1. Policy Statement
Anyone taking on a role at Cobra Jujitsu that involves teaching, assisting, or otherwise working with
children or adults at risk goes through a proper vetting process first. This protects our members, and
it protects genuine instructors and volunteers too, by making sure everyone's on record as having been
checked properly.
2. Who This Applies To
- New instructors joining the club
- Assistant instructors and helpers, including senior students stepping into a teaching role
- Any volunteer with regular, unsupervised, or one-to-one contact with junior members
It doesn't apply to students training as members, or to parents helping informally at a one-off event
under an instructor's direct supervision.
3. Our Process
Before anyone takes on an instructing, assisting, or volunteering role, we will:
- Have an informal conversation about the role, their experience, and their motivation for wanting to teach or help
- Require registration with BMABA, including an Enhanced DBS check carried out through BMABA or a recognised umbrella body
- Check that any claimed martial arts qualifications and grade are genuine
- Require a recognised first aid qualification before they lead any session unsupervised
- Require completion of BMABA safeguarding training appropriate to their role
- Take up a reference where the person is new to the club and not already a known, long-standing member
- Agree they'll follow our Code of Conduct and Safeguarding Policy
4. Assistant Instructors and Senior Students
Where a senior student (including one under 18) takes on an assisting role - leading warm-ups,
demonstrating techniques, or helping beginners - they do so only under the direct supervision of an
insured instructor, and within the limits set out in our
Safeguarding Policy.
An appropriate DBS check is still required once they take on any regular or one-to-one assisting role.
5. Ongoing Checks
- DBS checks, insurance, first aid certificates and safeguarding training are kept up to date and renewed as required
- Any instructor whose DBS, insurance, or qualifications lapse will not lead sessions until they're renewed
- Any concern raised about an instructor or volunteer's conduct is taken seriously and may result in them stepping back from their role while it's looked into - see our Safeguarding Policy
6. Review of Policy
This policy is reviewed annually or when BMABA's requirements change.