Martial Arts Insurance for Instructors, Schools, Gym & Business

There are 21,339 martial arts schools and 13,025 martial arts instructors in the United States. The median income of martial arts instructors is 19.48 per hour or $40,510 per year. On the other hand, martial arts schools earn as much as $14,000 per year in small cities up to $100,000 a year in big cities. 

Many want to learn martial arts in the United States. The most recent data shows that there are at least 3.42 million people, ages 6 years old and older, who are enrolled at dojos.  With that said, martial arts schools and martial arts instructors teach a lot of people. The problem with teaching many people is that exposures resulting in legal liability and financial loss are more likely to happen. And so, it’s best to have martial art insurance as immediate protection. 

Also read: 

• Personal Trainer Liability Insurance: Cost & Quotes From $11

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Martial Arts Insurance

Martial arts insurance is a collective term for specific insurance products that provide protection against the exposures associated with teaching karate, mixed martial arts (MMA), Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Muay Thai, and Aikido. 

Also, insurance for martial arts is available as business insurance for martial arts instructors, gyms, schools, clubs, and studios.  This bundles liability insurance and commercial property insurance for more comprehensive protection.   Also, martial arts business insurance allows for customization so that the policyholder has control over premiums, policy limit, and exposures covered. 

Martial Arts Liability Insurance

The most common martial arts liability insurance instructors and schools get are general liability and professional liability insurance. 

General liability insurance offers protection when a student files a personal injury claim or property damage claim against the instructor or the school’s management. A martial arts instructor or martial arts school can face legal liability for any injuries or property damage a student experiences during a sparring session or during the demonstration.  

Having general liability insurance will be extremely helpful. Settlement for property damage can be as costly as $100,000.  As for personal injuries, it depends on which body part was affected. And so, here’s a table that outlines the cost:

Professional liability insurance, on the other hand, will apply if a student files a lawsuit against the martial arts instructor or martial arts school by reason of negligence.  Negligence claims mostly happen when:

• When there’s failure to assist the student during training

• The instructor or school didn’t take into account the difficulty of the lesson with regards to the student’s health 

• A student got severely injured during a sparring session because of faulty safety gear

• The instructor or school failed to assess an injury the student experienced during training

Negligence lawsuits against martial arts instructors and martial schools can be costly. The settlement is $30,000 – $100,000 or more  without insurance. 

Public Liability Insurance for Martial Arts Business

What if curious guests visit a martial arts gym, decide to give it a try, and end up injured? Will professional liability or general liability in martial arts gym insurance provide coverage? The answer is no. The policy that will take care of claims from visitors and other entities not directly associated with the martial arts gym is public liability insurance for martial arts business

Can Martial Arts Clubs and Organizations Get Insurance?

Martial arts clubs and organizations can get insured through martial arts club insurance or business insurance for martial arts. Policies included in insurance for martial art clubs and organizations are:

• Property insurance

• General liability insurance

• Professional liability insurance

• Directors and officers liability insurance

• Public liability insurance

Remember that carriers require the following from anyone who wishes to qualify for martial arts club insurance:

• The organization or club must have 20 members or more

• The organization or club must be registered to federal or state agencies

• The organization or club must provide proof of non-fraudulent or non-terrorist activity

• The organization or club must provide a copy of its constitution and by-laws as well as its organizational structure

Try to check out the martial arts club insurance of Protectivity.  A lot of customers opt to work with this company because its policies are underwritten by AXA XL. Also, Protectivity insures 150 types of martial arts clubs.

Can Self-Defense Instructors Get Insured With Martial Arts Insurance? 

Before giving the answer, allow us to clarify one thing: martial arts instructors can be self-defense instructors whereas self-defense instructors may or may not be martial arts instructors . Some self-defense instructors teach karate, taekwondo, or any other combat sports as self-defense. While others teach conventional hand-to-hand combat or weapons handling. The perfect example is military veterans who are teaching self-defense. 

Self-defense instructors that teach martial arts can get insured through martial arts insurance. However, those that teach weapons handling or hand-to-hand combat can only get insured through self defense instructor insurance, which has:

• General liability

• Products and completed operations

• Damage to rented property

• Professional liability

The policy limit of the coverages in self defense instructor insurance is $1 million up to $5 million. But understand that having a greater policy limit will result in expensive premiums.

Note that insurance for self-defense instructors is available as a short-term policy or per session only policy. To decide which to get, it’s best to consult websites that allow for self-defense insurance comparison such as CoverWallet, GoCompare, and Zebra. 

Martial Arts School Insurance vs. Martial Arts Instructor Insurance

Martial arts instructor insurance only offers liability coverage. In addition, a customer can opt to get it as a short-term policy that only lasts for hours, days, or months.  

Martial arts school insurance doesn’t only offer liability coverage but also other policies that offer protection against business interruption, lawsuits from employees, and damage to business property.

