or club that sells or distributes physical goods, even informally.

Personal Accident cover provides financial support to instructors or students who suffer an injury during training, regardless of who was at fault. Unlike Public Liability, no legal negligence needs to be established. Cover pays out predefined amounts for specific injuries or periods of incapacity.

Personal Accident is available across three tiers for both instructors and students: Bronze at £3.99, Silver at £7.50, and Gold at £11.50 per year, with the higher tiers adding enhanced benefits including loss of income protection of up to £200 per week. Monthly options are available.

This cover is particularly valuable for instructors who are self-employed and would have no income protection if they were unable to teach due to injury.

Event cover is included free for qualifying clubs with active instructor insurance and student licensing through BMABA. There is no additional charge and no limit on the number of sanctioned events you run in a year.

To access event cover, clubs complete a straightforward online compliance checklist through our free event management platform, which provides all the tools and resources needed to plan and run events compliantly.

The only condition is that all students attending must hold a valid BMABA student licence. Licences are nationally transferrable, so students from other BMABA clubs are covered automatically. For any participants without a BMABA licence, cover is available at £2.50 per participant. Full contact and multi-day events are included.

Contents Insurance covers martial arts equipment owned by instructors or clubs if it is lost, stolen, or damaged.

Cover level: up to £5,000 as standard, at £75.00 per year or £7.31 per month. Higher limits are available on request.

For example, if an instructor's pads, gloves, or weapons are stolen from a secure location, or if mats stored at a facility are damaged by flooding, Contents cover helps replace the items quickly. It is particularly useful for instructors who transport significant amounts of equipment or who own specialist kit. Conditions apply around unattended vehicles and secure storage, so read the policy detail before relying on it.

Live blade cover is available to BMABA members and is fully activatable online through MyBMABA. It covers live blade demonstrations, test-cutting, and martial arts exempt weapon importation in approved instructional contexts.

This includes disciplines such as Iaido, HEMA, Kenjutsu, Ninjutsu, and any other style where live blades are used for traditional or instructional purposes. Border Force letters and certification for exempt weapon importation are available on demand through your MyBMABA account.

Safe storage, supervised use, and controlled training environments are required as standard conditions of cover.

Specialist cover is available for referees, judges, and ring officials working at competitions, fights, and tournaments. This is a standalone cover type designed for those officiating at events rather than instructing or competing.

Available from approximately £3.33 per month, it is one of the most affordable specialist covers in UK martial arts and ensures your officiating team are properly protected alongside competitors and instructors.

A free club website and even the time with a developer, included.

We provide a complete club management platform with built-in billing, communication tools, student records, and more. And on top of that, we’ll also build you a fully hosted, professionally designed WordPress website — for free. This includes layout design, migration, and ongoing site management, all included as part of your membership.

We Can Help Upskill Your Team. Or Not. It's Your Choice.

Inclusive in any fees paid is access to MyBMABA for you and any of your instructors, assistants and volunteers. This can be used to provide exclusive access to content, courses and qualifications from safeguarding and coaching to first aid and concussion management.

If that doesn’t work for your club, you can decide not to grant your team MyBMABA access. It’s entirely up to you.

We'll Help Tackle That Mountain of Admin!

Whether it’s setting up a management account for your club secretary can login and take care of student registrations, through to the completely inclusive Club Management Platform; we’ve got dozens of resources and systems in place that can help tackle the issue of admin.

With you every step of the way

We're confident there's nobody else in UK martial arts doing what we're doing. From the core cover and licencing needs through to essentials like DBS checks and safeguarding, through to the latest technology - we're in your corner.

Often for less than an insurer's standard premium we can offer so much more. One place. One Membership. From a trade body built on reputation and renowned for helping clubs grow professionally and fairly.

The Basics

Insurance, licensing, DBS checks, safeguarding, first aid - the core stuff you need to function on a day to day basis. We've got it.

Expanding

Whether it's growing your student base or taking on private tuition. Corporate clients through to events; we'll help you expand.

The Moonshot

With the latest technology and services - such as AI, SEO, Analytics, and so much more. We'll help you shoot for the moon.

Multi-Award Winning & As Seen On Various Platforms

Our MyBMABA Club Management Platform combines club management, billing and marketing into one place. It’s free for all of our members and comes with a tonne of essential and groundbreaking features as standard.

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Disciplines Covered.

We can provide cover for more than 180 disciplines and styles, and this list can be revised with our insurer on request where-ever a genuine discipline or style requires endorsing.

