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Free Martial Arts Instructor Qualifications

Access our industry leading Level 1 and 2 Martial Arts Instructor Awards, widely recognised as the most accessible and modern formal certification for instructors in the UK.

BMABA Martial Arts Instructor Qualifications

The most widely adopted martial arts instructorship award across multiple disciplines, with more than 6,000 instructors, assistants and volunteers now being in receipt of BMABA’s regulatory framework and coaching standards.

What's This Course About?

We know that so many martial arts instructors in the independent (and NGB) space want to upskill their professional standards and coaching competency. We also know the availability of martial arts specific coaches are next to none, and incredibly expensive.

Our BMABA Level 1 and 2 Instructor Qualifications are designed to offer best-in-industry awards freely, to all instructors, assistants and volunteers who join. 

Tried and tested, and now completed by thousands of instructors of varying skill across multiple disciplines, our Instructor Qualifications are some of the most highly recognised anywhere in the UK.

Back-Office Expertise and Professional Development To Enhance Your On-The-Mats Technical Competence, Not To Tell You How To Do What You Already Do Well

The BMABA Level 1 Coaching Qualification is designed to introduce senior martial artists (typically 2nd Kyu and above) to the fundamentals of safe and effective instruction. This course covers essential requirements such as insurance, DBS checks, first aid, safeguarding, and health & safety, ensuring a well-rounded understanding of an instructor’s responsibilities. It also introduces key principles of student management and instructor supervision, equipping participants with the skills needed to assist in delivering safe and professional martial arts lessons. Completing this qualification is a compulsory step for those wishing to progress to Level 2.

The BMABA Level 2 Coaching Qualification builds upon the foundations set in Level 1, offering a deeper exploration of the coaching role, responsibilities, and the skills required to lead a class independently. This course goes beyond safety, focusing on technical proficiency and the most effective methods of instruction. By refining coaching techniques and delivery strategies, the Level 2 qualification ensures that instructors can confidently teach structured, high-quality martial arts lessons while maintaining the highest standards of student safety and development.

Course Content (LV1)

This award can be accessed online. Each lesson or module typically contains specialist text-based content and can also include videography, imagery or other exclusive content.

This course is inclusive within membership for;

  • Gold Instructors
  • Silver Instructors
  • Bronze
  • Assistant Instructors
  • Volunteers
  • 1

    An Introduction To The Course, And The Purpose Of A Coaching Programme

  • 2

    An Overview Of The Martial Arts Industry, Including The Structure Of Clubs, Associations And Governance

  • 3

    Martial Arts Insurance And It’s Function

  • 4

    An Introduction To Health And Safety Awareness, And It’s Place Within Martial Art

  • 5

    Core Requirements For Practical, Safe Martial Arts Instructorship

  • 6

    An Introduction To The Course, And The Purpose Of A Coaching Programme

  • 7

    Your Responsibility When Supervising Martial Arts, And The Role Of An Instructor To Safeguard

  • 8

    An Introduction To Safeguarding For Martial Arts Instructors

  • 9

    Equality And Diversity In Martial Arts

  • 10

    The Human Anatomy, Including The Skeletal And Muscular Systems

  • 11

    BMABA Level 1 Instructor Qualification Final Exam

  • 1

    An Introduction To The Level 2 Qualification

  • 2

    GDPR, Confidentiality & Data Protection

  • 3

    How Concerns From The Public Can Escalate, And How To Deal With Complaints

  • 4

    A Detailed Look At Martial Arts Insurance And The Claims

  • 5

    A Refresher On The Core Requirements For Practical, Safe Martial Arts Instructorship

  • 6

    A Refresher On Health And Safety Awareness

  • 7

    Supervising Groups, And Appointing Assistant Instructors.

