Short answer: You can check a martial arts instructor in about ten minutes using free public registries. In the United States, search the instructor’s full name on the National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW). In Canada, check the RCMP High-Risk Child Sex Offender Database. For anyone who has lived or trained overseas, check INTERPOL’s public Red Notices. Then ask the academy directly whether every coach has passed a professional background check. A clean registry search is a good start, but it is not the same as a background check.
Most parents never think to look up the person teaching their child. That is not because they do not care. It is because nobody told them it was possible, or how to do it. This guide walks through each step, what each search can and cannot tell you, and the questions that fill in the gaps.
Step 1: Get the Instructor’s Full Legal Name
Registry searches work on names, so you need more than “Coach Mike” or “Professor Silva.” Ask the front desk or check the academy’s website for each instructor who will teach your child, including assistant coaches and anyone who runs private lessons. A school that hesitates to share the full names of the people teaching children is giving you useful information.
Write down any nicknames, maiden names or previous names you hear as well. Registries list people under their legal names, so a search on a nickname may return nothing even when a record exists.
Step 2: Search the National Sex Offender Public Website (United States)
The Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender Public Website is run by the U.S. Department of Justice. One search covers the public sex offender registries of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and tribal lands. You can search by name, or by address and zip code to see registered offenders near the academy.
- Search the instructor’s first and last name. Leave the state blank so the search runs nationwide, since many coaches have trained or taught in more than one state.
- If you get a match, compare the photo, age and listed address before drawing any conclusion. Common names produce false matches.
- If you have a real concern about a match, contact the law enforcement agency listed on the record rather than confronting the person yourself.
Step 3: Check the Canadian Registry (Canada)
Canada’s public option is the RCMP High-Risk Child Sex Offender Database. It is important to understand what it covers. The public database is limited to offenders deemed a high risk to reoffend. The full National Sex Offender Registry is restricted to law enforcement use only. Provinces also run their own public notification systems, so check your provincial police notices as well.
Because the public Canadian database is narrow, the academy’s own screening matters even more in Canada. Ask whether instructors have a Vulnerable Sector Check, which is the police check designed for people who work with children.
Step 4: Check INTERPOL Red Notices (International)
If an instructor has lived, competed or taught outside North America, it is worth a quick search of INTERPOL’s public Red Notices. You can search by family name, forename and nationality. Keep expectations realistic. Only a small share of Red Notices are made public, and a Red Notice is a request to locate a wanted person, not a conviction.
What a Registry Search Can and Cannot Tell You
A registry search is a floor, not a ceiling. Here is what it misses:
- Only registered offenders appear. Someone who was never convicted, or whose conviction does not require registration, will not show up.
- Other serious offenses are not listed. Violent crimes, child abuse charges that did not lead to registration, and many other records live in criminal history databases, not sex offender registries.
- Coverage varies. Registry rules differ by state, province and country, and records depend on how each agency reports them.
- A name search is not identity verification. Only a professional background check, using identity details the coach provides, confirms the record belongs to the right person.
That is why the next step matters most.
Step 5: Ask the Academy These Questions
- Has every instructor and assistant who works with children passed a professional background check, and how often is it repeated?
- Have your coaches completed abuse prevention training, such as U.S. Center for SafeSport training?
- Are private lessons held in open view, with another adult present or cameras recording?
- Do you have security cameras covering the mats and common areas?
- Who do parents contact if they have a concern, and what happens next?
A well run academy will answer these without hesitation. For a complete list, including what a good answer sounds like, read our guide to the questions to ask before enrolling your child in martial arts.
The Shortcut: Choose an Academy That Has Already Been Verified
Doing all of this for every coach takes time, and most parents cannot run a professional background check themselves. That is the reason Academy Safe exists. Academy Safe is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs the Martial Arts Safety Registry for the United States and Canada. Academies in the registry complete an 8 Pillar verification process that includes background screening for every coach, SafeSport certification, concussion training, CPR, First Aid and AED certification, belt and lineage verification, security cameras, insurance and an on premises AED.
You can search the registry for a verified academy near you. If your child’s current academy is not listed, share this page with the owner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it legal to look up my child’s martial arts instructor?
Yes. The NSOPW, provincial notifications and INTERPOL public notices are published so the public can use them. Use the information only to protect your child, and contact law enforcement about any concern rather than acting on your own.
Are martial arts instructors required to have background checks?
Not everywhere. There is no nationwide requirement in the United States or Canada, and rules vary by state and province. In most places screening is voluntary, which is why it is worth asking.
My search found nothing. Does that mean the instructor is safe?
It means the instructor does not appear on that public registry under the name you searched. It does not replace a professional background check or the academy’s own safety policies.
What should I do if I find a match?
Confirm the details carefully, since names repeat. If the photo and details match, contact the law enforcement agency listed on the record and keep your child out of that person’s classes until you have answers. You can also find support organizations on our resources page.
Disclaimer: Academy Safe is not affiliated with the agencies that run these registries. Registry information is managed by government agencies and may not be complete.
Find a Verified Academy, or Get Yours Listed
Academy Safe is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs the Martial Arts Safety Registry for the United States and Canada. Parents can find an accredited academy near you. Academy owners can register your academy to get your coaches verified and your school listed.
Want to support this work? Make a donation to Academy Safe.