Martial Arts Insurance Policy Information

Martial Arts Insurance. Physical injuries are always a possibility in any discipline or sport where there is aggressive contact between players and participants.
Oftentimes, martial arts students are just kids, and they are even more prone to become injured than adults, sometimes with such devastating injuries that they have long-term effects for their rest of their lives.
Martial arts instructors and businesses have very concise needs for insurance, due to the inherent perils of the business. Protecting your martial arts business means buying insurance in sufficient amounts of martial arts insurance to put up a safeguard against potential claims and liabilities as well as general perils, such as fire and theft.
Martial arts insurance protects your business from lawsuits with rates as low as $57/mo. Get a fast quote and your certificate of insurance now.
Below are some answers to commonly asked martial arts insurance questions:
- What Is Martial Arts Insurance?
- How Much Does Martial Arts Insurance Cost?
- Why Do Martial Arts Dojos Need Insurance?
- What Type Of Insurance Do Martial Arts Insutrctors Need?
- What Are The Most Risky Marital Arts Styles For Injuries?
- What Does Martial Arts Insurance Cover & Pay For?
What Is Martial Arts Insurance?
Martial arts insurance is a type of insurance specifically designed for martial arts schools, instructors, and practitioners. It provides coverage for injuries and accidents that may occur during training or competition, as well as liability protection for the school or instructor in the event of a lawsuit.
The coverage typically includes medical expenses for injuries sustained during training, as well as lost income for instructors or practitioners who are unable to work due to an injury. Liability coverage may include protection for wrongful acts, such as negligence or defamation, and may also cover property damage and third-party injuries.
Martial arts insurance is often required by martial arts organizations and competitions, and is recommended for any school or instructor to have in place to protect against potential financial losses. It can also provide peace of mind for students and parents, knowing that they are protected in the event of an accident or injury.
Overall, martial arts insurance is a necessary and important investment for anyone involved in the martial arts community, as it provides financial protection and peace of mind for all parties involved.
How Much Does Martial Arts Insurance Cost?
The average price of a standard $1,000,000/$2,000,000 General Liability Insurance policy for small martial arts businesses ranges from $57 to $89 per month based on location, style, size, payroll, sales and experience.
Why Do Martial Arts Dojos Need Insurance?

Martial arts dojos, also known as training centers, offer classes and training in a variety of martial arts disciplines, and they play a vital role in promoting fitness, self-defense and overall well-being. However, owning and operating a martial arts dojo comes with certain risks and potential liabilities, which is why insurance is essential.
One of the main reasons why martial arts dojos need insurance is to protect against accidents and injuries. As with any sport or physical activity, there is a risk of injury, whether it is from slips and falls, collisions, or even medical emergencies. Having insurance coverage can help to mitigate the financial burden of medical expenses or lawsuits that may arise from accidents.
Another important reason why martial arts dojos need insurance is to cover damage or losses to the facility itself, such as equipment breakdowns, or natural disasters like fires, storms, or floods. Insurance can also cover the damages caused by people inside the dojo that may unintentionally or intentionally damage the equipment and infrastructure.
Furthermore, martial arts dojos also need insurance to cover liabilities such as wrongful termination, discrimination or harassment, as well as environmental hazards that may occur on the property. This type of insurance provides protection for the dojo owners and their employees in case of legal actions against them.
Overall, martial arts dojos need insurance for a variety of reasons to protect against potential losses, damages and liabilities. Without insurance coverage, the dojo owners and employees may be at risk of significant financial burden, and the public may not feel safe and secure in the premises. Insurance helps to ensure that the dojo is able to continue operating and providing services without worrying about financial losses.
What Type Of Insurance Do Martial Arts Insutrctors Need?
If you own a martial arts studio in or have plans to expand by opening a new one, protecting your business' interests and your employees and equipment is an essential part of the process. Most studios should look for martial arts insurance:
General liability insurance. This sort of martial arts insurance provides coverage for claims that result from accidental injury on the premises. Liability lawsuits can be quite excessive, so you should choose the limits of your policy based on how many people you normally train and the number of staff you employ, among other factors
Worker's compensation insurance. This is a necessary insurance that you must provide if you have any employees working for you. Check with your licensed agent to make sure that you are compliant with the laws in your area and that you are fully protected against injuries or illnesses caused by work-related activities.
Umbrella insurance. This is an additional type of liability insurance that protects your studio against claims that exceed the limits of your normal policy. It is usually quite budget-friendly and provides an additional reduction in your risk exposure.
Property insurance. Cover the contents of your dojo and the building in which your business is lodged with property insurance. Check to see that you're covered in the events of severe weather, fire, and other perils. You may need a separate flood insurance policy, since most property insurance policies do not cover flooding.
Coverage for tournament action. If you take your students to another facility or host tournaments at your studio, then check out separate martial arts insurance coverage for the possible accidents and injuries that may result.
