Find Safe Martial Arts Classes and Schools Near You

Yes. Academy Safe is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and searching the registry is always free for parents and students. You can search by city or state, by academy name, or by martial art such as Brazilian jiu-jitsu, karate, Muay Thai, kickboxing, or taekwondo.

An accredited academy has been verified against the 8 Pillars of Protection: Background Screening, U.S. Center for SafeSport certification, Concussion Training, CPR/First Aid and AED certification, Belt/Rank and Lineage Verification, Security Cameras, Professional Insurance and Business License, and an On-Premises AED. Academy Safe is a verification body, not a government regulator, so accreditation reflects what the school has documented and what we have checked.

Unclaimed means the academy is listed but has not been verified by Academy Safe. Listing Claimed means the owner joined with an Academy Owner Membership and passed a background check. Not Yet Accredited, Process begun, means the academy has started working through the 8 Pillars of Protection but has not finished every pillar. Ask the school which pillars are already verified and which are still pending. Only an academy that completes all 8 pillars shows as Fully Accredited.

Search for your academy by name, or city and state, open your listing and click Claim This Academy. Claiming requires the Academy Owner Membership, which is $99 per year and includes your background check, U.S. Center for SafeSport certification and concussion training. Your listing is claimed once your background check is complete. If you cannot find your academy, go to Register My Academy, choose the Academy Owner Membership, complete your background check and we will reach out to build your listing.

The registry is growing, so many areas do not have a listed academy yet. You can still use the same standards. Ask whether every coach who works with children has passed a background check, whether staff hold current U.S. Center for SafeSport certification, whether coaches are trained in concussion recognition, whether CPR, First Aid and AED certifications are current, whether an AED is on site, whether training areas have cameras, and whether the school carries business insurance and a business license.

Yes. Academy Safe works with academies across the United States and Canada. Membership options are available for owners and coaches in both countries.

Yes, and it helps. Owners can register their academy directly on the Register My Academy page. Many schools begin the process after a parent asks about background checks and safety certifications.

No. Academy Safe is an independent nonprofit registry and education resource. We do not own, operate, or profit from any academy listed here.

Academy Safe may remove a coach from a listing at any time. This can happen when a coach leaves the academy, lets a requirement lapse, or no longer meets our standards. We do not publish the reason a coach was removed. If a coach you expected to see is not listed, ask the academy directly, and contact us at support@academysafe.org with any concern.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu, karate, Muay Thai, kickboxing, MMA, judo, taekwondo, Krav Maga, Hapkido, self-defense programs, and kids martial arts classes, among others.

Owners can start on the Register My Academy page. If you would rather have someone walk you through the 8 Pillars of Protection first, request a signup walkthrough and we will help you through it.