Overview
The BMABA Risk Assessment Tool is a professional risk management system designed specifically for martial arts clubs. It helps instructors create, manage, and maintain comprehensive risk assessments that meet regulatory requirements while protecting their students, staff, and organisation.
Why We Built This Tool
Risk assessments are a legal requirement for martial arts clubs in the UK. Without proper risk assessments, clubs face:
Legal liability if accidents occur and no documented safety measures exist
Insurance complications as many policies require current risk assessments
Regulatory non-compliance with health & safety legislation
Venue issues as many halls require clubs to demonstrate proper risk management
Safeguarding concerns without documented procedures for protecting participants
Traditional methods involve:
Expensive consultants (£200-500 per assessment)
Generic templates that miss martial arts-specific hazards
Paper documents that get lost or outdated
No version control or update tracking
Difficult to share with venues, insurers, or governing bodies
The BMABA Risk Assessment Tool solves all of these problems by providing a professional, martial arts-specific platform that's always accessible, automatically dated, and easy to maintain.
What The Tool Does
The Risk Assessment Tool provides a complete risk management workflow:
1. Pre-Populated Martial Arts Hazards
When creating a new assessment, the tool automatically generates a comprehensive list of 30+ martial arts-specific hazards including:
Training Injuries:
Sprains & strains
Striking injuries
Choking hazards
Blunt force trauma
Joint dislocations
Head injuries & concussion
Falls from throws
Overexertion
Equipment Risks:
Equipment failure
Weapon-based injuries
Improper equipment use
Heavy equipment handling
Storage hazards
Sanitation issues
Venue Hazards:
Fire & emergency evacuation
Electrical hazards
Inadequate lighting
Ventilation issues
Access & egress
Changing room safety
Car park safety
Environmental Risks:
Slips, trips & wet floors
Heat exhaustion
Emotional distress
Dizziness & nausea
Drop-off/pick-up procedures
Instructor-to-student ratios
Each hazard comes with:
Risk description - What could go wrong
People at risk - Who could be affected (students, instructors, visitors)
Control measures - Pre-written safety procedures specific to martial arts
Severity rating - Low, Medium, or High risk classification
Comments field - Space to add club-specific notes
2. Customisation Options
Instructors can:
Add custom hazards specific to their club or style
Edit any pre-written control measures
Remove irrelevant hazards
Adjust severity ratings
Add detailed comments and action plans
Set expiry dates for annual reviews
Choose document orientation (portrait/landscape)
3. Assessment Management
The tool provides a modern dashboard to:
Name assessments - Give each assessment a custom name for easy identification
Search - Quickly find assessments by name, club, class, or venue
Filter - Switch between active and archived assessments
Duplicate - Create copies of existing assessments for similar classes/venues
Archive - Move old assessments out of active view without deleting them
Track history - See when assessments were created and last modified
Monitor expiry - Track which assessments need reviewing
4. Export & Sharing
Once completed, assessments can be:
Printed - Professional print layout with BMABA branding
Exported to PDF - Download and share via email
Saved permanently - All assessments stored in your MyBMABA account
Re-edited - Update assessments as your club changes or regulations update
How It Benefits Clubs
Legal Protection
Documented evidence of safety procedures
Demonstrates duty of care
Shows proactive risk management
Meets regulatory requirements (Health & Safety at Work Act 1974)
Insurance Compliance
Satisfies insurance policy requirements
Can reduce premiums by showing proper risk management
Provides documentation for claims if needed
Shows professional club management
Venue Requirements
Many venues require risk assessments before allowing bookings
Professional documentation improves venue relationships
Makes renewals and new venue applications smoother
Shows venues you take safety seriously
Professional Standards
BMABA Regulation Ready™ requirement
Demonstrates professional club management
Builds trust with parents and students
Supports safeguarding framework
Cost Savings
Free for BMABA members (normally £200-500 per external assessment)
No need to hire consultants
Unlimited assessments for multiple classes/venues
Updates and changes at no extra cost
Time Efficiency
15-20 minutes to complete a comprehensive assessment
Pre-written control measures save hours of research
Template-based approach ensures nothing is missed
Easy updates vs. starting from scratch annually
Peace of Mind
Know you've covered all martial arts-specific hazards
Up-to-date assessments always accessible
Professional documentation ready for inspections
Clear procedures if incidents occur
Key Features Explained
Assessment Naming
Give each assessment a meaningful name like:
"Kids Karate - Tuesday St Mary's Hall"
"Adult BJJ - Weekend Sessions"
"Competition Team Training"
This makes it easy to find and manage multiple assessments across different classes and venues.
Search Functionality
The powerful search instantly filters assessments by:
Assessment name
Club name
Class/session name
Venue name
Perfect for clubs running multiple classes across different locations.
Active vs. Archived
Keep your workspace clean by:
Active - Current assessments you're actively using
Archived - Old assessments you want to keep for records but don't need daily
Archived assessments can be restored to active at any time.
Duplicate Feature
Save time by duplicating similar assessments:
Copy an existing assessment
Update the specific details (venue, class times, etc.)
