{"id":80788,"date":"2025-07-26T18:23:58","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T18:23:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bmaba.org.uk\/clubs\/?page_id=80788"},"modified":"2026-07-26T10:54:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-26T10:54:31","slug":"does-my-martial-arts-club-need-a-sport-england-recognised-ngb","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bmaba.org.uk\/clubs\/association\/does-my-martial-arts-club-need-a-sport-england-recognised-ngb\/","title":{"rendered":"Does My Martial Arts Club Need A Sport England Recognised NGB?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Does My Martial Arts Club Need a Sport England Recognised NGB?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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I<\/span>n an ideal world, every martial arts <\/span>club would have access to a <\/span>well-funded, nationally recognised <\/span>governing body (NGB): one that provides <\/span>clear guidance, practical tools, and <\/span>genuine support for grassroots growth. <\/span>Where that relationship exists, and <\/span>where it works for your style and <\/span>goals, we would always encourage you to <\/span>make use of it.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

This applies equally <\/span>whether you’re based in England, Wales, <\/span>or Scotland, where the NGBs recognised <\/span>by Sport England, Sport Wales, and <\/span>sportscotland respectively play a role <\/span>in administering participation, <\/span>funding, and competition pathways for <\/span>certain styles and disciplines. In <\/span>general, their focus tends to lean <\/span>toward sport-centric development, <\/span>things like talent progression, medals, <\/span>and Olympic alignment, which is <\/span>incredibly important in the right <\/span>setting.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

But we also know the reality <\/span>of the industry.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/div>

We’ve been working <\/span>deep inside UK martial arts since 2012. <\/span>We understand how disconnected many <\/span>independent clubs feel, especially <\/span>those not chasing medals or aligned to <\/span>a mainstream style. Whether you’re <\/span>focused on self-defence, traditional <\/span>systems, modern adaptations, mixed <\/span>disciplines, or hybrid approaches, it’s <\/span>entirely possible your club may not <\/span>find a natural home under a Sport <\/span>England-recognised NGB. Even where one <\/span>exists, it may not always feel <\/span>inclusive or relevant to the way your <\/span>club operates.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

That’s where BMABA <\/span>comes in.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

We’re not a Sport England <\/span>recognised NGB. And we don’t pretend to <\/span>be. Whilst we’re arguably as well <\/span>structured and governed as many NGBs <\/span>out there, we’re a multi-style <\/span>organisation, so we’re broadly <\/span>ineligible. We’re also deeply focused <\/span>on grassroots, not elite-level <\/span>competition.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

But we are an <\/span>accountable, professionally governed, <\/span>not-for-profit governing body for clubs <\/span>across the UK, one that stands shoulder <\/span>to shoulder with the best of the sport <\/span>sector in terms of quality, oversight, <\/span>and standards.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

In fact, we’re the <\/span>first UK martial arts association to be <\/span>certified to both ISO 9001:2015 and ISO <\/span>27001:2022 under UKAS accreditation, <\/span>audited by the British Assessment <\/span>Bureau against the international gold <\/span>standards for quality management and <\/span>information security.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

That <\/span>certification isn’t just a logo on a <\/span>website. It means our systems, <\/span>policies, leadership, and <\/span>organisational conduct have been <\/span>externally verified to meet the same <\/span>levels of professionalism you’d expect <\/span>from major governing bodies in <\/span>mainstream sport.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

We’re Not Asking You To Choose Us Blindly

<\/span><\/strong><\/h4><\/div>

If you have a recognised NGB <\/span>available to you, we encourage you to <\/span>explore them.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

Look at their <\/span>governance, their support offering, <\/span>their inclusivity. Then compare it with <\/span>BMABA. Speak with them. Speak with us. <\/span>Make a decision based on what’s right <\/span>for your club, your students, and your <\/span>goals, not based on legacy or branding.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

We know some NGBs don’t welcome dual <\/span>affiliation. We know others might not <\/span>support clubs unless they fully ‘buy <\/span>in’. And we know there are countless <\/span>instructors and schools working <\/span>ethically, safely, and professionally <\/span>without any representation at all, <\/span>simply because there isn’t a recognised <\/span>body that serves their needs.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

We’re <\/span>here for those clubs. The ones doing <\/span>things differently. The ones forging <\/span>their own identity, be it in <\/span>self-defence, hybrid arts, <\/span>cross-training, traditional or modern <\/span>disciplines. Clubs that value autonomy <\/span>but still want the structure, <\/span>safeguarding, insurance, governance, <\/span>and credibility that a professional <\/span>governing body can offer.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

We don’t <\/span>expect your trust upfront. But we do <\/span>offer a free membership option so you <\/span>can test our policies, resources, and <\/span>systems with no pressure and no <\/span>commitment.

<\/span><\/p><\/div>

We’re not trying to be <\/span>“the alternative”. We’re simply trying <\/span>to be the right fit for clubs who want <\/span>to teach with professionalism, passion, <\/span>and support, regardless of whether they <\/span>fit the mould of mainstream sport.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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If There’s a Sport England (or Sport Wales \/ sportscotland) Recognised NGB For My Style, Do I Have To Join Them?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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No. There is no legal or regulatory requirement that forces martial arts clubs to join a Sport England, Sport Wales, or sportscotland recognised National Governing Body (NGB).<\/p>

That said, where a recognised NGB exists and provides genuine value, clear governance, high standards, practical support, and relevance to your style, it’s absolutely worth considering. If the relationship works for your club, we would encourage you to make the most of it.<\/p>

But martial arts in the UK is not centrally regulated. Unlike mainstream sports, there’s no law or single authority that says your club must belong to one organisation over another. Instead, the choice of who governs your club, if anyone, is yours to make.<\/p>

So why do some clubs feel like they must join their NGB?<\/strong><\/h4>

Often, it’s perception. A recognised NGB might be presented as the only valid option, especially when entering competitions. And while those NGBs do hold official recognition, that recognition doesn’t invalidate alternatives, especially when those alternatives, like BMABA, offer robust, externally audited governance, safeguarding, insurance, and member support of their own.<\/p>

In fact, some clubs may find that recognised NGBs don’t serve their needs, particularly if they:<\/p>