Often students and instructors are unsure about the validity of information presented to them, in the Martial Arts and especially Karate in particular. TKGB is determined to be as open and honest as possible and to this end we have laid down some FAQs which will hopefully help you, whether a student or an instructor. Even if you are not thinking of joining TKGB we hope they are useful to you.

Q1: Must I be a member of a National Governing Body affiliated to and recognised by the Sports Council if I practice traditional Karate?
Q2: Does my parent association have to belong to a National Governing Body (NGB)?
Q3: What about Sport England requirements?
Q4: My local authority asked if I am a member of a governing body. Do I need to be affiliated to a NGB to use their premises?
Q5: Can the Sports Council, Local Authority or Sport England or anyone else for that matter, insist on membership?
Q6: Can my Local Authority insist on my holding only valid NGB-issued Coaching Qualifications before allowing me to use their premises?
Q7: Does the Sports Council or any Sports Council recognised NGB regulate Karate?
Q8: What should I do if an organisation, local council or local authority is insisting on membership to a NGB?

 

Q1: Must I be a member of a National Governing Body (NGB) affiliated to and recognised by the Sports Council if I practice traditional Karate?

A: No, you can decide which group you belong to, if any. There are a number of different martial arts which are not recognised by the sports council, and even if there was a SC-Approved National Governing Body for your discipline, it is currently not mandatory for you to be a member even if you are an instructor. There are a number of Governing Bodies which can cater for some of your needs as a karateka. TKGB is specifically for Traditional Karate.

Q2: Does my parent association have to belong to a National Governing Body?

A: No, but the chances are your association will probably choose which Governing Body best represents it and reflects its objectives. If your association is involved in Sport Karate, it may need to join the NGB for Karate but if it is not involved in sport karate then it can pick and choose which GB best serves its members.

Q3: What about Sport England requirements?

A: SE requirements are not law and are only generally concerned with participation in Olympic Sports, playing Sport Karate or receiving Government Funding. So if your karate is unconcerned with sporting content, then there is no need to belong to a National Governing Body which is Sports Council/Sport England recognised. You can choose the one which best represents your needs. TKGB has been established to answer the specific needs of the traditional karate fraternity and is run on the basis that members genuinely have a say in how it is run and developed.

Q4: My local authority asked if I am a member of a governing body. Do I need to be affiliated to a NGB to use their premises?

A: Local authorities currently cannot insist you are a member of any governing body. If you can prove you can teach traditional Karate by use of grading certificates and/or coaching qualifications then by law they cannot discriminate against you. You should have things such as insurance in place and CRB Disclosure, but by law, a Local Authority cannot dictate that you must belong to a Sport England National Governing Body.

Q5: Can the Sports Council, Local Authority or Sport England or anyone else for that matter, insist on membership?

A: No. This would contravene the law. You should be able to choose which organisation if any, you belong to. However if you wish to play Sport Karate, then you may have to join a Sport England/Sports Council recognised National Governing Body to be permitted to compete. If you don't wish to compete, then you don't have to join a NGB. TKGB is only concerned with Traditional Karate and not Sport Karate so this has no relevance. You are free to choose with whom to affiliate.

Q6: Can my Local Authority insist on my holding only valid NGB-issued Coaching Qualifications before allowing me to use their premises?

A: No. Apart from having a Duty of Care towards those whom you teach, currently there are no LEGAL requirements for teaching martial arts. Naturally, you should provide your students with Liability Insurance and as an instructor you should have Professional Indemnity cover too and CRB disclosure, and the LA are likely to insist on these. To get insurance, it is likely you will need to produce something like a black belt certificate issued by a known organisation or a Coaching and/or 1st Aid certificate, before you will be insured. TKGB will be developing an Instructor Qualification Programme which will promote best practice and maintain high standards in traditional karate. Qualifications are planned to conform to a nationally recognised body so that nobody can call your qualifications into question.

Q7: Does the Sports Council or any Sports Council recognised NGB regulate Karate?

A: No - Karate is unregulated. One of the reasons the TKGB was formed was to provide a structure so those who take part in Traditional Karate can govern and regulate themselves, by setting their own non-prescriptive advisory standards.

Q8: What should I do if an organisation, local council or local authority is insisting on membership to a NGB?

A: Ask them to put it in writing and then approach a solicitor for advice. This would be unlawful and discriminatory and you may be entitled to take legal action.

If you have any further questions that are not answered above plaese contact us HERE.