Keep all the relevant hazards and control measures
Perfect for:
Multiple classes at the same venue
Same class at different venues
Seasonal programs with minor differences
Expiry Date Tracking
Set annual review dates to ensure assessments stay current:
Visual indicators for upcoming expiries
Dashboard warnings for expired assessments
Ensures compliance with insurance requirements
Supports continuous improvement
Print & PDF Export
Professional outputs include:
BMABA branding
All assessment details
Full hazard and control measure listing
Creation and expiry dates
Clean, professional formatting
Portrait or landscape orientation
Using The Tool - Step by Step
Creating Your First Assessment
Log into MyBMABA and navigate to Risk Assessments
Click "Create New" - The tool loads 30+ default martial arts hazards
Fill in assessment details:
Assessment name (e.g., "Tuesday Kids Class")
Club name
Class/session name
Venue details
Participant information
Expiry date (typically 12 months from now)
Review and customise hazards:
Read through each pre-loaded hazard
Edit control measures to match your specific procedures
Add any additional hazards unique to your club
Remove any that don't apply
Adjust severity ratings if needed
Add comments for specific action items
Save the assessment - It's now stored permanently in your account
Export if needed:
Print for display in your venue
Download PDF to send to venue managers
Share with insurance provider
Keep digital copies for records
Managing Multiple Assessments
For clubs with multiple classes/venues:
Create one comprehensive "master" assessment
Use the duplicate feature for variations
Update specific details (times, venues, participant ages)
Use clear naming conventions
Archive old assessments when classes end
Set calendar reminders for expiry dates
Best practice:
Review assessments quarterly
Update after incidents or near-misses
Re-assess when changing venues
Document any new equipment or techniques
Keep archived versions for historical records
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Q: Do I need a risk assessment for every class? A: Ideally yes, especially if they're at different venues or involve different age groups/skill levels. However, you can use one assessment for multiple similar classes at the same venue, noting in the comments that it covers all sessions.
Q: How often should I update my risk assessments? A: Legally, risk assessments should be reviewed annually as a minimum. However, you should update them immediately if:
You change venue
You introduce new techniques or equipment
An accident or near-miss occurs
Insurance requirements change
You notice new hazards
Q: What should I do with completed risk assessments? A:
Keep a printed copy displayed in your training venue
Store digital copies in your records
Share with venue managers/owners
Provide copies to insurance companies when requested
Make available for regulatory inspections
Q: Can I use one assessment for multiple venues? A: No - each venue is different. You should create separate assessments for each location, though you can use the duplicate feature to save time and then customise venue-specific details.
Q: Are these assessments legally compliant? A: Yes. The tool follows Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines and covers all aspects required by UK law. However, you must customise the control measures to accurately reflect YOUR club's specific procedures.
Technical Questions
Q: Can I edit an assessment after saving it? A: Yes! Click on any saved assessment to reopen and edit it. All changes are tracked with "last modified" dates.
Q: What happens if I delete an assessment by mistake? A: Use the Archive feature instead of Delete - archived assessments can be restored. If you do delete one, contact BMABA support immediately as we may be able to recover it from backups.
Q: Can I access my assessments offline? A: No, the tool requires internet access. However, you can download PDFs for offline access or emergency situations.
Q: How do I export to PDF? A: Click the "Export PDF" button on any completed assessment. The system generates a professional PDF document you can download and share.
Q: Is there a limit to how many assessments I can create? A: No - create unlimited assessments for all your classes and venues.
Q: Can assistant instructors create assessments? A: Yes, if they have a BMABA membership account. However, the head instructor should review and approve all assessments.
Content Questions
Q: What if a hazard isn't listed? A: You can add custom hazards. Click "Add Hazard" and fill in all the required fields including your own control measures.
Q: Should I include COVID-19 measures? A: Yes, if still relevant to your club. Add a custom hazard for "Infectious Disease Control" with your specific hygiene and ventilation measures.
Q: What severity rating should I use? A:
High - Likely to cause serious injury or death (e.g., weapon training without supervision)
Medium - Could cause injury requiring medical attention (e.g., sparring injuries, falls)
Low - Minor injuries or unlikely to occur with basic controls (e.g., equipment storage)
Q: Do I need to risk assess weapons training differently? A: Yes - if you do weapons training, ensure those hazards are marked high severity and include detailed control measures like "instructor must hold valid weapons certification" and "students must demonstrate proficiency before progressing to live weapons."
Q: What should I put in the comments field? A: Use comments for:
Specific action dates ("Mats to be replaced by June 2026")
Club-specific procedures ("Head instructor checks all equipment before each session")
Ongoing monitoring ("Review student progress every 4 weeks")
Additional context about your venue or student group
Q: Should children and adults have separate assessments? A: Ideally yes, because:
Children may face different hazards
Control measures differ (supervision ratios, technique restrictions)
Parental considerations apply to children's classes
Different insurance requirements may apply
Compliance & Insurance Questions
Q: Will my insurance company accept these assessments? A: Yes - they meet standard risk assessment requirements. Some insurers may have specific forms, but our assessments contain all the same information. BMABA insurance products automatically accept these assessments.
Q: Do I need to show risk assessments to Ofsted (for schools)? A: If you're running martial arts programs in schools, yes. The school may request to see your risk assessments before allowing you to operate.
Q: What about DBS checks and safeguarding? A: Risk assessments cover physical safety. For safeguarding (DBS, policies, procedures), see the BMABA Safeguarding Framework and Club Policies sections in MyBMABA.
Q: Can I submit these for Regulation Ready™ compliance? A: Yes! Having current, comprehensive risk assessments is a requirement for BMABA Regulation Ready™ status.
Q: Do I need separate assessments for events/competitions? A: Yes - events have different risks (larger crowds, unfamiliar venue, higher intensity). Create event-specific assessments using the duplicate feature as a starting point.
Integration with Other BMABA Tools
The Risk Assessment Tool works alongside other MyBMABA features:
Club Policies
Risk assessments reference your club policies:
Emergency procedures
Safeguarding framework
Health & safety policy
Equipment maintenance schedules
Insurance Management
Required for insurance applications
Can reduce premium costs
Provides documentation for claims
Demonstrates professional risk management
Regulation Ready™
Core requirement for certification
Demonstrates professional standards
Shows commitment to safety
Required for certain club benefits
Venue Bookings
Required by many venues
Improves booking applications
Shows professional operation
Can help negotiate better rates