Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has evolved into one of the world’s most recognised and respected combat sports. However, historically, “MMA” has also been used as a catch-all label by instructors without a clearly defined technical background to avoid scrutiny under traditional discipline classifications. BMABA CIC has worked extensively to ensure MMA is recognised as a legitimate discipline in its own right — with clear professional standards and eligibility expectations that protect both participants and instructors.
This article outlines how BMABA assesses applications for membership, licensing, and insurance where Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the stated primary or supporting discipline.
Our Approach
We apply the same transparent and rigorous standards outlined in our Eligibility Criteria To Join BMABA and Black Belt Equivalency Framework.
Each application is reviewed individually by our compliance team to ensure the applicant’s technical credentials, experience, and background reflect the practical and professional expectations for an MMA instructor. The process is designed to protect the integrity of the discipline, ensure participant safety, and maintain BMABA’s high standards for licenced instructors.
Acceptable Qualification Routes
If an instructor lists Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) as a licenced discipline, we will look for one of the following:
1. Formal Certification Route
A valid instructor’s certificate explicitly stating “Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)” issued by a credible, MMA-specific governing or awarding body.
Acceptable issuers include:
Recognised MMA governing bodies or federations;
National bodies of good reputation who specifically license the applicant for MMA following a technical review of a 'decent standard'.
Certificates must demonstrate that the qualification is at instructor level and that the issuing organisation is credible, traceable, and active.
2. Equivalency Route
If no single MMA-specific instructor certificate exists, we may consider an equivalency assessment where the instructor can evidence technical proficiency in multiple base disciplines that collectively cover the core areas of MMA.
For example:
2nd Dan Kickboxing and 3rd Degree Jujitsu; or
Muay Thai and No-Gi Grappling, assessed via our black belt equivalency process.
This route reflects the multidisciplinary nature of MMA, requiring demonstrable competency in both stand-up striking and groundwork.
Technical Expectation
There is a reasonable public expectation that an MMA instructor will be competent across:
Striking & stand-up fighting (e.g. Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Boxing, Karate, Taekwondo);
Takedowns & transitions (e.g. Wrestling, Judo, BJJ);
Groundwork & submissions (e.g. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Grappling, Catch Wrestling).
For this reason, a combination of stand-up disciplines only (for example, Karate and Taekwondo) will generally not meet the threshold for recognition as Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). Likewise, where styles are inherently self protection based (I.e: Qigong and Kung Fu) it will also not meeting the MMA definition, which is under the reasonable expectation of being sporting in nature.
Such applications are more accurately categorised as Freestyle or Hybrid Martial Arts, depending on the context.
Assessing Equivalency
Where an instructor presents a mixed or multidisciplinary background, we apply the Black Belt Equivalency Benchmarking exercise.
This requires:
A minimum of four years combined practice across relevant styles;
Evidence of technical competency, which may include:
Video evidence of technical demonstrations showing both stand-up and groundwork;
Recorded or televised fights hosted on verifiable third-party platforms (e.g. YouTube, Sherdog, sports outlets);
References from credible coaches or clubs;
Documented competition history or verified rankings.
Our assessors consider each case individually, applying a discretionary standard aligned with the applicant’s intended teaching scope (e.g. sport-based MMA, traditional mixed systems, youth coaching, etc.).
Where an instructor lists MMA as a licenced discipline alongside other disciplines (i.e: Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Capoeira, MMA) we would first look at the evidence provided for each individual base discipline, before reaching a consolidated verdict on Mixed Martial Arts, being a collective of those base styles.