Recognised Under The Safeguarding Code In Martial Arts
BMABA Club Colours
The gold standard in martial arts governance, safeguarding and community trust. Free for every member, and recognised where it matters most.
What Is BMABA Club Colours?
Club Colours is the UK’s most rigorous, fully audited accreditation for martial arts clubs, created to set a clear, gold-standard benchmark for safeguarding, governance and professional conduct. As a not-for-profit, independently regulated body certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 under UKAS accreditation, we developed Club Colours over more than a year of consultation, testing and refinement, and in September 2025 revised the framework to align directly with the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts, the scheme funded and supported by Sport England.
That alignment lets BMABA issue Safeguarding Code certification and pass marks directly from within the MyBMABA hub, seamlessly embedded into RegulationReady and powered by our own digital infrastructure. It makes us uniquely placed: the only independent martial arts body, alongside Sport England’s own recognised NGBs, granted the authority to issue Code recognition in this way, and the only organisation doing it digitally, automatically and at scale. Clubs achieving Club Colours don’t just gain a badge; they unlock national safeguarding recognition on a system built for verification and public transparency.
Tap any mark to learn what it means and why it matters.
We’re On Sport England’s Own Safeguarding Pages
Sport England’s safeguarding guidance for martial arts publicly lists the routes to recognition under the Code, and BMABA is there. Parents are told to look for the Code’s logo; your Club Colours award is how your club earns the right to display it. Check the source yourself, we’d genuinely encourage it.
See Us On Sport England’s WebsiteWhy Club Colours Matters
If your club is committed to operating with integrity, safety and professional excellence, Club Colours is your mark of distinction.
Built On Audit-Proven Quality
Club Colours sits atop our ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 certified structure, so every part of your club’s governance is transparent, repeatable and independently verified.
Live Verification Registry
Instructor credentials, safeguarding checks and licence status are instantly viewable via a live, public-facing register, instilling confidence in parents, schools and partners.
Instant Code Recognition
Achieving Club Colours automatically qualifies your club for Safeguarding Code certification, no separate application, no duplicate process, no waiting.
Credibility & Visibility
Earn visible School of Excellence certification, Code logo access, and public recognition that positions your club above unregulated or less complete offerings.
Free Qualification Included
Your lead instructor earns a no-cost qualification spanning safeguarding, club operations, documentation and marketing, packaged with essential templates.
Access To Elite Benefits
Exclusive access to funded community programmes and resources reserved for clubs holding our highest standard.
One Award. Three Doors Opened.
Accreditation is only awarded once a club is fully vetted across safeguarding, governance, inclusion and compliance. Then it starts working for you.
Automatic Code Award
Club Colours gives your club automatic certification under the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts, Sport England’s answer to safeguarding across the sector. One streamlined pathway to nationally recognised safeguarding status.
Digital Compliance Suite
Governance, safeguarding and compliance backed by a cutting-edge dashboard. Instantly download pass marks, safeguarding certificates, Club Colours badges and accreditation documents, always up to date.
National Club Finder Listing
Your club appears on the Code’s national club finder, the official public map parents and schools use to check whether a martial arts club meets safeguarding standards, alongside NGB-affiliated providers.
An Unconditional 5% Discount, On Everything, For Colours Clubs
Any club holding the free Club Colours award receives a full, unconditional 5% discount on any and all membership and insurance fees, with no limit on cost or value. That includes the insurance element as well as the membership portion, on every renewal, for as long as you hold your Colours. Better-governed clubs are better risks and better partners, and we believe that should show up in the price.
Start Earning YoursThe Cutting Edge Of Club Governance & Safeguarding
A fully digital, automated platform that makes governance simple, safeguarding transparent, and compliance effortless. Nuanced suitability vetting shows whether each instructor, assistant or volunteer is eligible to work with children, at-risk adults, or adults only, with a dynamic dashboard showing who’s cleared, who needs action, and where your responsibilities lie, in real time.

Verification & RegulationReady
At the heart of Club Colours is RegulationReady, the most advanced governance model in martial arts. Every qualification, DBS, safeguarding certificate and policy is verified and logged, giving you a transparent compliance record backed by our dual-ISO assurance: always audit-ready, always trusted, always ahead of national expectations.

Existing Safeguarding Code Recognition Merges Seamlessly
Already certified under the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts? You’ll remain fully listed and validated while you bring your governance up to the Club Colours framework. Once your accreditation is live, your Code certification is automatically merged into the BMABA standard, one unified accreditation combining the national credibility of the Code with the enhanced governance of Club Colours, and your safeguarding recognition is never interrupted.
