ACADEMY LISTING STATUSES
Unclaimed, Claimed, and Fully Accredited
Every academy in the Academy Safe Martial Arts Safety Registry shows a status. To understand a status, you first need to understand the 8 Pillars of Protection. These are the eight safety standards Academy Safe checks. Each status tells you whether an academy has completed these pillars with Academy Safe.
The 8 Pillars of Protection
Select any pillar to read more about it.
The People Pillars: Owners, Coaches, and Staff
2U.S. Center for SafeSportCoaches complete abuse prevention training through the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
3Concussion TrainingCoaches learn to recognize a possible head injury and when to stop a student from training.
4CPR/First Aid and AED CertificationCoaches hold current certification in CPR, first aid, and AED use.
5Belt/Rank and Lineage VerificationCoaching ranks and lineage are confirmed with certificates and records.
The Academy Pillars: The Training Space
7Professional Insurance and Business LicenseActive liability coverage and a valid business license are confirmed.
8On-Premises AEDAn AED is physically present at the academy.
What Each Status Means
Only a Fully Accredited academy has completed all 8 Pillars of Protection with Academy Safe.
What it means: Academy Safe added this academy to the registry using publicly available information so families can see training options near them. The owner has not joined Academy Safe.
Pillars checked: None yet. Academy Safe has not verified the owner, coaches, staff, or facility.
For parents: An Unclaimed listing is not a warning and not an endorsement. Use the 8 Pillars of Protection as questions to ask the academy directly.
What it means: The academy owner purchased the Academy Owner Annual Membership and completed a background check, which lets them claim and manage the listing. The academy has not completed all 8 Pillars of Protection.
Pillars checked: At least the owner's background check. The listing shows which pillars are complete and which are still pending. Coaches verified in Pillars 1 through 5 are listed on the academy's page.
For parents: Review the listing to see exactly what has been completed. The academy is not accredited until every pillar is done.
What it means: The owner and every disclosed coach and staff member age 18 or older completed Pillars 1 through 5, and Academy Safe verified the academy for Pillars 6 through 8.
Pillars checked: All 8, based on the documents the academy provided. Accreditation is renewed every year, and the Accreditation Graphic shows its expiration date.
For parents: Accreditation gives you more information to consider. It does not and cannot guarantee safety.
We Rely on Each Academy's Honesty
Academy Safe does not inspect academies in person or independently confirm who works there. Each member academy must tell us about every coach and staff member age 18 or older, paid or volunteer, and must let us know when someone turns 18. A listing is only as complete as what the academy discloses.
If you see a coach or staff member age 18 or older teaching or helping on the mats who is not listed on the academy's page, please email support@academysafe.org.
How the Registry Has Grown
When Academy Safe started, the registry listed only academies that had joined Academy Safe and begun the accreditation process. As the nonprofit has grown, we began listing martial arts academies across the United States so families can find training options near them, with a clear status on every listing.
Academy Safe keeps evolving. We add features, update programs, and refine our standards as we grow. The most current details are always on this website and in our Terms and Conditions.
How Search Results Are Ordered
When you search by city, Fully Accredited academies within 30 miles appear first, followed by Claimed, Not Yet Accredited academies within 30 miles. After that, academies are shown nearest first. When you search by state, results stay within that state.
The order of results is not a ranking, rating, or recommendation of any academy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the academy listing statuses on Academy Safe?
Every academy in the Martial Arts Safety Registry has one of three statuses: Unclaimed, Claimed, Not Yet Accredited, or Fully Accredited. Each status is based on how many of the 8 Pillars of Protection the academy has completed with Academy Safe.
Does Unclaimed mean an academy is unsafe?
No. It only means the owner has not joined Academy Safe yet, so nothing has been verified. Many good academies are simply not members yet.
What does Claimed, Not Yet Accredited mean?
The owner purchased the Academy Owner Annual Membership and completed a background check, so they can manage the listing. The academy has not completed all 8 Pillars of Protection, and the listing shows which pillars are still pending.
Does Fully Accredited mean an academy is guaranteed to be safe?
No. Accreditation means the academy’s records were checked against the 8 Pillars of Protection. It is an additional level of information, not a promise about how any person will behave.
How long does a status last?
Memberships and accreditation run for one year from the payment date. If a membership expires and is not renewed, the listing may be removed from the registry or returned to Unclaimed.
What should I ask an academy that is not accredited?
Ask the same questions the 8 Pillars of Protection answer. Our guide to the 8 Pillars of Protection explains each one.
I own an academy. How do I change my status?
Start by claiming your listing with the Academy Owner Annual Membership. Then complete the remaining pillars and add your coaches and staff to become Fully Accredited. If your listing is wrong, or you would like your Unclaimed listing removed, email support@academysafe.org.
This page is general information. For full details, see our Terms and Conditions.