you must always ask to see evidence and the instructor should have a checkable record and hold national qualifications.
All legitimate instructors,clubs,schools,academies and associations will not be offended if asked for proof by a member of the public.
If the instructor in question has not provided you with the following give them 2 weeks to produce the evidence as instructors dont always carry them with them at all times
if the instructor in question has still not produced after this period then they probably do not have the qualifications to teach
OWNING & WEARING A BLACKBELT DOES NOT QUALIFY THEM AS AN INSTRUCTOR
1. ASK TO SEE DAN GRADE CERTIFICATION
THIS SHOULD HAVE THE ASSOCIATIONS NAME ON
NOT THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL YOU ARE ABOUT TO JOIN
CHECK THE CERTIFICATE NUMBER
CONTACT THE RELIVANT DEPARTMENT
TO ENSURE THIS MATCHES THEIR RECORDS
ASK THE INSTRUCTOR HOW LONG THEY HAVE BEEN TEACHING
DAN GRADES SHOULD BE EQUIVALANT TO YEARS AFTER 1ST DAN
1ST DAN TO 2ND DAN 2 YEARS
2ND DAN TO 3RD DAN A FURTHER 3 YEARS AND SO ON
FREESTYLE SCHOOLS TAKE DAN GRADES EVERY 2 YEARS +
MOST PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS HAVE A GRADING SYLLABUS
AT THE VERY LEAST 3 YEARS TO 1ST DAN BLACKBELT
A.K.K.A IS 4 YEARS MINIMUM
DAN GRADES UPTO 3RD DAN REQUIRE EXAMINATION
AFTER THIS THE DAN GRADES NEED TO BE APPROVED WITH ACCREDITATION LETTERS AND AWARDED BY A GOVERNING BODY
2. ASK TO SEE PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE CERTIFICATE
THIS CERTIFICATE SHOULD HAVE THE INSURERS COMPANY NAME AND GIVES DETAILS ON COVER THIS SHOULD BE £5M AS STANDARD
A POLICY STATING £2M ?
USUALLY RESERVED FOR ASSISTANT INSTRUCTORS
COVERING A SENIOR INSTRUCTOR WHILE THEY ARE ON HOLIDAY ETC
THIS TYPE OF POLICY
USUALLY COVERS THE ASSISTANT INSTRUCTOR NO MORE THAN 6 TRAINING SESSIONS PER YEAR
3. ASK TO SEE FIRST AID CERTIFICATE
CHECK THE CERTIFICATE IS IN DATE AS STANDARDS IN FIRST AID ARE CONSTANTLY IMPROVING AND SHOULD BE STAMPED WITH A HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE LOGO AND CERTIFICATE NUMBER THIS CERTIFICATE SHOULD BE RENEWED EVERY 3 YEARS
THIS IS LAW
4. ASK TO SEE HEALTH & SAFETY CERTIFICATE
THIS CERTIFICATE SHOULD BE A CHARTED INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH & HSE APPROVED WITH CERTIFICATE NUMBER AND THE NAME OF INSTRUCTOR
CHECK THE DATE
THIS CERTIFICATE NEEDS TO BE RENEWED EVERY 3 YEARS
THIS IS LAW
5. ASK TO SEE INSTRUCTORS CERTIFICATE
THIS CERTIFICATE SHOULD BE CIEH & HSE APPROVED NOT JUST A CERTIFICATE FROM A CLUB OR ASSOCIATION
SHOULD HAVE CERTIFICATE NUMBER
CHECK THE DATE
THIS CERTIFICATE NEEDS TO BE RENEWED EVERY 3 YEARS
6. ASK TO SEE SENIOR COACHING CERTIFICATE
THIS CERTIFICATE SHOULD BE CIEH & HSE APPROVED NOT JUST A CERTIFICATE FROM A CLUB OR ASSOCIATION
SHOULD HAVE CERTIFICATE NUMBER
CHECK THE DATE
THIS CERTIFICATE NEEDS TO BE RENEWED EVERY 3 YEARS
7. ASK TO SEE CHILD PROTECTION CERTIFICATE
THIS CERTIFICATE SHOULD BE CIEH & HSE APPROVED NOT JUST A CERTIFICATE FROM A CLUB OR ASSOCIATION
SHOULD HAVE CERTIFICATE NUMBER
CHECK THE DATE
THIS CERTIFICATE NEEDS TO BE RENEWED EVERY 3 YEARS
8. ASK TO SEE CRIMINAL RECORDS ENHANCED DISCLOSURE CRB
ALL INSTRUCTORS COACHES ETC MUST HAVE THIS CRB
IF TEACHING CHILDREN
DO NOT LET YOUR CHILD TRAIN WITHOUT VIEWING
ALL SCHOOLS MUST HAVE THIS FOR ALL THEIR INSTRUCTORS COACHES & HELPERS
THIS IS LAW
9. ASK THE INSTRUCTORS AGE
IMPORTANT SO YOU CAN WORK OUT DAN GRADES
TIME SERVED FROM BEGINNER ETC
UNDER THE AGE OF 18?
JUNIOR INSTRUCTORS CAN ONLY ASSIST A SENIOR INSTRUCTOR
THEY CAN NOT BE LEFT TO RUN A CLUB
AS IT IS ILLEGAL TO TEACH WITHOUT PUBLIC LIABILTY INSURANCE AND THE MINIMUM AGE FOR THIS INSURANCE IS 18 YEARS OF AGE
IF ANY OF THE ABOVE CAN NOT BE PROVIDED WITHIN 2 WEEKS
ASK YOURSELF IF YOU REALLY WANT TO JOIN
COWBOY CLUBS THREATEN ALL LEGITIMATE MARTIAL ARTS
SCHOOLS, CLUBS, ACADEMIES AND ASSOCIATIONS
MANY INSTRUCTORS CLAIM
THEY HAVE BEEN TEACHING FOR YEARS
DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS
THEY HAVE A DUTY OF CARE TO YOU
ALL THE ABOVE IS THEIR DUTY OF CARE THIS IS LAW