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Gradings, Dan Grades & Professional Assessments

Black belts,
earned properly.

Your club’s grades belong to your club. We provide the integrity framework, the community network and, where genuinely needed, national pathways, all governed by our NGIES standards and the quality assurance of our ISO 9001:2015 certified systems under UKAS accreditation.

Join Free The pathways
A note on vocational gradings: we’ve temporarily paused new vocational black belt grading applications while we make sure our quality assurance keeps pace and the process remains as robust as it must be. We hope to resume in the not-too-distant future. Time-served gradings and community grading support are unaffected.

The Rarest Thing In Martial Arts: A Body That Doesn’t Want To Grade You

Let’s say something most organisations won’t: we try to avoid being involved in your gradings at all. Your students’ dan grades and rank decisions are your club’s to make, made under your syllabus, your traditions and your judgement, and that sovereignty matters to us as much as it does to you. In the small number of situations where a club genuinely needs us, a lead instructor with no one senior left to grade them, or geographical, political or financial barriers standing in the way, we maintain carefully governed national pathways. And because BMABA’s credibility rests on grades never being readily accessible, we’ve only ever issued a very small number, each one evidenced, traceable and quality assured through our UKAS-accredited ISO 9001:2015 systems.

The Framework

NGIES: National Grading Integrity & Examination Standards

Every grading connected to BMABA, whether run entirely by your club or supported by us, sits within our National Grading Integrity & Examination Standards. NGIES doesn’t tell you how to grade, what your syllabus should contain, or when your students are ready: that’s your sovereignty, and it’s protected. What it does is set the integrity floor: honest, merit-based progression, proper records, fair examination conduct and traceable outcomes.

The framework mirrors the discipline of our own external audits: documented process, evidence requirements and full traceability, run inside management systems certified to ISO 9001:2015 under UKAS accreditation. It’s how a grade connected to our name stays worth something, for the student who earned it and the club that awarded it.

Read The NGIES Policy
Three Routes, One Standard

The Pathways Available To Your Club

01

Community Grading, Our Preferred Route

Wherever possible, we’d rather you graded in the community, traditionally, on the mats. Our members’ map helps you find appropriately graded local instructors to sit your own grading panel, and we don’t charge a penny for it: connecting clubs so belts are earned in front of peers should never be a revenue stream.

02

Time-Served Dan Gradings

For established practitioners whose years of documented, legitimate practice have outpaced their paper rank, our time-served pathway recognises what’s already been earned: evidenced, committee-reviewed, and traceable end to end. The full requirements are published openly.

03

Vocational Black Belt Gradings Temporarily Paused

Our vocational equivalency route assesses genuine coaching mastery, technical depth and contribution where a conventional panel isn’t viable, through our expertly led committee. Applications are paused while we strengthen quality assurance, and the framework remains published in full ahead of resumption.

Free, Forever

The Members’ Map: Build Your Own Panel

The members’ map lets you search for local, appropriately graded instructors across our national membership, exactly what you need to assemble a legitimate grading panel for your own students, or for your own next dan grade. It’s completely free, because we genuinely want gradings happening in the community rather than through us.

  • Search graded instructors near your club
  • Assemble panels that satisfy NGIES
  • Never charged, never gatekept
Governed Digitally

Evidence, Traceability & Committee Oversight

Where a national pathway is used, everything runs through a dedicated grading dashboard: applications, evidence submission, committee review and outcomes, all documented and traceable in line with our ISO 9001:2015 quality management standards. Successful grades are issued with premium certification and logged permanently on our national records, verifiable by anyone, forever.

  • Structured evidence requirements for every route
  • Expertly led committee and panel review
  • Premium certification, permanently verifiable
The Part That Matters Most

Your Grades. Your Club. Your Call.

If a lead instructor needs help progressing their own grade honestly, on merit and fairly, whether that’s finding a local instructor network to grade with, or a vocational or time-served pathway that gives their organisation headroom and a higher ceiling so those coming up the ranks can keep progressing, that’s exactly what we’re here for.

But most importantly: we don’t need to be involved in your club’s dan grades or any other grades. You know your students, your syllabus and your art. As long as it sits within the NGIES framework, your grading decisions are yours, and we’ll defend that sovereignty as firmly as we defend the integrity of the grades we do issue.

Join Free & Grade Your Way

  • ISO 9001:2015 Certified

    The world's most recognised quality management standard. Our processes, governance and conduct are independently audited every year under UKAS accreditation, the same benchmark used for hospitals, universities, and major corporations.

  • ISO 27001:2022 Certified

    The international standard for information security, held alongside ISO 9001 as a UK martial arts first. Your club's data, your members' details and our digital infrastructure sit inside an independently audited security management system.

  • Regulated Community Interest Company

    We're overseen by the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies, with a legal asset lock that means our income must serve our community purpose forever. Not-for-profit as a legal structure, not a slogan.

  • Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts

    The Sport England-approved national safeguarding standard. We hold organisational certification and are the only independent martial arts body authorised to issue SCiMA certification to clubs in-house, through our free Club Colours programme.

  • CIMSPA Training Provider Partner

    Recognised by the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity. Our CPD and qualifications are developed to CIMSPA's national professional standards, with programmes submitted for formal endorsement, confirmed course by course.

  • Cyber Essentials Certified

    A UK Government-backed scheme confirming we hold essential security controls to protect our systems, data, and users from common cyber threats. A key mark of trust when handling sensitive safeguarding and membership data.

  • Certified Social Enterprise

    Independently certified by Social Enterprise UK as a genuine business for good. Our income is reinvested into grassroots martial arts, youth projects, and instructor support, not shareholders or private interests.

  • UK Register of Learning Providers

    A recognised organisation on the UK Government's official Register of Learning Providers under UKPRN 10098149, affirming our legitimacy as an education and training provider able to work credibly with funding bodies, employers, and public agencies.

  • Registered With The ICO

    Legally registered under UK data protection law, meeting our obligations under the Data Protection Act and UK GDPR. Together with ISO 27001, it protects the personal data of every member, club, and partner we work with.

Multi-Award Winning & Nationally Recognised

ICO Registered CIMSPA Training Provider Partner ISO 9001:2015 certified under UKAS accreditation ISO 27001:2022 certified under UKAS accreditation Armed Forces Covenant signatory CPD Approved UK Register of Learning Providers Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts Cyber Essentials certified Good Governance Recognition Social Enterprise UK Sport England Sport and Physical Activity Sport and Recreation Alliance Martial Arts Safeguarding Group ASPP Disability Confident Committed Ecologi climate positive workforce End Child Poverty coalition charity: water supporter Child Rescue Alliance UKRLP registered MARSC Approved Association Home Office Knife Free campaign Anti-Bullying Alliance As featured on BBC Radio 4 As featured on BBC News As featured in The Guardian As featured in The Sunday Times As featured in Men's Health World Sports Awards
Testimonials

What Do Our Members Say?

  • D Hurt
    10 Out Of 10
    Well 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.
    Facebook recommendation
  • Peter R
    They Go Above And Beyond
    Been 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.
    Google review
  • Giles H
    Exemplary Organisation
    A 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.
    Google review
  • VORTEX Martial Arts & Fitness
    More Than Just A Governing Body
    Simply 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.
    Google review
  • Lena S
    Professional And High Quality
    Previously 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.
    Google review
  • Luke T
    Far More Helpful Than Any Other Association
    Having 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.
    Google review
  • Chris J
    Great People To Work With
    Great people to work with.
    Facebook recommendation
  • Matt J
    Can't Rate Them Highly Enough
    Having left my previous association in November, and being very daunted by the prospect of being responsible for all my own compliance and everything else I can honestly say BMABA have made the whole thing possible and even pleasant. The training resources are great, it's been fantastic for me to be able to quickly up skill my team, the insurance is really easy to sort out, the team are super friendly and helpful, the perks on Gold membership are also fantastic.
    Member review
  • John Tomsett
    Outstanding Club Association and Insurance Provider
    I have been a customer of BMABA for two years now, and I am extremely impressed with their services. First and foremost, the customer service provided by BMABA is exceptional. Their team is responsive, professional, and genuinely dedicated to ensuring that our needs are met. Whenever we had a query or require assistance, they responded rapidly and effectively.
    Member review
  • Georgina E
    Really impressive, 21st century MA organisation. 10/10
    Found these guys in Martial Arts Illustrated doing a piece on professionalism in martial arts and thought, as an instructor, they might be worth looking at further. Really impressed from the moment I hit their website through to now, 3 months on as a member. Great staff, Giovanni is rediculously knowledgable and our club is now growing under the banner of what has got to be the best martial arts org in the UK.
    Member review
  • Michael Willington
    Definately recommended. Unbelievable Association.
    The BMABA are unlike any other org I've come across in this industry. Their honest, professional, politics free and most importantly, they know what they're doing. Website is leaps and bounds ahead of the rest, insurance is comprehensive and their overall customer service is just unlike anything else I've had in 25 years of martial arts. Amazing through and through. Would definitely recommend.
    Member review
  • Jonathan D
    BMABA – the Martial Arts Association you NEED
    I joined the BMABA right in its infancy (I believe I was their second member!). Giovanni is the most helpful, respectful and genuine person who has turned the possibility of a non-political, highly respected and supportive Martial Arts Association into a reality. I could bang on for hours about the BMABA but don't take my word for it – go and visit the BMABA website and see for yourself.
    Member review
  • Fabian Burdett
    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"
    Facebook
  • 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!!
    Facebook
  • 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.
    Facebook

Integrity You Can Verify. Sovereignty You Can Keep.

A national integrity framework, a free community grading network, and carefully governed pathways for when they’re truly needed. Join free and keep your gradings exactly where they belong: with you.

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