  • 8

    Recruiting Or Appointing Instructors

  • 9

    The Structural Elements Of A Class, And Their Role In Effective Coaching

  • 10

    Lesson Planning And ‘On-The-Night’ Deviations

  • 11

    The Fundamentals Of Coaching Sport, Including The Differing Types Of Coaching And The Various Types Of Learners

  • 12

    Planning & Administering Gradings

  • 13

    Understanding Club Finances Including The Principles Of Turnover, Profit & Loss

  • 14

    Developing Your Coaching

  • 15

    Level 2 Final Assessment

Course Content (LV2)

This award can be accessed online. Each lesson or module typically contains specialist text-based content and can also include videography, imagery or other exclusive content.

This course is inclusive within membership for;

  • Gold Instructors
  • Silver Instructors
  • Bronze
  • Assistant Instructors
  • Volunteers

A Clean, Modern Classroom You Can Access 24/7, When Your Schedule Allows

Our courses are accessible 24/7 via our MyBMABA website or app, so you can login and do what you can, when you can. Your progress is saved, and on completion you’ll be able to instantly access verified certification. 

Upskill You & Your Team With Industry Leading Qualifications & Courses

From essentials like coaching qualifications, safeguarding and first aid through to specialist such as SENCO and Trauma informed, through to club management, finance and marketing. Access a growing library of expertly written, award-winning content.

100% Online. 100% At Your Ready.

Long before it ever became acceptable to complete online training (namely during COVID!) we were pioneering making courses and qualifications as accessible to all via our exclusive MyBMABA. Take all of our courses and qualifications with you, and complete them – even on the commute, if needs be.

Flexible, Modern & Accessible.

Dozens of Specialists Courses. One Low Membership Price.

We don't make our instructors spend a small fortune on a fluffed up course to raise revenue. Instead we invest in expert courses created by some of the best minds in martial arts, and we make them accessible to instructors, assistants and volunteers inclusive with memberships wherever possible.

"I use to pay £250+ per course before. Now it's less than a fraction of that for everything all in, and the quality is absolutely astounding."

"I use to pay £250+ per course before. Now it's less than a fraction of that for everything all in, and the quality is absolutely astounding."

21

Completed Courses

Questions & Answers

About Our Courses & Qualifications

How much do the courses cost?

All Silver and Gold members receive completely free access to all current and future courses. If you’re a Bronze member, we’ll provide free access to our SENCO, Induction, Level 1 and Level 1 instructor qualifications. We also make a range of qualifications inclusive in assistant and volunteer memberships.

The ambition is to make content and qualifications available at no extra cost. If you opt for our only membership not to include all courses as standard (Bronze) you can access any course on a pay as you go basis for the low fee of typically £9.99.

How do I access courses?

All of our courses and delivered 100% online. Many include several hours of videography – be it webinars or video lessons, and all also include comprehensive text. There’s no requirement to travel anywhere to conduct courses.

What courses are available?

Our ever-growing catalogue of qualifications covers everything from Instructor Qualification to SEN, First aid to Safeguarding, Club Management to Web Design and so much more. 

Click here to explore our full catalogue.

Who creates the courses?

We often work with specialist partners to gain topic-specific knowledge. This could be leading charities or other companies.

The rest of our content is produced in house our team of industry experts. From our dedicated safeguarding team to our own industry insurance experts – we’ll share as much specialist insight as we can with our clubs.

Are your courses recognised?

It depends what you mean by recognised and the specific course. BMABA is a household name in martial arts, and our courses are served not just through BMABA memberships but also via exclusive partner relationships with NGBs given the level of engagement and quality content. We then have other courses recognised by specialist in-sector charities or bodies, and our Club Colours award is recognised by Sport England’s Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts (SCiMA). 

We also work to structure courses for CPD approval, have all core qualifications approved by our insurer and to date aren’t aware of any external provider turning down our awards.

We’ve even had our Safer Recruitment Training accepted by OFSTED inspectors!

FREE Club Management Software Exclusively Built By Us, Just For Our Clubs

ClubManager by BMABA is our in-house, professionally developed Club Management solution. It’s free for all of our members and comes with a tonne of essential and groundbreaking features as standard.

