Many martial arts school owners believe they are “fully covered” because they hold an active insurance policy and a current certificate of currency. However, coverage is not binary. A school can be insured and still be exposed if its operations, documentation, or activities do not align with the policy in place.



This practical self-assessment guide is designed to help Australian martial arts school owners identify common gaps and assess whether their current arrangements genuinely reflect how their school operates.

Why Self-Assessment Matters

Insurance rarely fails randomly. Coverage issues usually arise because something changed—or was never properly addressed in the first place. Regular self-assessment allows school owners to:

• Detect silent coverage gaps
• Align insurance with real training practices
• Reduce the likelihood of claim disputes
• Strengthen long-term insurability

Self-assessment is not about second-guessing insurers—it is about understanding your own operation clearly.

Step 1: Are All Training Activities Clearly Declared?

Start with the basics. Ask yourself:

• Does the policy accurately describe the martial arts styles taught?
• Are sparring, grappling, or contact training disclosed?
• Are weapons or advanced techniques included?
• Are junior programs and mixed-age classes declared?

If an activity occurs in your school but is not clearly reflected in your policy wording or schedule, it may not be covered—even if it feels “normal” to you.

Step 2: Do You Have Both Public Liability and Professional Indemnity?

Many schools focus heavily on public liability but underestimate professional indemnity exposure.

Ask:

• Would my insurance respond if a student alleged poor instruction?
• Are supervision and progression decisions covered?
• Are instructors personally protected?

If the answer is unclear, your school may not be as protected as you think.

Step 3: Are All Instructors Properly Covered?

Martial arts schools often involve:

• Head instructors
• Assistant instructors
• Volunteers or senior students helping classes
• Guest instructors for seminars

Check whether:

• All individuals who instruct are included under the policy
• Roles are clearly defined
• Visiting instructors are addressed appropriately

Coverage gaps involving assistants are one of the most common claim issues.

Step 4: Are Events, Gradings, and Seminars Addressed?

Review whether your insurance explicitly considers:

• Belt gradings
• In-house tournaments
• Seminars or workshops
• Public demonstrations

If these activities differ from normal classes in intensity, participants, or audience, they may require disclosure or event-specific consideration.

Step 5: Does Your Insurance Reflect Your Venues?

Schools often operate across multiple venues:

• Community halls
• Leased studios
• Schools or gyms
• Outdoor or public spaces

Ensure that:

• All venues are permitted under the policy
• Venue agreements align with insurance terms
• Temporary locations are considered

Venue-related assumptions frequently surface during claims.

Step 6: Are Your Policy Limits Still Appropriate?

Limits that were sufficient at startup may not reflect current exposure.

Consider:

• Growth in student numbers
• Larger class sizes
• Increased event activity
• Expanded age ranges

Insurance limits should reflect current risk, not past operations.

Step 7: Is Your Documentation Supporting Your Insurance?

Insurance relies heavily on documentation.

Assess whether you maintain:

• Incident report templates
• Instructor qualification records
• Safety and supervision guidelines
• Clear enrolment and consent processes

Strong documentation strengthens both insurance outcomes and professionalism.

Step 8: Do Instructors Understand Incident Response?

A policy is only as effective as the response following an incident.

Ask:

• Do instructors know what to do if an injury occurs?
• Is reporting consistent and timely?
• Is communication handled professionally?

Inconsistent responses can complicate otherwise straightforward claims.

Step 9: Have You Reviewed Your Insurance Recently?

Insurance should evolve with your school.

If you have:

• Introduced new classes
• Changed training intensity
• Added instructors
• Hosted new types of events

your insurance should be reviewed accordingly.

Step 10: Are You Aligned With Industry Standards?

Operating within industry-aligned frameworks strengthens credibility and reduces ambiguity.

Organisations such as Martial Arts Australia help schools:

• Align operations with insurer expectations
• Maintain professional standards
• Identify common risk gaps early

Industry alignment supports long-term confidence and insurability.

Using This Self-Assessment Effectively

This guide is not a compliance audit—it is a practical reflection tool. Any uncertainty uncovered should be treated as an opportunity to review and clarify arrangements, not as a failure.

Regular self-assessment is one of the most effective ways to reduce insurance stress and focus on what matters most: teaching and community building.

Final Thoughts

Being “fully covered” is not a static state. It is an ongoing alignment between how your martial arts school operates and how your insurance responds.

Schools that regularly assess their coverage, documentation, and practices are better protected, more confident, and more sustainable over the long term.