Policies - Martial Arts Industry Association

THE MARTIAL ARTS
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

“Self regulation through better education”

MAIA Policies

The policies of the Martial Arts Industry Association are designed to ensure a high level of professionalism within the martial arts industry in Australia and to ensure that martial arts organisations and their instructors are able to operate with current acceptable community and legal standards.

1. Definition

1.1 For the purpose of the following policies, Martial arts will include, any system of fighting or self-defence, historical, contemporary or sportive whether performed in combative terms with other practitioners or in isolation, in competitive or non-competitive expressions utilising empty hand techniques or weapons (excluding firearms). In short, martial art is any combative related activity involving empty hands or weapons that is performed in sportive or non-sportive expressions.

2. Membership

2.1 Membership of the MAIA is open to any bona fide martial arts related organisation, school, Academy, retailer, promoter, or media organisation based in Australia; including Australian representatives based in Australia of international martial arts organisations. For criteria applicable to each category of membership, refer the Members page of our web site.

3. Instructor accreditation

3.1 Martial arts instructor accreditation is available to all bona fide martial arts instructors

3.2 Martial Arts instructors must hold one or more of the recognized martial arts instructor accreditations as listed on the Instructor Accreditation page of our web site.

3.3 Membership of the MAIA is a requirement to access our accreditation courses.

4. Codes of Practice

4.1.1 Members of the MAIA and accredited instructors shall comply with the National Code of Practice for Martial Arts Centres And Martial Arts Instructors. In addition, members in the categories of Martial Arts Event Promoters and Martial Arts Retail Outlets/Importers must comply with their respective codes, namely: the Code of Practice for Martial Art Event Promoters and Tournament Organisers; or the Code of Practice for Martial Arts Retailers.

4.1.2 All codes of practice are available for download from the Publications and Forms page of our web site.

5. Prohibited Weapons

5.1 The MAIA supports the position of the Australian Police Ministers’ Council calling for uniform National Prohibited Weapons Legislations.

5.2 The MAIA position is that the interests of the general community, government and the martial arts industry are best served by either a ‘prohibited weapons permit’ system (as already implemented in the ACT, Victoria and NSW), said permits to only be issued to ‘accredited martial arts instructors’ or where ‘prohibited’ or ‘controlled’ weapons are able to be possessed by Martial arts practitioners, tin this case a martial arts practitioner will be defined, by regulation, as someone who is an accredited martial arts practitioner.

6. Harassment & Discrimination

6.1 The MAIA fully endorses the policies contained within the Harassment-Free Sport Strategy developed by the Australian Sports Commission. See http://www.activeaustralia.org/hfs/

7. Children in Martial Arts

7.1 The MAIA Policy on Child Safety is available from the Publications and Forms page our web site http//www.maia.com.au

8. Infectious Disease

8.1 The MAIA endorses the Sports Medicine Australia “Infectious Disease Policy” and “Blood Rules OK” document. See http://www.sma.org.au/smapolicies.htm

9. Pregnancy

10. Insurance

10.1 Martial Arts instructors must be covered by appropriate levels of Public Liability and Professional Indemnity insurance.

11. Use of MAIA logo and company name

11.1 The MAIA logo and company name may only be used by a member in the following advertising/promotions/correspondence contexts:

11.2 to state that the member is a member of the organisation eg: John Smith’s martial arts school is a member of the MAIA

11.3 to state that a particular member is accredited by the MAIA eg: John Smith Accredited Instructor MAIA

11.4 the MAIA logo and name may be used on club/academy/school letterheads provided that its size and prominence is smaller than the name of the club/academy school appearing on the letterhead and the words “member MAIA” or “member Martial Arts Industry Association Inc. ARBN 110 253 300” and no others are used.

11.5 Any other use of the MAIA logo or company name, without the written permission of the Executive, is not permitted.

11.6 No member may issue a press release on behalf of the MAIA without the written approval of the Executive.

11.7 No member may claim or advertise that they occupy an administrative position within the MAIA unless the Executive has ratified that position, in writing.

11.8 No personal/history backgrounds of individual martial arts instructors will be included in any MAIA press release unless authorised by the MAIA Executive in writing.

12. Venue Hirers – Accredited instructors only policy

12.1 The progressive introduction of an accreditation requirement for any Martial arts instructor who wishes to hire a venue/ hall/ facility for the purposes of providing martial arts instruction. It is the intention of the MAIA that this policy be implemented over a 5 Year period and will include, but not be limited to, all church, council, Community and school halls as well as PCYC’s, YMCA’s etc. This will be accomplished on a State by State basis via:

Broad based media / public awareness and education campaigns highlighting the ‘Code of Conduct’ and the need for general consumers to only use ‘accredited instructors’
The alignment of all hall and venue providers to an ‘accredited martial arts instructors only’ policy
The assistance of the appropriate government departments and agencies in promoting, supporting and facilitating the ‘accredited martial arts instructors only’ program