LEARN MORE >>

  • 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
  • Leads & Prospects Management
  • Online Video Training Library
  • 1to1 Tuition Management & Billing
  • Events Management & Ticketing
  • Secure Safeguarding Case Management
  • Manage Events & Competitions
  • Student Portal & Member's Content
  • Concussion & RtP Management
  • Digital Incident Log Book
  • Digital Risk Assessments
  • Task Management
  • Registrations & Waivers
  • Built-In Club Community & Forums
  • Manual Invoicing
  • Accounting & Budgeting
  • Staff Management & Staffroom
  • Calendar & Scheduling
  • Business Management & Planning
  • Easy To Use Parent Accounts

Multi-Award Winning & Nationally Recognised

Best Sports Governing Body Initiative

Winners

Best Association Serving Sport

Finalists

Best COVID Response for Sports

Finalists

Sports Diversity Award

Finalists

Sports Association of the Year

Bronze

Best Sporting Association in the UK

Winners

Best Sport & Recreation Entrepreneur

Winners

Best Association Website

Winners

Association of the Year

Finalists

Executive Director of the Year Finalists

Finalists

Best Use Of Technology Award

Winners

Best Sport & Recreation Entrepreneur

Winners

UK Business Leader of the Year

Winners

Entrepreneur Of The Year

Finalists

Director Of The Year

Finalists

Young Entrepreneur Of The Year

Finalists

We’re Here When You Need Us.

We know choosing the right association—or just figuring out what support your club really needs—can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’re always happy to talk it through.

Whether you’re curious about membership, need help with something specific, or just want a no-pressure chat to see if we’re the right fit, our team is ready. No bots. No scripts. Just real people, working full-time from our UK office, here to help clubs like yours thrive.

THINKING OF JOINING?

Still Thinking It Over?

We know choosing a governing body isn’t something you rush. That’s why our team is always here to offer honest, impartial advice — no pressure, no sales scripts.

Whether you’re comparing support, questioning the value in your current membership, or just need to talk things through — we’re happy to help.

We’re a real team, working full-time from our UK office — not a voluntary outfit run from someone’s kitchen table. You’ll feel the difference the moment you get in touch.

Trusted by more than 6,500 instructors and clubs.

A National, Regulated, Award-Winning Not-For-Profit - Built From The Ground Up

BMABA CIC isn’t just another organisation claiming to serve martial arts — we’re a regulated, independently audited, multi-award-winning social enterprise leading from the front.

We hold ISO9001:2015 certification under UKAS accreditation — the same gold standard used to assess hospitals, universities, and major corporations. We’re also regulated by the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies (CIC Regulator), meaning we’re legally bound to reinvest every penny back into grassroots martial arts.

We haven’t been propped up by corporate sponsors or legacy funding. We’ve grown organically — one instructor at a time, by doing what we said we’d do and showing up when others didn’t. Since 2012, we’ve supported clubs through hardship, driven national reforms, and built a respected, professional home for independent martial arts.

Today, we’re trusted by more than 6,500 instructors and clubs and support over 100,000 members across 140+ disciplines. Along the way, we’ve earned national recognition — from awards in governance and inclusion, to features across BBC, ITV, and The Guardian.

We didn’t inherit status. We earned it — by raising the bar, and never compromising on our values.

Empower Your Club With A Platform That Works For You

Run your martial arts club smarter with our full-featured, professionally-built Club Management Platform — funded entirely by our not-for-profit mission, not a corporate agenda. No upsells. No hidden costs. Just powerful, intuitive tools included free with your membership.

Built to save you time, money, and stress — and trusted by thousands of clubs nationwide.