What Are The Most Risky Marital Arts Styles For Injuries?
Students undergoing martial arts training can become severely injured, leaving your business liable. Concussions and injuries to the nose, ears, eyes, and head are common. Neck injuries, injuries to the skin, and broken extremities are also possible.
Oftentimes these types of injuries heal up without causing a lasting effect, but others cause lifelong problems and necessitate the martial art student taking therapy and rehab for long periods of time to regain their full functioning.
Due to the high number of injuries in martial arts training, it makes a lot of sense for any dojo to look into protection with proper martial arts insurance.
Individual instructors who work in martial arts facilities but do not own them should also make sure they are protected, since they can be named individually in a suit if they are responsible for injury.
Of all martial arts disciplines, some stick out as the worst offenders when it comes to the number of injuries experienced by participants. A British study compared five different martial arts disciplines to determine which of them had the highest rates of participants requiring time off due to injuries.
If you operate a martial arts studio that engages in any of these particular disciplines, you definitely need to consider martial arts insurance to protect your business from liability if the unexpected happens.
The study found that among the various disciplines, these were the most likely to result in injuries and time off due to injuries: tae kwon do (injury rate of 59 percent), Aikido (injury rate of 51 percent), Kung Fu (injury rate of 38 percent), karate (injury rate of 30 percent), and Tai chi (injury rate of 14 percent).
Just one injury can be enough for an uninsured studio to find itself shutting the doors and closing up shop due to litigation and financial awards paid to the injured.
As you can see from the study, even with martial arts that involve very little physical contact, such as Tai Chi, there is still a significant number of injuries. According to the study, students also tend to be at a higher rate of injury as their martial arts training progresses.
What Does Martial Arts Insurance Cover & Pay For?

Martial Arts dojos can be sued for a variety of reasons, some of the most common include:
Personal injury: A student or visitor may sustain an injury during training or while on the premises of the dojo. For example, they may trip and fall on a poorly maintained floor, or suffer a sprain or strain during a sparring session.
Insurance coverage: General liability insurance can cover the costs of defending against a lawsuit and paying for any settlements or judgments.
Sexual harassment: If an instructor or other employee engages in inappropriate conduct of a sexual nature, such as making unwelcome advances or comments, they could be sued for sexual harassment.
Insurance coverage: Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) can provide coverage for claims related to sexual harassment or other employment-related issues.
Discrimination: Dojos may be sued for discrimination based on age, gender, race, or other factors.
Insurance coverage: EPLI can also cover discrimination claims, as well as claims related to wrongful termination or retaliation.
Property damage: A student or visitor may damage the property of the dojo, such as breaking a piece of equipment or causing damage to the building.
Insurance coverage: Property damage liability insurance can cover the costs of repairing or replacing damaged property.
Breach of contract: If a dojo fails to deliver on promised services or breaches a contract with a student or other party, they could be sued for breach of contract.
Insurance coverage: Errors and omissions insurance (also known as professional liability insurance) can provide coverage for claims related to breach of contract or other professional errors or omissions.
In general, martial arts dojos can protect themselves from lawsuits by obtaining appropriate insurance coverage. It's important for dojo owners to work with a reputable insurance agent to identify potential risks and obtain the right types and amounts of coverage to protect their business. In the event of a lawsuit, insurance can help pay for legal fees, settlements, and judgments, which can be extremely costly and could put the dojo out of business if not adequately covered.
Commercial Insurance And Business Industry Classification
- SIC CODE: 7999 Amusement and Recreation Services, Not Elsewhere Classified
- NAICS CODE: 611620 - Sports and Recreation Instruction
- Suggested Workers Compensation Code(s): 9063 Health or Exercise Institute & Clerical
Description for 7999: Amusement and Recreation Services, Not Elsewhere Classified
Division I: Services | Major Group 79: Amusement And Recreation Services | Industry Group 799: Miscellaneous Amusement And Recreation
7999 Amusement and Recreation Services, Not Elsewhere Classified: Establishments primarily engaged in the operation of sports, amusement, and recreation services, not elsewhere classified, such as bathing beaches, swimming pools, riding academies and schools, carnival operation, exposition operation, horse shows, picnic grounds operation, rental of rowboats and canoes, and shooting galleries.