Aiki JuJitsu

Aikido

Aiuchi Ju Jitsu

Aiwakai Karate Do

Ashihara Karate

American Kempo

Angampora

Arnis

Atemi

Ba Ji Quan and Tai Chi

Baguazhang

Bajiquan

Bajutsu

Bando

Bartitsu

Bataireacht (Irish Stick Fighting)

BMABA Approved Disciplines & Styles

Bojitsu

Bojuka

Bojutsu

Bokator

Bokh (Mongolian Wrestling)

Brazilian Ju Jitsu (BJJ)

British Combat Judo

British Folkstyle Wrestling

Budokon

Bujinkan Budo

Bujinkan Budo Tai Jutsu

Bujutsu

Bushi Kempo

Bushido

Butthan

Canne de Combat

Capoeira

Catch Wrestling

Ch`uan Fa

Ch`uan Shu

Chambarra

Cheibi Gad-Ga

Chi Gong

Chinese Kickboxing

Choy Li Fut

Choi Kwang Do

Close Protection Training

Close Quarter Combat (CQB)

Combat Hapkido

Combat Hopak

Combat Sambo

Conflict Management

Coreeda

Cuong Nhu

Dacayana Eskrima

Daido Juku Kudo

Daito-ryu

Daito-ryu Aiki Jujitsu

Dambe

Danzan Ryu

Drunken Fist (Zui Quan)

Dumog

Eagle Claw Kung Fu

Enshin Kaikan

Escrima

Fencing

Feng Shou

Filipino Martial Arts

Fitness Orientated Kickboxing

Folkstyle Wrestling

Freestyle Jujitsu

Freestyle Karate

Freestyle Karate Jutsu

Freestyle Kung Fu

Freestyle Kickboxing

Freestyle Taekwondo

Fu Jow Pai

Gatka

Glima

Goju Kai Karate Do

Goju Ryu Karate

Gongkwon Yusul

Goshin Jutsu

Goshin Ryu Kempo Jujitsu

Haidong Gumdo

Hakuda

Han Mu Do

Hanbojutsu

Hapkido

Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA)

Historical Fencing

Hojojitsu

Hsing-i

Hsing-yi

Hung Ga

Huyen Langlon

Hwa Rang Do

Hwarang-do

Iaido

Iaijutsu

Icho-Ryu

Iinkai Judo

Isshin-Ryu Karate

Itto-Ryu

Jado Kuin Do

Japanese Shotokan Karate

Jeet Kune Do

Jikiden Eishin Ryu Iaido

Jojutsu

Judo

Jujitsu

Jun Fan Gung Fu

Jun Fan Jeet Kune Do

Jutsu

Kaiai Jitsu

Kajukenbo

Kalaripayattu

Kali

Kali Silat

KAPAP

Karate

Karate Jutsu

Karate-Do

Karate-Jitsu

Kaze Arashi Ryu

Kempo

Kempo Jujitsu

Kempo Ryu

Ken Fat

Kendo

Kenjutsu

Kenpo

Kenshin Karate

Keysi

Ki Aikido

Kick Boxing

Ko Budo

Kobudo

Kokondo

Korean Kickboxing

Koryu Uchinadi

Krabi-Krabong

Krav Maga

Kuk Sool Won

Kumdo

Kung Fu

Kung Fu To’a

Kyokushinkai Karate

Kyudo

Lathi Khela

Lau Gar

Lau Gar Kickboxing

Lau Gar Kung Fu

Lee Style Tai Chi

Leopard Kung Fu (Bao Quan)

Lerdrit

Maarlisk

Malla Yuddha

Marine Corps Martial Arts Program (MCMAP)

Martial Arts Based Fitness

Martial Arts Wrestling

Military Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)

Monkey Kung Fu (Hou Quan)

Muay Boran

Muay Thai

Nearu Martial Art

Nihon Goshin Ju Jitsu

Ninjitsu

Ninpo Taijutsu

Ninjutsu

Niten Ichi-Ryu

North West Chinese Kickboxing

Okichitaw

Pa Kua

Pa Qua

Panantukan

Pankration

Personal Protection

Physical Intervention

Pradal Serey

Qi Kwan Do

Qwan Ki Do

Quan Fa

Reality Based Martial Arts

Russian Martial Arts

Sanjuro Martial Arts

Sankukai Karate

Sanshou

Sarak

Sarit

Savate

Seiki Juku Karate

Self Defence

Self Protection

Shaolin Kempo Karate

Shaolin Kung Fu

Shaolin-Tsu Kempo

Shintaido

Shito-Ryu Karate

Shindo Jinen Ryu

Shorinji Kempo

Shorin-Ryu Karate

Shotokan Goju Ryu

Shotokan Karate

Shuai Chiao

Shuai Jiao

Shukokai

Shukokai Karate

Shuri-Ryu

Sibpalki

Sikaran

Silambam

Silat

Sokudo

Soo Bahk Do

Sport Boxing (Martial Arts Based)