Martial arts instructor insurance is best for those who get paid by dojos to do sessions. As for those who are running their own martial arts dojo, it’s better to purchase insurance for martial arts schools. 

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Martial Arts Insurance Cost

• Martial arts insurance for instructors costs $43 a month or $516 a year for a $1 million general liability policy

• Martial arts clubs and organizations pay $86 a month or $1,032 a year for a $1 million general liability policy 

• Martial arts insurance cost for large martial arts studios is $295 a month or 3,548 a year for a $1 million general liability policy

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Best Martial Arts Insurance Companies

Are you not sure which insurance company to choose and what are factors to consider? To help you, this section discusses the best martial arts insurance companies and what they offer through martial arts insurance reviews. Read to know their pros, cons, and pricing for a $1 million general liability coverage. 

CoverWallet Martial Arts Insurance

Why Get Insured by CoverWallet?

• Fast quote comparison online
• Affordable
• Easily claims processing and policy management
• Operated by AON, an insurance carrier

Why Take CoverWallet with a Grain of Salt?

• CoverWallet is not an insurance company and offers the policies of its partners

Coverwallet Insurance has been in operation for many years and is now an AON company. The company offers martial arts insurance quote comparison online services from leading carriers. With Coverwallet, you will enjoy tailored martial arts insurance coverage at great rates that will protect your business against any claims.

Coverwallet offers martial arts insurance quotes comparison online for both general and professional liability insurance for martial arts, as well as all other possible policy types, like commercial vehicle insurance, workers compensation, commercial property insurance, and business owners policy.

Thimble Martial Arts Insurance

Why Get Insured by Thimble?

• AffordableFlexible monthly payment options
• Tailored on-demand policies starting from 1 hour with an initial cost of $5
• Comprehensive business insurance coverage

Why Take Thimble with a Grain of Salt?

• Claim responsiveness could be slow at times

Thimble Insurance Company is known for its tailored on-demand business insurance coverage options. Thimble Insurance has high membership thanks to its innovative products, reliability, online accessibility, and steadfastness.> Thimble offers different types of martial arts business insurance coverage. Apart from general liability insurance, Thimble offers tailored professional liability insurance for martial arts studios at affordable rates.

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Karate Insurance

Martial arts insurance can be categorized into different types based on which combat sports its terms apply. Let’s talk about karate insurance first, which offers karate liability insurance and property insurance. This policy is great for those who teach:

• Shotokan

• Gojo-Ryu

• Uechi-Ryu

• Wado-Ryu

• Shorin-Ryu

• Kyokushin

• Shito-Ryu

• Ashihara

• Chito-Ryu

• Enshin

• Kishimoto-di

Karate instructor insurance has general liability and professional liability coverages. The policy limit starts at $1 million up to $2 million. Personal injuries it covers are fractures, contusions, sprains, and strains.

Karate school insurance offers commercial property coverage, directors and officers liability coverage, and commercial auto insurance aside from general and professional liability coverage. The policy limit of commercial property coverage is $1 million for damage to business structures and $100,000 for equipment breakdown. Directors and officers liability provides a $1 million policy limit for attorney fees, other legal costs, and compensation for damages. Commercial auto insurance has the same policy limit as director’s and officer’s liability.

Where to Get Karate Insurance Quotes in The USA?

• Nationwide

• Markel

• Idea Health and Fitness Association

• Sports Cover Direct

BJJ Insurance (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Insurance)

Sometimes, Jiu-Jitsu instructors and schools might find it difficult to qualify for a generic martial arts insurance as the combat sport is riskier as compared to Karate or Taekwondo. And so, going for a specialized Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu insurance that accounts for the unique exposures associated with BJJ is the only option. Coverage in Jiu-Jitsu insurance are:

• General liability

• Professional liability

• Commercial property

General liability coverage in BJJ (Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu insurance) provides compensation for cauliflower ear, spinal injury, knee injury, neck injury, and torn tendons and ligaments. Professional liability covers instances of wrongful death. Finally, commercial property covers Jiu Jitsu equipment such as groin protectors, ear protectors, knee pads, and grappling gloves.

Where to Get Jiu-Jitsu Insurance Quotes in The USA?

• Camp Team

• Nationwide

• Thimble

Mixed Martial Arts Insurance

MMA and BJJ are not the same. And so, BJJ insurance can’t cater to the exposures MMA schools and instructors face.

Mixed martial arts insurance has the best protection for MMA schools and instructors. It offers the following policies:

• General liability

• Professional liability

• Equipment Coverage

Having mixed martial arts insurance is very important. Personal injury, property damage, and professional negligence lawsuits cost mixed martial arts instructors and schools $65,000 on average. Also, note that students can easily suffer injuries as MMA’s execution is very rabid and meant to incapacitate the opponent. Also, without insurance, the replacement for MMA equipment can be as expensive as $10,000 or more.