Plus So Much More As Standard Just Some Of The Tools & Resources We Offer

  • Instructor Certification & Licensing
  • Student Insurance & Licensing
  • Free Instructor Qualifications
  • Safeguarding Qualifications
  • Enhanced DBS Checks
  • First Aid Training
  • Free Club Website
  • Club Management Support
  • Instructor Certification & Licensing
  • Logos & Accreditation Marks
  • SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) Platform
  • Local & National Networking
  • Stock Grading Certificates
  • Free Instructor Qualifications
  • Template Documents & Forms
  • Printing & Design
  • Safeguarding Code For Martial Arts
  • Best Practice Guidance
  • Wordpress Hosting
  • a.i For Martial Arts
  • Event Management Checklists
  • Safeguarding Model Policies
  • Analytics & Tracking Tools
  • Budgeting Apps
  • Professional Webmail
  • Clothing & Uniform
  • Cyber Toolkit
  • Cash Grants & Funding
  • Risk Management Awards
  • Concussion & Head Injury
  • National Advertising
  • Entrepreneur's Support
  • Plus So Much More
Why Do Thousands Choose BMABA?

Not everyone understands what makes us different. But for those who do, the reasons are clear — from our award-winning governance to the groundbreaking support we offer clubs of all sizes.

Whether it’s our industry-leading safeguarding standards, our not-for-profit mission, or our powerful club tech funded purely by membership — there’s a reason more than 6,500 instructors and 3,500 clubs trust us.

Built For The Sector — Not For Shareholders

BMABA wasn’t inherited or bought — it was built. And in 2025, we made the bold decision to give it away.

Our founder, who grew up in poverty and built BMABA from scratch with just £20, voluntarily converted the organisation into a regulated not-for-profit Community Interest Company (CIC) — surrendering nearly £2 million in private value to protect its mission for the long term. That means no for profit shareholders, no dividends, and no profiteering — just an unwavering commitment to community impact.

We’re a registered social enterprise, governed by the CIC Regulator, certified to ISO9001:2015 under UKAS accreditation, and led by a multi-award winning social entrepreneur who believes martial arts should serve the people, not the few.

This isn’t a vanity project with self-appointed 8th dans — it’s a movement, built for clubs, by clubs.

Nationally Recognised Standards

Our Club Colours and Regulation Ready awards go far beyond branding or badges — they represent some of the most robust safeguarding and compliance standards available anywhere in UK martial arts.

Mapped directly against the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts (SCiMA) and formally approved by Sport England, our frameworks allow clubs to earn full SCiMA recognition directly through the MyBMABA platform — automatically and at no cost. We are the only independent governing body, and one of just two organisations nationwide, including Sport England’s own NGBs, granted the authority to issue SCiMA certification in this way.

No waiting. No third-party submission. No extra cost. Every BMABA member has access to this, included as part of our not-for-profit mission to raise standards from the ground up.

Others talk about safeguarding. We built a national infrastructure to deliver it.

Not Entirely Sure?

We offer a genuine 12 months of free membership — with absolutely no catches, obligations, or hidden clauses.

Why? Because we believe you deserve the chance to see, first-hand, what it feels like to be supported by an organisation that genuinely has your back. We know how often martial arts clubs have been let down by associations and governing bodies that overpromise and underdeliver — or worse, treat instructors as revenue, not people.

We’re not here to sell you on hype. We’re here to show you what real, modern martial arts governance and support can look like.

Whether you’re looking for insurance, safeguarding help, student tools, guidance, structure, or just a community that understands your club’s challenges — our free membership gives you access to the same resources, platform, and support we provide to thousands of instructors and clubs across the UK.

No commitment. No pressure. Just a genuine opportunity to explore what we offer — and decide for yourself.

The UK's Leading and Largest Multi-Style Trade Body For Martial Arts

BMABA CIC T/A British Martial Arts & Boxing Association
Registered Address: The Old Bakery. Golden Square, Petworth. GU28 0AP
Phone: 01798306546  | EMail: info@bmaba.org.uk

BMABA CIC. Reg. 10676965.
ICO Registration Number: ZA241917
Social Enterprise License No: 11677
VAT Registration Number: 373018216

Emergency Services, Armed Forces and NHS front line staff are all entitled to 10% discounts across all of our memberships for live. This applies to all ex-serving armed forces and emergency workers too.

 

BMABA CIC is proud to hold the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management certification, issued under UKAS accreditation (Certificate No. 267261) — the highest level of independent validation for quality management systems in the UK.

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