Looking for the best martial arts insurance that can protect your instructors, school or studio?
We’ve got you covered.
In this article, you’ll gain a comprehensive understanding of martial arts insurance, including:
- What is martial arts insurance?
- Who needs this type of insurance and why?
- Which liability and coverage options are available?
- How much does martial arts insurance cost?
- Which companies carry this insurance policy and how do they compare?
- How to get an insurance quote for your martial arts school?
Get the insights and information you need to make well-informed and educated decisions about martial arts insurance. Learn how to choose the right coverage for your business.
What is Martial Arts Insurance?
Martial arts is a highly physical sport activity. It involves physical contact between two individuals or martial artists. No matter the type of martial art, there is a risk for injury and liability. Luckily, buying a martial arts insurance policy can act as a safety net, mitigating risks and providing financial protection in case of unexpected incidents.
If you run a martial arts gym or school, it is important to get insured so you can avoid the financial responsibilities that can be associated with running this type of business.
In addition to liability insurance for martial arts schools and gyms, considering business life insurance is essential for protecting the long-term financial health of your establishment. Just as martial arts insurance shields against physical injury liabilities, business life insurance provides a safety net for unforeseen events that could impact the continuity of your business.
This type of coverage ensures that in the event of the owner’s death or a key employee’s passing, the business can continue operations smoothly, without financial strain or disruption.
Who Needs Martial Arts Insurance?
Basically anyone who steps foot into a martial arts studio may need some form of insurance protection. This includes instructors, schools, individual participants and event organizers.
Martial Arts Instructors and Schools
Martial arts school owners and instructors can face liability for student injuries if deemed negligent. Instructor and school insurance covers bodily injury claims and protects against lawsuits. Also, dance studios, gymnastic gyms and fitness centers that offer martial arts classes should have property damage and liability coverage for potential accidents involving equipment and participants.
Participants
Secondly, both young and adult students can also suffer accidents during training, sparring or competition. Being insured as a participant covers medical expenses, lost wages, and even long-term disability if injured.
Events, Tournaments and Competitions
Finally, during events such as tournaments or competitions, unexpected injuries or property damage can lead to substantial costs. Event organization insurance provides liability protection and cancellation insurance. There’s always the risk that competitions or events can be canceled due to unexpected circumstances like weather, venue issues, or participant injuries.
The coverage for tournament or event insurance policy should include liability protection that includes coverage for medical payments and accidental injuries for participants. It should also protect any equipment used during the event.
Keep in mind that different martial arts disciplines have varying risk profiles that influence insurance needs. The most popular martial arts business insurance types include karate insurance and jiu jitsu insurance. This is due to the inherent risks when participating in such physically demanding activities.
Why Do I Need Martial Arts Insurance for My School, Studio or Gym?
The best way to approach this question is to ask yourself the opposite question: what happens if you don’t have an insurance coverage? Similar to boxing, any type of fighting discipline involves risk. Injury is one of the biggest risks you will face.
For example, one of your students get injured when practicing a specific martial arts move or during sparring. If you don’t have martial arts insurance, you have to pay for the medical cost and other liabilities out of your own pocket. A single incident could negatively impact your martial arts business that it could lead to a huge financial loss.
Another example is if you have a self-defense instructor in your facility. If they are injured or cause injury because of their professional advice, you will be held liable for those injuries. Given the nature of your business and the fighting discipline, it’s highly likely that such an incident could occur.
The martial arts business is a unique business. Therefore, it is important to have a specific type of coverage designed for this outside of your traditional business insurance policy. It requires a careful assessment of your business risks so you can get adequate protection.
Detailed Breakdown of Martial Arts Insurance Coverages
Now that we’ve covered the value of liability protection that martial arts insurance policy provides, let’s now take a closer look into the type of coverage options available. Here is a breakdown of the typical coverage you need to operate a martial arts business.
General Liability Coverage
This insurance coverage protects your business, staff, and self-defense instructors from claims and lawsuits associated with physical or other forms of damage. It specifically protects against third-party claims for bodily injury to students or property damage such as damaged equipment to individuals not directly involved in martial arts activities. It’s crucial for instructors, schools, and event organizers to safeguard against legal costs and lawsuits arising from accidents or unforeseen incidents.
Keep in mind that if you’re renting a facility, the landlord most likely has a minimum amount of liability coverage that is required to operate the business in that location.
Professional Liability Insurance
This insurance coverage protects martial arts instructors against claims of negligence leading to student injuries or financial losses. This could include accusations of improper instruction, inadequate supervision, or failure to maintain safe training conditions. It’s especially important for instructors and schools to shield themselves from professional liability claims related to their teaching practices.
Property Damage and Contents Coverage
This insurance coverage protects the equipment that you need to operate the facility, such as your sparring equipment, martial arts weapons, etc. Overall, it protects against financial losses due to damage or theft of equipment, mats, training facilities, or other property owned by instructors, schools, or event organizers. It’s important for continuity of operations and avoids costly replacements in case of unexpected property damage.