- Aerial tramways, amusement or scenic
- Amusement concessions
- Amusement rides
- Animal shows in circuses, fairs, and carnivals
- Archery ranges, operation of
- Astrologers
- Baseball instruction schools
- Basketball instruction schools
- Bath houses, independently operated
- Bathing beaches, public
- Betting information services
- Billiard parlors
- Bingo parlors
- Boat rental, pleasure
- Boats, party fishing: operation of
- Bookies
- Bookmakers, race
- Bowling instruction
- Bridge club, nonmembership
- Bridge instruction
- Cable lifts, amusement or scenic: operated separately from lodges
- Canoe rental
- Card rooms
- Carnival operation
- Cave operation
- Circus companies
- Concession operators, amusement devices and rides
- Day camps
- Exhibition operation
- Exposition operation
- Fairs, agricultural: operation of
- Fireworks display service
- Fishing piers ant lakes, operation of
- Fortune tellers
- Gambling establishments not primarily operating coin-operated
- Gambling machines, except coin-operated operation of
- Game parlors, except coin-operated
- Games, teaching of
- Gocart raceway operation
- Gocart rentals
- Golf courses, miniature operation of
- Golf driving ranges
- Golf professionals not operating retail stores
- Golf, pitch-n-putt
- Gymnastics instruction
- Handball courts, except membership club
- Horse shows
- Houseboat rentals
- Hunting guides
- Ice skating rink operation
- Judo instruction
- Karate instruction
- Lifeguard service
- Lotteries, operation of
- Lottery club and ticket sales to individuals
- Moped rental
- Motorcycle rental
- Natural wonders, tourist attraction: commercial
- Observation tower operation
- Off-track betting
- Pack trains for amusement
- Parachute training for pleasure
- Phrenologists
- Picnic grounds operation
- Ping pong parlors
- Pool parlors
- Racquetball courts, except membership clubs
- Rental of beach chairs and accessories
- Rental of bicycles
- Rental of golf carts
- Rental of rowboats and canoes
- Rental of saddle horses
- Riding academies and schools
- Riding stables
- River rafting, operation of
- Rodeo animal rental
- Rodeos, operation of
- Roller skating rink operation
- Scenic railroads for amusement
- Schools and camps, sports instructional
- Scuba and skin diving instruction
- Shooting galleries
- Shooting ranges, operation of
- Skating instruction, ice or roller
- Skeet shooting facilities, except membership clubs
- Ski instruction
- Ski lifts, cable lifts, and ski tows operated separately from lodges
- Ski rental concessions
- Slot-car racetracks
- Sporting goods rental
- Sports instructors, professional: golf, skiing, swimming, etc.
- Sports professionals
- Swimming instruction
- Swimming pools, except membership
- Tennis clubs, nonmembership
- Tennis courts, outdoor and indoor operation of, nonmembership
- Tennis professionals
- Ticket sales offices for sporting events, contract
- Tourist attractions, natural wonder commercial
- Tourist guides
- Trampoline operation
- Trapshooting facilities, except membership club
- Waterslides, operation of
- Wave pools, operation of
- Wax figure exhibitions
- Yoga instruction
Martial Arts Insurance - The Bottom Line
Get martial arts insurance coverage to protect your business from financial claims and lawsuits is essential to ensuring your business' ongoing health and success.
Additional Resources For Sports & Fitness Insurance
Learn about small business sports & fitness insurance policies and what they cover so that your customers, employees, and equipment are protected.
- Golf Course & Country Club
- Gym Fitness
- Hole-In-One Insurance
- Ice Skating Rinks
- Martial Arts
- Pilates
- Professional Sports
- Sports Team
- Swim Clubs
- Yoga Teacher
- Specialty Sports And Hobbies

The sports and fitness industry is a high-risk industry that requires insurance to protect businesses and individuals from unexpected accidents and injuries. This is especially important for businesses that offer physical activities or equipment, as they are more likely to face lawsuits if a customer is injured while participating in their services.
Additionally, the sports and fitness industry often involves high-value equipment and facilities that need to be protected from damages caused by natural disasters, vandalism, or theft. Commercial insurance can provide coverage for these types of losses, ensuring that businesses are able to continue operating and providing services to their customers.
Business insurance also plays a critical role in protecting the personal health and safety of those participating in sports and fitness activities. Accidents and injuries can occur at any time, and having the right insurance coverage can provide financial protection for medical expenses, lost wages, and other related costs.
Overall, the sports and fitness industry needs insurance to safeguard businesses and individuals from the risks and challenges that come with providing physical activities and equipment. Without insurance, the industry would be vulnerable to significant financial and legal losses, which could ultimately harm its ability to thrive and grow.
Minimum recommended small business insurance coverage: Building, Business Personal Property, Business Income and Extra Expense, Employee Dishonesty, Money and Securities, Accounts Receivable, Bailees, Computers, Contractors' Equipment, Golf Carts, Valuable Papers and Records, General Liability, Employee Benefits, Environmental Impairment, Umbrella, Hired and Non-owned Auto & Workers Compensation.
Other commercial insurance policies to consider: Earthquake, Equipment Breakdown, Flood, Mobile Equipment, Cyber Liability, Employment-related Practices, Liquor Liability, Business Automobile Liability and Physical Damage, Garagekeepers, Stop Gap Liability and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) (Drones).