- No interruption to your existing Code listing
- One unified accreditation once Club Colours is live
- A dual-ISO backed governance record beneath it
A Commitment That Can’t Be Undone
In March 2025 we voluntarily converted from private ownership to a Community Interest Company, permanently locking more than £1.6 million in assets for the sole benefit of our community. Every resource, every innovation and every penny of value we create is safeguarded for the sector we serve, not shareholders or executives. Today that commitment stands behind more than 6,500 instructors, around 1,500 clubs, and 100,000+ members across 200+ disciplines, with over £2.4 million generated and reinvested into grassroots martial arts since 2012.
Safeguarding Compliance Students Gradings Payments Growth Safeguarding Sorted.
Club Colours doesn’t stand alone. It sits inside a membership that includes our free, award-winning Club Management Platform, a full members’ portal, free club websites, professional email, insurance, CPD, and dozens of tools worth thousands, all funded by our not-for-profit mission.
- Club Management Platform
- Free Club Website
- Members’ Portal
- Insurance & Licensing
- CIMSPA-Aligned CPD
- Professional Email
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Multi-Award Winning & Nationally Recognised
Questions Clubs Ask About Club Colours
Who endorses Club Colours?
Club Colours, built on the RegulationReady framework, is formally approved by the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts, which places BMABA on Sport England’s own safeguarding pages as a route to recognition under the Code. In August 2025 the Minister for Sport wrote directly to BMABA commending the work taking place to ensure safeguarding standards across the independent sector, describing our role as extremely useful to DCMS. We’re also certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2022 under UKAS accreditation, with the Club Colours framework a core part of our audited management systems.
How much does Club Colours cost?
Nothing. It’s completely free, entirely self-funded and built in-house as part of our not-for-profit mission. Unlike the Code itself, which receives National Lottery funding, BMABA receives no external support for this work; it exists solely to raise standards across martial arts, and it’s free even on free affiliate membership.
Who can apply?
Any martial arts club, regardless of size, style or background. Club Colours is open to every club committed to meeting the highest safeguarding and governance standards.
What does the accreditation process involve?
It’s an ongoing system of checks and verifications rather than a one-off form. Accreditation is awarded once a club is fully vetted across safeguarding, governance, inclusion and compliance, and the system then helps you stay compliant year-round with reminders, live status and easy updates.
How does it link to the Safeguarding Code?
Achieving Club Colours automatically qualifies your club for Code certification. The integration is built into MyBMABA, so we issue Code recognition directly once you’ve passed, with no duplicate application process.
What role does RegulationReady play?
RegulationReady underpins the entire framework, checking your safeguarding, leadership and compliance dynamically against live data. That foundation is what gives Club Colours its credibility and lets certification be instant rather than paperwork-based.
Is there a discount for Club Colours clubs?
Yes. Clubs holding Club Colours receive an unconditional 5% discount on any and all membership and insurance fees, with no limit on cost or value, covering the insurance element as well as the membership portion, applied for as long as you hold the award.
Is it recognised outside BMABA?
Yes. The framework is nationally benchmarked, assured under our dual-ISO certification, and linked directly to the Safeguarding Code, giving parents, schools, local authorities and partners a level of assurance they can independently verify.
Ministerial Commendation And Parliamentary Recognition
“Organisations such as the British Martial Arts and Boxing Association support unaffiliated martial arts providers to adopt the safeguarding code… Providers with recognition under the code can display a logo on their promotional materials to show participants that their safety measures have been vetted.”
BMABA CIC has been recognised at the highest levels of Government for our commitment to safeguarding in martial arts. During a House of Commons debate on combat sport safety, the Minister for Sport, Stephanie Peacock MP, highlighted the British Martial Arts & Boxing Association by name for our work in supporting independent and unaffiliated clubs to adopt the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts. This direct mention in Parliament demonstrates that our efforts to raise standards and protect participants are shaping the national conversation on safety in combat sports.
Following that debate, the Minister for Sport wrote formally to commend BMABA’s work, praising our role in raising safeguarding standards across the independent martial arts sector. She described our contribution as “extremely useful” to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s ongoing policy development, and thanked us for our ongoing efforts to make martial arts safer for children. This recognition reflects the trust placed in BMABA to help Government address urgent safeguarding challenges highlighted by recent tragedies within combat sports.
For our members and the wider martial arts community, this recognition underlines BMABA’s credibility as a leading voice for independent martial arts in the UK. It demonstrates that our grassroots-driven mission, to promote safe, inclusive, and properly governed martial arts for all, is influencing national policy and gaining ministerial support. Being referenced in Parliament and commended in writing by the Minister for Sport reinforces that BMABA is not just a governing body, but a sector-shaping organisation working to protect participants and secure the future of martial arts.
“I appreciate your ongoing efforts to make martial arts safer for children.”
What Do Our Members Say?
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D Hurt 10 Out Of 10Well I was with another organisation for 4 years and came across these guys. They have great vetting, were really helpful at every stage of my application, the actual app is amazing with training opportunities for members, also student membership. All round 10 out of 10.
