The 8 Pillars of Protection
The 8 Pillars of Protection are the eight safety standards Academy Safe uses to verify martial arts academies listed in its Martial Arts Safety Registry. Five pillars focus on the people who teach: Background Screening, U.S. Center for SafeSport training, Concussion Training, CPR/First Aid and AED Certification, and Belt and Lineage Verification. Three pillars focus on the academy itself: Security Cameras, Professional Insurance and Business License, and an On-Premises AED.
Academy Safe is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit verification registry. It is not a government regulator, licensing body or legal authority. Accreditation means an academy’s records were checked against these eight standards, which gives parents a clear, consistent way to compare schools and gives owners a credible way to show the work they already do to keep students safe.
Why the 8 Pillars of Protection Exist
In most of the United States and Canada, there is no single set of rules that every martial arts school must follow. Requirements for screening, training and emergency readiness vary from place to place, and many academies set their own standards. That leaves parents trying to judge safety from a website, a trial class or word of mouth.
The 8 Pillars of Protection give everyone the same checklist. Parents get practical questions they can ask any school. Owners and coaches get a clear path to show that their safety practices are real and documented, not just promised. You can read more about the gaps this work addresses in why martial arts schools need stronger oversight.
The People Pillars: 1 Through 5
The first five pillars apply to every owner, coach and staff member who works with students. Academy Safe calls these the 5 Essential Safety Pillars.
1. Background Screening
Every owner and coach completes professional background screening, and those checks are re-run every two years. Some states have their own screening laws for people who work with minors, which apply in addition to Academy Safe screening. Learn more in why background checks matter in martial arts academies and the instructor background check guide for owners.
2. U.S. Center for SafeSport
Coaches complete abuse prevention training through the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Academy Safe follows a two-year cycle: the full course in year one, continuing education in year two, and the full course again in year three. See what coaches need for SafeSport certification.
3. Concussion Training
Coaches should be able to recognize the signs of a possible head injury and know when to stop a student from training. Academy Safe verifies that each coach has completed concussion training. The CDC HEADS UP program is one widely used source. Read why concussion education matters.
4. CPR/First Aid and AED Certification
Each coach holds current certification in CPR, first aid and the use of an AED. Academy Safe looks for a current, unexpired certificate for each person. Read more about first aid and defibrillators in martial arts.
5. Belt and Lineage Verification
Rank is easy to claim and harder to confirm. This pillar authenticates coaching ranks and martial arts lineage using certificates and records that connect each coach to their instructors and organizations. See why proof of belt lineage matters.
The Academy Pillars: 6 Through 8
The last three pillars apply to the academy as a business and a physical training space. They are the owner’s responsibility.
6. Security Cameras
Academy Safe verifies surveillance in training areas. Cameras protect students, and they also protect coaches and owners by creating a clear record if a concern is ever raised.
7. Professional Insurance and Business License
This pillar confirms active liability coverage for the academy and a valid business license. Coverage needs vary by location and program, so owners should talk with a licensed insurance professional about what fits their academy.
8. On-Premises AED
This pillar verifies that an AED is physically present at the academy, which pairs with the AED training coaches complete in Pillar 4. Read about the role of AEDs in martial arts academies.
This page is general information. It is not legal, medical or insurance advice.
What the 8 Pillars of Protection Mean for Parents
When you see an accredited academy in the registry, it means the owner and every staff member completed the full verification process. Coaches who have been verified in the 5 Essential Safety Pillars are listed on their academy’s page, even if the academy as a whole is still working toward accreditation.
You can also use the pillars as a set of questions for any school you visit, whether or not it is listed. Ask who has been background screened and how recently, whether coaches have SafeSport and concussion training, who on the floor is certified in CPR and first aid, where the AED is kept, and whether training areas are covered by cameras. A good school will be glad you asked.
- Search the Martial Arts Safety Registry for academies near you.
- Review the 20 questions to ask before enrolling your child.
- Learn how to check your child’s martial arts instructor.
- Read how to choose a safe martial arts school for your child.
What the 8 Pillars of Protection Mean for Academy Owners
Registration starts your annual membership, the vetting of you and your staff, and the review of your academy against the 8 Pillars of Protection. In most cases the owner registers and covers the membership for coaches and staff. If you are signing up your whole team, contact support@academysafe.org before you register to ask about one invoice for your academy.
Full academy accreditation requires all eight pillars. Each coach and staff member must be verified in Pillars 1 through 5. A practical order is to start Background Screening, U.S. Center for SafeSport and Concussion Training right away, then complete CPR/First Aid and AED Certification, while gathering rank, insurance, license, camera and AED documents in parallel. For a deeper walkthrough, read what accreditation actually requires.
Free templates in the Academy Safety Documents library can help you prepare, including the 8 Pillars Self-Assessment Checklist, the Staff Certification Tracking Log, the Belt Promotion and Lineage Verification Policy, the Security Camera Policy and Signage template and the AED and First Aid Kit Inspection Log.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 8 Pillars of Protection?
They are the eight safety standards Academy Safe verifies: Background Screening, U.S. Center for SafeSport training, Concussion Training, CPR/First Aid and AED Certification, Belt and Lineage Verification, Security Cameras, Professional Insurance and Business License, and an On-Premises AED.
Is Academy Safe a government regulator?
No. Academy Safe is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit verification registry. It checks academy and coach records against the 8 Pillars of Protection. It does not license schools or replace any state or local law.
Do coaches need all eight pillars?
No. Each coach and staff member is verified in Pillars 1 through 5, the 5 Essential Safety Pillars. Pillars 6 through 8 apply to the academy and are the owner’s responsibility. An academy is marked accredited only after the owner and every staff member complete the full process.
How often are background checks and SafeSport training renewed?
Background checks are re-run every two years. SafeSport follows a two-year cycle, with the full course one year and continuing education the next.
Find or Join an Academy That Meets the 8 Pillars of Protection
Parents can find an academy in the Martial Arts Safety Registry and see its current status. Academy owners can register their academy to start the 8 Pillars of Protection review for themselves and their team. If you would like to support this work, you can also donate to Academy Safe.