Accident and Medical Expenses Coverage
As the name implies, this insurance coverage protects your business from the medical costs associated with injuries that take place in your facility, even including accidental death. For example, it covers medical bills for covered injuries sustained by participants during training or competitions, regardless of fault. It also provides valuable financial protection for individual students, especially those without adequate health insurance or participating in high-risk disciplines.
Tournament Coverage
This insurance coverage protects your business from any liability when holding a tournament in your facility. Essentially, it provides liability protection specifically for injuries or accidents occurring during sanctioned competitions or exhibitions. It’s particularly valuable for tournament organizers and participants by offering additional security against claims arising from competitive events.
Business Income Coverage
This insurance coverage protects your business and covers for losses incurred when your business is unable to operate due to unforeseen circumstances. It covers for any lost income during the period that your business is closed.
Martial Arts Insurance Cost
How much does martial arts insurance cost? On average, the insurance premium begins at $850 and can go up to $5,000 annually. Where you fall in that range depends on the coverage you get and the exclusions.
The primary factor that impacts the cost of your insurance premium is the type of coverage you include in your policy.
Types of Coverage Costs
- Participant insurance: Generally the most affordable, costing around $8.95 per person per year on average, but can climb depending on risk factors and chosen coverage amount.
- Instructor/school insurance: More expensive than participant insurance, ranging from $450 to $5,000 per year and potentially higher depending on factors like the number of students, type of martial arts discipline, and additional coverage choices.
- Event organization insurance: Costs even more, typically falling within the $1,000 to $10,000 range or higher for large events, depending on factors like the event size, expected number of participants, and specific coverage needs.
It’s important to assess the cost of your martial arts equipment and other associated costs so you can pick the right level of coverage. To give you an idea, most general liability insurance policies provide up to $1 or $2 million in insurance coverage.
Additional Factors that Influence Insurance Cost
- Location: Insurance costs can be higher in areas with a higher cost of living.
- Size and experience of the school or organization: Larger schools or those with more experience may face slightly higher premiums due to perceived increased risk.
- Chosen insurance company and policy benefits: Different companies offer varying pricing and coverage options, impacting the cost.
- Deductible amount: A higher deductible can lead to a lower premium, but means you’ll pay more out of pocket if you need to file a claim.
Martial Arts Insurance Company Comparison
This comparison charts provides a detailed look at the top three martial arts insurance companies. It shows insights into coverage types, limits, premiums, deductibles, and exclusions to easily compare and contrast insurance policies.
| Insurance Company | Francis L. Dean & Associates | K&K Insurance | Sadler Sports & Recreation Insurance |
| Coverage Types & Limits | Accident: $100k General Liability: $1m Professional Liability: $1m Abuse or Molestation: $100k per $300k limit Accidental Death: $100k sum $500k limit | Commercial General Liability: $1m to $5m Professional Liability: $1m to $5m Fire Legal Liability: $100k Medical Expenses for Non-participants: $5k | Commercial General Liability: $1m to $2m Professional Liability: $1m to $2m Legal Liability to Participants: $1m to $2m Medical Payments for Participants: $150k |
| Premium / Costs | Application required for quote | Single Event Training: $127 to $933 per instructor Annual Coverage: $370 to $1298 per instructor | Rates per student/member: $17.50 to $22.35 Minimum Premium: $750 to $1125 |
| Deductibles | Medical Expense Benefit (Accident): $250 Other deductibles amounts require application | Deductible amounts require directly contacting provider | Medical Payments for Participants: $250 per claim Other deductible amounts require directly contacting provider |
| Ineligible Operations | MMA Boxing | Tournament Competition Boxing Law and Military Personnel training | Boxing Trampoline parks Wrestling Law enforcement training Military personnel training |
| Customer Service Rating | 4.7 rating | 2.1 rating | 4.5 rating |
Martial Arts Insurance Quotes
The best option to help you estimate the cost of the premium for martial arts insurance is to talk to an insurance agent, broker or provider. They can help you understand your coverage options and get you the best possible price. Another option is to contact martial arts associations that offer member discounts on insurance.
Types of Eligible Operations
One of the factors that can impact the cost of your insurance plan is the type of martial arts activity. Some of the martial arts discipline that are typically covered by insurance include the following:
For specific policy information, you will need to contact the insurance provider directly, or consult with an insurance agent.
- Karate
- Cardio kickboxing
- Judo
- Kung fu
- Tae Kwon Do
- Tai Chi
- Shotokan
- Capoeira
- Aikido
- Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
If you provide classes for other martial arts not included in the above list, make sure to discuss your options with your insurance provider. Some of these providers can give you a customized insurance quote based on the associated risks and the coverage you seek.
Conclusion
Choose the right policy by understanding your coverage needs, comparing costs, and thoroughly researching insurance companies. The best advice is to simply consider insurance as a fixed cost. With this mindset, you can easily add it into your operating plan and price your martial arts school’s tuition accordingly.
Remember, a comprehensive insurance policy helps mitigate the inherent risks associated with combat sports. Working with a knowledgeable insurance agent who can guide you through the process of obtaining an insurance policy that provides peace of mind knowing that you’re financially and legally safeguarded.