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Peter R They Go Above And BeyondBeen a member for a number of years and they go above and beyond to support their members. Everything from safeguarding and legalities to certified courses, websites, club manager software, just to name a few of the benefits.
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Giles H Exemplary OrganisationA huge resource of helpful information and support for those setting up or running a martial arts club. Well put together coaching courses and great safeguarding advice and policies. Really pleased to have access to this exemplary organisation to help me with my new kickboxing club.
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VORTEX Martial Arts & Fitness More Than Just A Governing BodySimply amazing. BMABA are more than just a governing body for martial arts, they are a team of incredible people, always willing to go the extra mile to make sure you feel supported. Incredible customer service, amazing response time, and an honour to be governed by.
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Lena S Professional And High QualityPreviously searched for similar organisations but after speaking to Giovanni over the phone I knew that BMABA was the right one for me. He was very informative, patient and had a lot of time to answer any questions. Extremely reassuring and helpful. Their website and documentation are also very professional and high quality.
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Luke T Far More Helpful Than Any Other AssociationHaving been a part of BMABA for a short while, I can say that already they have been far more helpful than any other association I have been involved in. After 10 years of martial arts, I hope to continue instructing under BMABA for many years.
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Chris J Great People To Work WithGreat people to work with.
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Matt J Can't Rate Them Highly EnoughHaving left my previous association in November, and being very daunted by the prospect of being responsible for all my own compliance and everything else I can honestly say BMABA have made the whole thing possible and even pleasant. The training resources are great, it's been fantastic for me to be able to quickly up skill my team, the insurance is really easy to sort out, the team are super friendly and helpful, the perks on Gold membership are also fantastic.
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John Tomsett Outstanding Club Association and Insurance ProviderI have been a customer of BMABA for two years now, and I am extremely impressed with their services. First and foremost, the customer service provided by BMABA is exceptional. Their team is responsive, professional, and genuinely dedicated to ensuring that our needs are met. Whenever we had a query or require assistance, they responded rapidly and effectively.
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Georgina E Really impressive, 21st century MA organisation. 10/10Found these guys in Martial Arts Illustrated doing a piece on professionalism in martial arts and thought, as an instructor, they might be worth looking at further. Really impressed from the moment I hit their website through to now, 3 months on as a member. Great staff, Giovanni is rediculously knowledgable and our club is now growing under the banner of what has got to be the best martial arts org in the UK.
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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.
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Jonathan D BMABA – the Martial Arts Association you NEEDI joined the BMABA right in its infancy (I believe I was their second member!). Giovanni is the most helpful, respectful and genuine person who has turned the possibility of a non-political, highly respected and supportive Martial Arts Association into a reality. I could bang on for hours about the BMABA but don't take my word for it – go and visit the BMABA website and see for yourself.
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Fabian Burdett This Team Deserves A MedalAs we all know 2020 has been the year from hell for martial arts. One thing that has come out of that is BMABA have done everything in their power to keep clubs like mine up to date with what's happening and tried to push the government to notice us. Couldn't wish for a better association to be a part of. Once again big THANK YOU to you guys for all the help. 💙🐺👊
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Matthew Robert Cooling-Stones These guys are the real dealAs i'm heading into the brave world of starting up my own small self defence club in our village, i can say with complete honesty and satisfaction that BMABA have been the most supportive and upfront association i have come across. i have seen and had first hand experience with the Mcdojo's offering you the greatest adventures of a life time. but these guys are the real deal… i hold my head high, and say with great pride "i am a BMABA member"
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Anna Martensson Highly IMPRESSED by the BMABAAs someone with 22 years of experience in martial arts, who saw enough big egos and leaders who only look after their own benefits… I am highly IMPRESSED by the BMABA. I wanted to make sure they don't just promise the world but actually deliver. They support us all the way and constantly look for new ways of making our whole industry better for ALL of us. THANK YOU!!
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Adrian Jackson Always quick to respond and thoughtfulAlways quick to respond and thoughtful. Great service delivered at a very reasonable price and very supportive of the community. Been a member for a couple of years now and recommend highly
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Daniel Leaver Simply the best organisation I have ever worked withSimply the best organisation I have ever worked with. Everything is so stress free and I am definitely sticking with them for the rest of my career.
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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.
Earn Your Colours
Enrolling is completely free for all BMABA members, even free affiliates. No hidden costs, no extra applications, no barriers. Just a clear, supported pathway to the UK’s gold-standard safeguarding and governance accreditation.
- Free for every member, forever
- Automatic Safeguarding Code certification
- National club finder listing
- Live, publicly verifiable registry
- Built on RegulationReady & dual-ISO assurance
- Unconditional 5% off membership & insurance

