Towergate Insurance Martial Guard, now provided under the Everywhen brand, is a specialist insurance solution designed for martial arts instructors, clubs, associations and dojos across the UK.
Policies can include public and product liability, optional personal accident cover, employers’ liability, directors’ and officers’ liability, dojo insurance and worldwide public liability cover for up to 50 days, depending on the selected policy.
Costs vary according to the type of martial arts activities, indemnity limits, number of members, optional covers and overall risk profile.
Key Takeaways:
- Tailored Protection: Cover is customized specifically for martial arts instructors, clubs, associations, and dedicated dojo premises.
- Core Foundation: Public and product liability form the baseline protection of every standard policy.
- Claims Occurrence Basis: Cover applies as long as an incident happened while the policy was active, even if the legal claim is filed years later.
- Flexible Add-ons: Policyholders can add optional covers like personal accident insurance, employers’ liability, tournament extensions, and building/contents protection.
- Bespoke Pricing: Premiums are individually calculated based on specific criteria like your discipline, number of members, and risk profile, rather than fixed rates.
What Is Towergate Insurance Martial Guard?
Towergate Insurance Martial Guard is a specialist insurance solution developed specifically for the martial arts community.
Although Towergate has rebranded to Everywhen, the experienced team behind MartialGuard continues to provide tailored insurance products for instructors, clubs, associations and martial arts premises throughout the UK.
Unlike standard business insurance, MartialGuard recognises the unique risks involved in teaching and organising martial arts activities.
Instructors regularly work with students of different ages and abilities, organise grading events, attend competitions and hire training venues. Each of these activities introduces different liability exposures that require specialist protection.
Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all policy, MartialGuard allows policyholders to choose indemnity limits and optional cover based on their individual circumstances.
This flexibility makes it suitable for independent instructors as well as larger organisations managing hundreds of members.
For many martial arts professionals, insurance is not simply about meeting venue requirements. It provides financial protection if accidents occur, allegations of negligence arise or property is damaged during organised activities.
Why Has Towergate Insurance Become Everywhen?
Towergate Insurance has transitioned its specialist leisure insurance products, including MartialGuard, to the Everywhen brand.
While the branding has changed, the specialist team, products and experience remain focused on supporting niche sectors such as martial arts.
For existing customers, this means they continue dealing with specialists who understand martial arts risks while benefiting from the wider resources available through Everywhen’s network of specialist insurance brands.
The change also reflects a broader strategy to provide more specialist expertise across multiple industries without fundamentally altering the cover available to martial arts professionals.
Importantly, policyholders should review their documentation whenever renewing or purchasing cover to ensure they understand the policy wording, available extensions and any changes to terms or optional benefits.
Who Needs Towergate Insurance Martial Guard Cover?
Martial arts insurance is designed for far more than full-time instructors. Anyone responsible for organising, supervising or teaching martial arts activities may benefit from specialist protection.
Typical policyholders include:
- Independent instructors
- Assistant instructors
- Martial arts clubs
- National and regional associations
- Dojo owners
- Competition organisers
- Seminar organisers
- Volunteer coaches
- Self-employed martial arts professionals
Each group faces different risks. An instructor teaching several classes every week may require liability insurance with optional personal accident protection, while a club operating its own premises may also need building, contents and business interruption cover.
Selecting the appropriate policy depends on the activities undertaken rather than simply the size of the organisation.
What Does Towergate Insurance Martial Guard Cover?
MartialGuard policies are designed to provide broad protection while allowing customers to tailor cover according to their specific needs.
The core policy generally focuses on liability protection, while additional options can be added to create a more comprehensive insurance package.
Core Liability Protection
Public liability insurance helps protect instructors and organisations if a third party suffers injury or property damage arising from insured martial arts activities.
Product liability insurance extends protection where equipment or products supplied by the insured result in damage or injury.
Policies are written with selected indemnity limits, allowing organisations to choose the level of protection appropriate for their activities and contractual obligations.
Optional Insurance Benefits
Depending on the policy selected, additional protection may include:
- Personal accident cover
- Employers’ liability
- Directors’ and officers’ liability
- Tournament and event extensions
- Member-to-member liability
- Specialist travel insurance
- Dojo insurance
- Business interruption protection
Choosing optional cover allows organisations to build insurance around their actual operational risks rather than paying for unnecessary protection.
How Does Martial Arts Instructor Insurance Work?
Instructor insurance focuses primarily on protecting those who teach martial arts professionally or voluntarily. Teaching inevitably involves physical activity, making liability protection particularly important.
If a participant alleges that an instructor’s negligence caused an injury during a supervised class, public liability insurance may assist with legal defence costs and compensation where the claim falls within the policy terms.
Many instructors also choose to include personal accident insurance. Unlike liability insurance, which responds to claims from others, personal accident cover can provide financial support if the instructor suffers certain specified injuries that prevent them from working.
What Liability Cover Is Available for Martial Arts Clubs and Associations?
