What is the BMABA Planner?
The BMABA Planner is a visual planning tool that helps you organize ideas, plan projects, and collaborate with others on an infinite canvas. Think of it as your digital whiteboard where you can drag, drop, and arrange different elements exactly how you want them.
Whether you're planning your club's marketing strategy, organizing a grading event, mapping out your annual calendar, or brainstorming new class ideas, the Planner gives you a flexible space to bring everything together visually.
Why We Built This
We noticed that many martial arts clubs and instructors were paying for separate subscription tools to do visual planning and collaboration. Some were using spreadsheets that didn't give them the flexibility they needed, while others were sketching on paper and struggling to share ideas with their team.
We wanted to give you a powerful planning tool that's included with your BMABA membership, no extra subscriptions needed. The Planner is designed to help you think visually, organize effectively, and collaborate seamlessly with other BMABA members, all within the mybmaba.org.uk platform you already use.
What You Can Do
Add Multiple Element Types
The Planner lets you add different types of content to your canvas:
Text Notes: Quick sticky notes for ideas and reminders
Rich Text Boxes: Longer formatted text with bold, italic, headings, and different font sizes
Images: Upload visual content to illustrate your plans
Shapes: Rectangles, circles, and lines to create diagrams and flowcharts
Checklists: Track tasks with checkable items you can tick off
Free Drawing: Sketch ideas freehand directly on the canvas
Links: Save important URLs and resources
Comments: Add explanatory notes to specific areas
Tables: Organize information in rows and columns
Customize and Style
Every element can be customized:
Change colors on shapes and text
Adjust font sizes from small to extra large
Set line widths on shapes (thin, medium, or thick)
Position elements exactly where you want them on the canvas
Layer elements by bringing them to front or sending them to back
Organize Your Boards
You can create multiple boards for different projects:
Each board has its own infinite canvas
Give boards descriptive names
Optionally password-protect sensitive boards
Delete boards you no longer need
Switch between boards quickly from your board list
Work Visually
The canvas gives you complete freedom:
Drag elements anywhere on the unlimited canvas
Zoom in and out to see detail or get the big picture
Pan across your canvas to explore different areas
Duplicate elements to reuse layouts and content
Delete elements you don't need anymore
Collaboration Features
One of the most powerful aspects of the Planner is the ability to work together with other BMABA members.
Share Your Boards
As the owner of a board, you can invite other BMABA members to collaborate:
Click the "Share" button while viewing your board
Search for members by typing their first name
Select the person you want to invite
Optionally add a personal message explaining what you'd like them to help with
Send the invitation
The invited member will receive an email notification and can accept or decline from their Planner.
Member Search and Privacy
When you search for members to invite, you'll see their first name and surname initial (for example, "Sarah J***"). This protects member privacy while still letting you find the right person to collaborate with. You can see their profile picture to help confirm you've found who you're looking for.
Manage Collaborators
Board owners have full control over who can access their boards:
See all current collaborators and pending invitations
View which members are already working on the board
Remove collaborators if needed
Cancel pending invitations
Working on Shared Boards
When you're invited to someone else's board:
You'll see it in your "Shared with me" section
You have full editing access to add, modify, and delete elements
The board owner's name is clearly shown
You can see other members who have access
You can leave the board at any time if you no longer need access
Real-Time Awareness
The Planner shows you who else has access to the board with small profile pictures, helping you stay aware of your team members even if you're not working simultaneously.
How Clubs Are Using the Planner
Here are some practical ways martial arts clubs and instructors are using the BMABA Planner:
Event Planning
Map out your competition, seminar, or grading event with timelines, task checklists, and team responsibilities. Share the board with your organizing committee so everyone stays on the same page.
Marketing Campaigns
Create a visual overview of your marketing activities across social media, email, and local outreach. Add images of poster designs, track campaign deadlines, and collaborate with team members on messaging.
Annual Strategy
Build a visual roadmap of your club's goals for the year. Break down objectives into quarters, add action items as checklists, and share with senior instructors or committee members for input.
Class Planning
Design your curriculum visually with progression pathways, technique breakdowns, and training resources. Share with assistant instructors so everyone knows what's being taught and when.
Business Development
Map out partnership opportunities, expansion plans, or new program launches. Use shapes to create flowcharts, add notes about key contacts, and track progress with checklists.
Team Brainstorming
Gather ideas from your instructor team about anything from new class formats to student retention strategies. Everyone can contribute notes and comments on a shared board.
Resource Organization
Keep track of equipment needs, training materials, useful links, and important documents all in one visual space that your team can reference.
Getting Started
To access the BMABA Planner, simply log into mybmaba.org.uk and navigate to the Planner tool in your dashboard. You'll start with a blank canvas ready for your first board.
The interface is designed to be intuitive, just click the tool you want from the toolbar and click on the canvas to add it. Everything is drag-and-drop, so you can experiment and rearrange until your board looks exactly how you want it.
Your boards auto-save as you work, so you never have to worry about losing your progress.
Tips for Effective Planning
Start simple: Don't try to create the perfect board immediately. Start adding elements and let the structure emerge naturally.
Use colors: Color coding helps you spot different types of information at a glance. Use consistent colors for similar items.
Collaborate early: Invite team members early in the planning process. Fresh perspectives often lead to better outcomes.
Think spatially: Take advantage of the infinite canvas. Group related items together, use space to show relationships between ideas.
Regular reviews: Come back to your boards regularly to update progress, tick off completed checklist items, and adjust plans as needed.
Need Help?
If you have questions about the BMABA Planner or need assistance, contact our support team through the usual channels. We're here to help you get the most out of this tool.