Services
The British Association for Martial Arts provides it's members with Insurance, it's instructors with Professional Indemnity, and it's clubs with Grading Examination Panels.
Please email us for prices of Insurance and levels of cover.
B.A.M.A. members receive discounted tuition at our seminars.
Grading Books and Licences are available. The price to members is £30 for a First licence and currently £22.50 annual renewal. The proportion of the fee that is remitted to B.A.M.A. is in the Information for Instructors pack.
B.A.M.A. badges are available. Club Members may wear their own club badge on their chest and the association badge on their right shoulder, or they may wear the association badge on their chest. Instructors may specify. It is highly recommended that B.A.M.A. Black Belts (and equivalent) wear a B.A.M.A. badge.
Examination Panel.
B.A.M.A. clubs award grades based on the syllabus that is submitted to B.A.M.A. The B.A.M.A. examiners must be present for all Dan Gradings and equivalent conducted by member clubs. B.A.M.A. examiner panels are made up of John Burke plus any one or two of the following: Anthony Blades, Russell Stutely, Stuart Howe, Neil Ellison, Craig Downing, Richard Carrick, Paul March.
The examiner panel to award Sandan, and Yondan must consist of at least two Godan examiners, preferably a Godan and a Rokudan or higher as arrangements permit. For Godan and Rokudan awards there must be agreement between at least two rokudan. For Nanadan, Hachidan, and higher a panel of peers is assembled by BAMA on a case-by-case basis.
kyu grading is generally undertaken at club level. A Shodan instructor is at liberty to grade members up to and including 2nd kyu. A Nidan instructor may grade their own members up to and including 1st kyu. We recommend that clubs charge £25 for kyu grading.
Dan gradings and their equivalent are important events and Association recognition is granted after successful examination. Our exam is not a "20 minute" experience, but a careful analysis over a long period of time and the Day-long or Two-day technical examination.
Dan (or equivalent) Grading Fees:
Shodan £100
Nidan £200
Sandan £300
Yondan £400 (this may be waived for members of long standing)
Godan £500 (this may be waived for members of long standing)
Please note: the grading fee is a one-off cost, and covers attendance at any course that the grading is a constituent of, also. There are no "re-take" fees. If you are not able to pass then you are not charged for subsequent attempts at grading.
Only Examiners are allowed to grant Dan grade status. Wearing a Black Belt is a sign of technical ability, not necessarily teaching ability. The experience and judgement of the Examiners is based on their knowledge and permission to join the Examination Panel is only granted after careful consideration.