Where to Get MMA Insurance Quotes in The USA?

• K&K Insurance

• Karate Insurance

• Markel

• CoverWallet

Taekwondo Insurance

Taekwondo is one of the most popular martial arts in the United States. Data shows that there are at least 1.5 million – 7 million Americans engaged in Taekwondo sessions held by the American Taekwondo Association and other Taekwondo organizations. And so, carriers offer a specialized insurance program for the exposures associated with this combat sport.

Taekwondo insurance has the following policies:

• Public liability insurance

• Professional liability insurance

• Equipment coverage

• Sexual harassment coverage

Taekwondo insurance can help a lot. On average, personal injury lawsuits against taekwondo studios and taekwondo instructors require compensation of $75,000 up to $135,000. But sexual harassment lawsuits can be more costly. Here’s an example:

• Taekwondo instructor, Marc Scott Gitelman, had to pay $60 million after his three students filed a sexual harassment lawsuit ( source )

Where to Get Taekwondo Insurance Quotes in The USA?

• Protectivity

• Nationwide

• Thimble

• Next

Kung Fu Insurance

Kung Fu insurance is included in standard insurance for martial arts. Schools and instructors that can get protection through insurance are those teaching:

• Wing Chun

• Tai Chi

• Baji Quan

• Baguazhang

• Shaolin Kung Fu

Muay Thai Insurance

Muay Thai involves the use of one’s elbows, knees, knuckles, and legs to defeat an opponent. This martial art from Thailand has its own distinct executions and techniques. Muay Thai instructors face exposures that are unique from the exposures karate instructors or taekwondo instructors face.

Carriers offer specialized Muay Thai insurance for Muay Thai instructors and schools. It includes the following policies:

• Muay Thai studio property insurance

• Muay Thai liability insurance

Muay Thai training is still difficult even though organizations imposed strict regulations to make the combat sport safer for practitioners. Schools and instructors teaching Muay Thai should have Muay Thai insurance because settlement for personal injuries like bruised ribs, sprained wrists, cut head, and damaged teeth can scale up to $146,000 on average.

Where to Get Muay Thai Insurance Quotes in The USA?

• Thimble

• Insure and Go

• Nationwide

Aikido Insurance

Aikido is all about using the strength of one’s enemy to win. Unlike MMA or BJJ, this combat sport isn’t that risky. Nonetheless, injuries can still happen during training, and Aikido instructors and schools can face liability. And so, there are carriers that offer specialized Aikido insurance having:

• General liability coverage

• Professional liability coverage

• Public liability coverage

Interestingly, Aikido insurance also offers lost income coverage if Aikido instructors can’t report to work because of an illness or injury. Through lost income coverage, Aikido insurance can give the policyholder a $1,017 allowance a month.

Carriers also offer a personal accident option, which is useful for Aikido instructors who are worried about the rehabilitation cost of severe injuries.

Where to Get Aikido Insurance Quotes in The USA?

• Sadler Sports

• Markel

• Nationwide

• CoverWallet

• Igomag

Tai Chi Instructor Insurance

Tai Chi is a martial art characterized by slow movements that help to improve focus and control of one’s body. The benefits of Tai Chi include the reduction of muscle pain, knee osteoarthritis, back pain, and management of Parkinson’s disease. And so, it’s no wonder that the elderly look for the help of Tai Chi instructors.

There’s insurance for Tai Chi instructors. Most Tai Chi insurance carriers only offer liability insurance mainly:

• General liability

• Professional liability

• Premises liability

Where to Get Tai-Chi Instructor Insurance in the USA?

• Thimble

• CMF Group

• West Point Insurance

• Namasta

Kickboxing Insurance

Your martial arts insurance program might offer kickboxing insurance coverage. Specific policies that you’ll get are $1 million general liability insurance, $1 million professional liability insurance, and personal accident insurance. Note that only a few insurance companies offer kickboxing coverage in their martial arts insurance as the sport is very perilous. Read the fine print of your policy to see the excluded and included activities. 

Where to Get Kickboxnig Insurance in the USA?

• Markel
• Sadler Sports
• K&K

• Published by S. Lock, & 13, F. (2020, February 13). Martial Arts: Number of participants U.S. 2017. Statista. Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/191917/participants-in-martial-arts-in-the-us-since-2006/
  
• Overview of martial arts schools in the USA. Martial Arts Schools in Dojo Directory. (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://dojos.info/USA/
• Home. Defend Yourself. (n.d.). Retrieved February 6, 2022, from https://defendyourself.org/whats-a-class-like/the-difference-between-martial-arts-self-defense/#: ~: text=SELF%2DDEFENSE%3A%20Teaches%20skills%20to,confidence%20to%20handle%20daily%20situations.