Safeguarding & Standards
Safeguarding is non-negotiable at Warrior Spirit
We are a BMABA-registered club, and we follow the BMABA safeguarding framework, which sets clear expectations around child protection, safe practice, vetting, and ongoing compliance.
Whether you’re booking for your child or for yourself, you should feel confident that training here is safe, respectful, and professionally run.
What BMABA registration means (and what we do)
BMABA is explicit that safeguarding is the foundation of their membership standards, and that member clubs are expected to comply with national guidance, training, and audits.
As a BMABA-registered club, we align our club standards with BMABA requirements and good practice, including:
- Vetted instructors and regular assistants
BMABA states that anyone teaching or supervising children (or adults at risk) typically needs an Enhanced DBS check (and barred list checks where appropriate), and BMABA requires Enhanced DBS checks for teaching/coaching/supervisory roles. - Safeguarding training
BMABA requires safeguarding qualifications as part of its safeguarding expectations. - A named welfare / safeguarding role and clear reporting routes
BMABA includes appointed welfare officers as part of its safeguarding standards. - Professional conduct and ethical coaching
BMABA’s ethics and standards emphasise child-first safeguarding, inclusive teaching, professional conduct, and maintaining essential professional standards (DBS, safeguarding, first aid, insurance, identity verification).
How we keep training safe, week in, week out
Safeguarding isn’t just paperwork, it’s how we run sessions:
Safe coaching practice
- Age-appropriate warm-ups, drills, and contact
- Clear boundaries: no “pressure to spar”, no ego, no intimidation
- Progressive training: we build skills gradually and keep things controlled
- A calm, respectful culture on the mats (especially important for nervous beginners)
Attendance, supervision, and injuries
- We keep registers for junior sessions
- We record and communicate any injuries/near misses appropriately
- We take medical info seriously (e.g., asthma, allergies, previous injuries)
Photography and video
We only use photos/video in line with consent expectations and best practice. BMABA’s safeguarding policy includes the principle of not taking photos/videos of children or adults at risk without consent in advance.
Social media and messaging
For the safety of juniors, we keep online communication professional and appropriate. BMABA’s safeguarding policy states that instructor communication with children/adults at risk via social media should not happen, and that any necessary digital contact should be minimised and recorded.
In practice, we communicate with parents/guardians (and use group/club channels where appropriate), not private DMs with children.
Inclusion, wellbeing, and respect
Martial arts should be for everyone. BMABA’s standards explicitly include inclusive teaching and professional conduct as core expectations.
We aim to create an environment where students are treated with dignity, supported appropriately, and coached with care.
Reporting a concern (what to do)
If something doesn’t feel right, we want to know, and we want you to feel safe raising it.
If someone is in immediate danger
Don’t delay - call 999 and ask for the Police.
If you have a non-urgent safeguarding concern
You can choose whichever route feels easiest:
- Speak to an instructor at the club and ask for Jon McLean (Safeguarding Lead)
- Message us via our Contact page and put “Safeguarding - FAO Jon McLean” in the subject line (so it’s handled promptly and discreetly)
- Report via BMABA’s independent safeguarding route, which BMABA describes as a dedicated route for concerns from the public/parents/professionals.
We will always treat concerns seriously, handle them sensitively, and act in line with appropriate safeguarding processes.