If you run a martial arts academy, you already know that parents are asking harder questions than they used to. They want to know who is coaching their child, what training those coaches have, and what happens if someone gets hurt on the mat. Academy Safe accreditation is a way to answer those questions with verified records instead of promises.
Accreditation is built around the 8 Pillars of Protection. Each pillar covers one part of running a safer training environment, and each one is checked against real documentation. This guide walks through all eight in plain language, what Academy Safe looks for at each step, and a sensible order to work through them.
How Accreditation Works for Owners and Coaches
Registration is the first step. Your annual membership starts the vetting of you and/or your staff and the review of your academy against the 8 Pillars of Protection. In most cases, the academy owner handles registration and covers the membership for the coaches and staff on their team.
If you are signing up yourself and your staff together, contact us at support@academysafe.org before you register. We can send one invoice for your entire academy instead of billing each person separately.
There are two levels to keep in mind:
- Academy owners: full accreditation requires completion and verification of all 8 Pillars.
- Coaches and staff: each individual must be verified in the 5 Essential Safety Pillars, which are Pillars 1 through 5.
Coaches can begin their own verification before the rest of the academy is ready. Verified coaches are listed on their academy page, but the academy itself is not marked as accredited until the owner and every staff member have completed the full process. That structure matters, because a parent looking at the Martial Arts Safety Registry should be able to trust that an accredited academy means everyone on the floor has been checked.
The People Pillars: 1 Through 5
The first five pillars apply to every owner, coach and staff member. They focus on the people who work directly with students.
1. Background Screening
Every owner and coach goes through professional background screening, and those checks are re run every two years. This is the foundation of the whole process, which is why it should be the first thing you start. Some states have their own screening laws for people who work with minors, so check what applies where you operate in addition to Academy Safe screening.
2. U.S. Center for SafeSport
Coaches complete abuse prevention training through the U.S. Center for SafeSport. The cadence Academy Safe follows is the full course every two years, with continuing education in the year in between. In practice, year one is the full course, year two is continuing education, and year three is the full course again. You can learn more about the training itself at the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
3. Concussion Training
Coaches should be able to recognize the signs of a 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 for this kind of training.
4. CPR/First Aid and AED Certification
Each coach needs current emergency response certification covering CPR, first aid and the use of an AED. What Academy Safe looks for is a current, unexpired certificate for each person, so keep copies in one place and note renewal dates.
5. Belt and Lineage Verification
Parents often assume a black belt means a coach has been properly trained, but rank is easy to claim and harder to confirm. This pillar authenticates coaching ranks and martial arts lineage. Gather rank certificates and any documentation that connects your coaches to their instructors and organizations.
The Academy Pillars: 6 Through 8
The last three pillars apply to the academy as a business and a physical space. These are the owner’s responsibility.
6. Security Cameras
Academy Safe verifies surveillance in all training areas. Cameras protect students, and they also protect coaches and owners by providing a clear record if a concern is ever raised. Think about coverage of every mat space, not just the front desk.
7. Professional Insurance and Business License
This pillar confirms active liability coverage for the academy and a valid business license. Have your current certificate of insurance and license ready to share. Coverage needs vary by location and program, so talk with a licensed insurance professional about what fits your academy. This article is general information and is not legal or insurance advice.
8. On-Premises AED
The final pillar verifies that emergency medical equipment is on site. Academy Safe checks that an AED is physically present at the academy, which pairs with the AED training your coaches complete in Pillar 4.
A Practical Order to Work Through the Pillars
You do not need to finish everything at once, but some steps take longer than others, so the order you start in makes a difference.
- Start Background Screening, U.S. Center for SafeSport and Concussion Training right away. These three begin together for yourself and every coach. Screening depends on outside records, and the SafeSport and concussion courses can be completed on each person’s own schedule while screening is underway.
- Complete CPR/First Aid and AED certification next. Once the first three are underway, schedule CPR/First Aid and AED certification for each coach, and keep copies of every current certificate.
- Collect rank and lineage documents. Ask each coach to gather certificates early, since older records can take time to find.
- Pull together academy documents. Insurance, business license, camera coverage and AED location can be organized by the owner in parallel.
How long verification takes depends mostly on how quickly documentation is supplied, since each pillar is checked against real records. The fastest path is to gather documents before you register. If you are enrolling several staff members or managing more than one location, email support@academysafe.org and the team will set up the accounts and send one invoice for your academy.
Why the 8 Pillars Matter to Families
There is no single national standard for martial arts safety, and requirements vary widely from place to place. The 8 Pillars give parents a consistent way to compare academies, and they give owners a clear way to show that safety is part of how the academy operates. When a family finds your academy in the Martial Arts Safety Registry, accreditation tells them that the people and the space have been checked, not just described.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do my coaches need all 8 Pillars?
No. Individual coaches and staff are verified in the 5 Essential Safety Pillars, Pillars 1 through 5. The owner is responsible for the full 8 Pillars, including the academy level requirements in Pillars 6 through 8.
Can a coach start before the academy registers?
Yes. Coaches are encouraged to begin verification on their own. They will be listed on their academy page once verified, and the academy becomes accredited after the owner and all staff complete the process.
How often is background screening repeated?
Background checks for coaches are re run every two years.
Take the First Step Toward Accreditation
Accreditation is a clear, visible way to show families that your academy takes student safety seriously. Start Background Screening, SafeSport and Concussion Training, gather your documents, and work through the remaining pillars from there. When you are ready, register your academy with Academy Safe and begin the verification process. If you have questions first, reach out through the contact form on that page or call 754-233-0082.
Academy Safe is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and anyone who wants to support this work can make a donation here.
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.