Concerns over potentially inadequate insurance in Martial Arts field

The National Association of Karate and Martial Art Schools (NAKMAS) voice concerns over potentially inadequate insurance provision for clubs and organisations.

Chair, Joe Ellis, said ‘children and adults may be at risk, as many clubs choose to teach without appropriate and necessary insurance protection. We at NAKMAS are urging these clubs to seek membership’.

NAKMAS offers an extensive range of insurances, automatically provided with membership, which cover everyone from volunteers and coaches to the youngest student. Benefits of the membership package include free teacher/coach professional indemnity insurance at £10 million (worldwide cover), free contents insurance at £5,000, and free dental cover for all members.

Sport England advise clubs ‘to check on the extent to which you may need to obtain adequate insurance to cover members, in event of inevitable risks… and that having health and safety processes and regular risk assessments is essential’.

Ellis explains: ‘we have seen martial arts clubs come to us after being let down by their current arrangements. It is only when they are taken to court for myriad legal issues, that they have discovered that their insurance is insufficient, leaving them thousands of pounds in debt. NAKMAS is renowned for insuring members so that every eventuality is covered, both now and in the future, should things unexpectedly go wrong.

Benefits of NAKMAS membership, of course, go far beyond insurance provision. There are extensive policies and procedures designed to assist the martial arts club or association in running their business effectively and efficiently. Policies in child protection (overseen by the NSPCC), health and safety, ethics and equality are just some of the guidelines provided to members, minimising legal risks.