Sport Karate

Sport Sambo

Ssireum

Submission Wrestling

Sumai

Sumo

Sulkido

Systema

Taekkyeon

Taekwondo

Tai Chi

Tai Chi Chuan

Tai Jutsu

Taido

Taijutsu

Tang Soo Do

Thai Boxing

Thang-ta

Tiger Claw Kung Fu (Fu Jow Pai)

Tora Kai

Traditional Aikido

Traditional Italian Martial Arts

Traditional Karate

Traditional Wado Ryu

Unarmed Combat

Viet Vo Dao

Wado Ryu Karate

Wing Chun

Wing Chun Kung Fu

Wing Tsun

World Tang Soo Do

Wushu

Yoseikan Budo

Zen Shin Karate

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BMABA CIC

US & OUR IMPACT

Flagship Platforms

Essentials & Compliance

Resources & Tools

programmes & cpd

KEY COVERS

See Cover By Specific Style

We cover more than 200 disciplines and styles. If you'd like to see how that might look for some of our more popular styles, check below.

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HOW WE CAN HELP YOUR CLUB

Multi-Award Winning

Martial Arts Club Insurance

The Smarter Way To Insure & Licence Your Martial Arts Club

Everything Your Club Needs. In One Place.

Why Clubs Choose BMABA Over A Standalone Insurer

Multi-Award Winning & Nationally Recognised

It’s Not Just Insurance. And That’s The Point.

Real Answers, From The Person Who Built The Cover

How Far Does Our Cover Stretch?

Instructors & Coaches

Students

Clubs & Businesses

Volunteers & Assistant Instructors

Events Cover

Referee & Officials

Live Blade Use & Insurance

Everything You’d Want To Ask First

Who can join, and what if I don't hold a black belt?

Do I have to buy insurance to join?

What do I need in place before I can teach under BMABA cover?

How long does joining and switching take?

How does pricing work?

What does instructor cover cost?

What does student cover cost?

Are any discounts available?

What does instructor insurance include?

Named or Open Allocation: which do I need?

Is there anything I must do to unlock the full £5M Public Liability?

Can someone stand in for me when I'm ill or on holiday?

Are online classes and outdoor training covered?

What does student insurance include?

Are student-on-student incidents covered?

Do I have to name every student individually?

Are my students covered at events and competitions?

Which disciplines and weapons are covered?

Can I teach martial arts fitness, sell goods, or teach from home?

Are assistants and volunteers covered?

Does cover apply anywhere, or just my usual venue?

What are the main exclusions I should know about?

Does my cover insure my venue or premises?

What conditions could invalidate my cover?

What should I do if someone is injured or I think there might be a claim?

Where can I read the actual policy wording?

More Than Insurance. An Entire Ecosystem, Included.

The Membership That Can Pay For Itself

More Than Insurance. We're The UK’s Independent Martial Arts Association Backing Your Club

Explore pricing and build your own bespoke club cover package.

What Do Our Members Say?

From a £20 Start-Up to a Nationally Recognised Powerhouse. Built From Scratch, Driven By Purpose.

CLUB MANAGEMENT & BILLING

A Completely Free, Easy-To-Use Club Management System That Makes Running Your Club Simple.

Professional, Expert Certification & Licensing

Because We’re A Martial Arts Governing Body. Not A Corporate Insurer That Doesn’t Understand What You Do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I use BMABA CIC over a standalone insurer?

Can I see the policy terms and specific details before joining?

I don't know what I need. Can you help?

I don't want named policies. I want blanket cover. Can you do that?

What else is provided alongside the cover?

Is my cover venue-specific?

Does student insurance cover member-to-member incidents?

Is event cover really free?

Can I get Club Cover for free?

What happens if I need to make a claim?

Is there a discount available?

A Completely Free, Easy-To-Use Club Management System That Makes Running Your Club Simple.

What Cover Does & What It’s For

Public Liability (PL) Cover