Martial arts clubs and associations face broader responsibilities than individual instructors because they often organise regular training sessions, grading events, competitions and seminars involving multiple participants. Their insurance requirements therefore extend beyond basic public liability protection.
A standard MartialGuard policy can be tailored to include public and product liability insurance alongside several optional covers depending on how the club operates.
This flexibility allows organisations to purchase protection that reflects their activities instead of relying on a generic sports insurance policy.
Public liability insurance is generally considered one of the most important sections of the policy because it protects against claims made by third parties who suffer injury or property damage during insured activities.
Many sports halls, leisure centres and community venues also require evidence of public liability insurance before allowing clubs to hire their facilities.
Public and Product Liability
Public liability insurance protects the club if a participant, visitor or member of the public alleges that negligence resulted in injury or property damage during martial arts activities.
Product liability insurance applies where the organisation supplies products such as uniforms, protective equipment or training accessories that later cause injury or damage due to a defect.
Together, these sections provide the foundation of most martial arts insurance programmes and are suitable for organisations of varying sizes.
Employers’ Liability and Directors’ Liability
Clubs employing staff, whether full-time, part-time or temporary, may require employers’ liability insurance.
In the UK, this cover is a legal requirement for most employers and protects against claims brought by employees who are injured or become ill because of their work.
Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance protects committee members, trustees and directors when claims arise from management decisions rather than physical coaching activities.
This can be particularly valuable for larger associations responsible for finances, safeguarding policies and organisational governance.
Member-to-Member and Tournament Cover
Many clubs also choose optional member-to-member liability cover. This extension can provide protection if one participant accidentally injures another during supervised training sessions.
Tournament and event cover may also be added where clubs organise competitions, demonstrations or grading events involving larger audiences and increased operational risks.
As clubs expand, these optional covers often become increasingly valuable because they address situations not always covered under a basic liability policy.
What Personal Accident Cover Can Be Added to a MartialGuard Policy?
Personal accident insurance differs significantly from liability insurance. Rather than protecting against claims made by other people, it is designed to support the insured individual if they suffer certain injuries covered under the policy.
For martial arts instructors, this additional protection can be particularly valuable because their income often depends on being physically able to teach. A serious injury may temporarily prevent them from running classes, delivering seminars or attending grading events.
Depending on the selected policy, personal accident cover may include weekly temporary total disablement benefits, payments for specified broken bones and contributions towards physiotherapy treatment.
Some policies also provide optional 24-hour worldwide protection, meaning cover is not necessarily restricted to organised martial arts activities.
How Does Dojo Insurance Protect Martial Arts Premises?
Clubs operating their own premises face additional risks beyond those encountered by instructors hiring sports halls or community centres. Buildings, training equipment and business operations all require appropriate protection.
Dojo insurance is designed specifically for martial arts premises and can combine several forms of business insurance into one package.
Depending on the policy selected, cover may include protection for the building itself, internal fixtures, training mats, mirrors, office equipment, reception areas and valuable martial arts equipment.
Many policies also include business interruption insurance. This can help if an insured event, such as fire or flooding, temporarily prevents the dojo from operating, resulting in lost income while repairs are completed.
Money cover, glass cover and contents insurance may also be available, providing broader financial protection for premises owners.
Comparison of Cover Types for Different Policyholders
| Policyholder | Typical Core Cover | Common Optional Cover | Primary Risk |
| Instructor | Public liability and product liability | Personal accident | Injury claims arising from teaching |
| Martial arts club | Liability insurance | Employers’ liability, tournament cover | Organised training sessions and club operations |
| Association | Liability insurance | Directors’ liability, travel insurance | Governance and large-scale events |
| Dojo owner | Property and liability insurance | Business interruption and contents cover | Damage to premises and operational disruption |
What Indemnity Limits Are Available Under MartialGuard Policies?
Indemnity limits represent the maximum amount an insurer will pay for covered claims under specific sections of the policy. Selecting an appropriate limit is one of the most important decisions when arranging specialist martial arts insurance.
Smaller clubs operating local classes may choose lower limits where appropriate, while larger associations, commercial training centres or organisations working with local authorities often require substantially higher levels of protection due to contractual obligations.
Higher indemnity limits generally result in higher premiums, although they also provide greater financial protection should a significant claim arise.
When comparing quotations, organisations should consider more than price alone. The scope of cover, exclusions, excesses and indemnity limits should all be assessed together to determine overall value.
How Does the Claims Occurrence Basis Benefit Policyholders?
One of the defining features of MartialGuard instructor insurance is that liability cover operates on a claims occurrence basis.
This means the policy responds according to when the incident occurred rather than when the claim is made. If an accident takes place during the active policy period, the policy may still respond even if legal proceedings begin months or years later, subject to the policy wording.
This approach differs from claims-made policies used in some other professional sectors, where cover generally depends on both the incident and the claim occurring while the policy remains active.
For martial arts instructors, claims occurrence wording can provide additional reassurance because liability allegations are sometimes raised long after an event has taken place, particularly where injuries develop over time.
Does Towergate Insurance Martial Guard Provide Worldwide Cover?
Many martial arts instructors travel internationally to attend seminars, grading events and competitions. Some also deliver training overseas or accompany students to international tournaments.
MartialGuard policies may include worldwide public liability territorial limits for up to 50 days, depending on the policy wording and selected cover. This extension allows instructors to continue benefiting from liability protection during eligible overseas activities.
However, territorial limits should not be confused with travel insurance. Public liability insurance protects against certain legal liabilities, whereas travel insurance can provide cover for medical emergencies, cancellations, lost baggage and other travel-related risks.
Individuals planning overseas teaching engagements should carefully review territorial limits, eligible countries and any exclusions before travelling.
Professor Rob Merkin KC, one of the UK’s leading insurance law specialists, has consistently noted that policy wording should always be read alongside territorial limits and exclusions because international activities may introduce legal considerations that differ from domestic insurance arrangements.
Source: https://www.law.reading.ac.uk
What Additional Business Support Is Available Through the Health and Safety Portal?
Managing a martial arts club involves far more than organising training sessions. Club owners and instructors must also stay informed about health and safety responsibilities, maintain accurate documentation and respond appropriately when incidents occur.
To help with these responsibilities, Everywhen provides access to a health and safety portal delivered in partnership with Stallard Kane.
The portal is designed to simplify compliance by bringing together practical tools, expert guidance and essential documentation in one place.
Rather than searching for templates or monitoring changing regulations independently, policyholders can use the portal to manage many day-to-day compliance tasks more efficiently.
For instructors running small clubs, these resources can save valuable administrative time. Larger organisations may also benefit from having a structured system that supports consistent health and safety management across multiple venues or instructors.
How Much Does Towergate Insurance Martial Guard Cost?
One of the most common questions asked by instructors and club owners concerns the cost of MartialGuard insurance. Unlike many standard insurance products, specialist martial arts insurance is usually provided on a quotation basis rather than through fixed published prices.
This personalised pricing approach allows insurers to assess the specific risks presented by each instructor, club or association.
As a result, two organisations of a similar size may receive different quotations depending on the nature of their activities and the level of protection required.
Several factors influence the overall premium, including the number of instructors, annual turnover, member numbers, claims history, selected indemnity limits, optional covers and whether the organisation owns its own premises.
Older pricing examples that may still appear online should be treated as historical information rather than current premiums, as insurance rates, underwriting criteria and available policy options change over time.
Prospective customers are therefore encouraged to request an individual quotation based on their own circumstances rather than relying on outdated examples.
Factors That Commonly Influence Premiums
| Factor | Effect on Premium |
| Number of instructors | More instructors generally increase exposure to liability risks. |
| Number of members | Larger memberships may increase potential claim frequency. |
| Martial arts discipline | Some disciplines present different levels of underwriting risk. |
| Chosen indemnity limit | Higher limits usually increase premiums. |
| Optional covers | Personal accident, employers’ liability and property insurance increase the overall premium. |
| Previous claims history | Frequent claims may affect future pricing. |
| Ownership of premises | Dojo insurance introduces additional property-related risks. |
How Does the Martial Arts Insurance Claims Process Work?
If an incident occurs, reporting it promptly can help ensure the claims process proceeds as efficiently as possible.
Policyholders should first gather relevant documentation, including their policy number, photographs where appropriate and any available witness details. Accurate records often assist claims handlers in understanding the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Claims are then reported to the insurer’s dedicated claims team, who assess the information provided and explain the next stages of the process. Depending on the nature of the claim, additional documentation or supporting evidence may be requested.
Maintaining clear communication throughout the process can help avoid unnecessary delays. Policyholders should also avoid admitting liability before receiving guidance from the insurer, as doing so could affect how the claim is handled.
Every claim is assessed according to the policy wording, available evidence and the individual circumstances involved, ensuring decisions are made fairly and consistently.
Conclusion
Towergate Insurance Martial Guard, now available through Everywhen, remains one of the UK’s specialist insurance solutions for martial arts instructors, clubs, associations and dojo owners.
Its flexible approach allows policyholders to select appropriate indemnity limits and optional covers based on their specific activities, whether they teach classes, organise tournaments or operate dedicated training premises.
Alongside liability protection, optional personal accident cover, property insurance and business support resources help create a more comprehensive risk management solution.
Before purchasing any policy, instructors and organisations should carefully review the policy wording, compare available cover options and obtain a personalised quotation to ensure the insurance meets their operational needs and future growth plans.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is martial arts insurance legally required in the UK?
No, it isn’t legally required for everyone, but most venues, local authorities, and event organizers will mandate public liability insurance before letting you train.
Can instructors teach at multiple venues under one policy?
Yes, most specialist instructor policies cover you across multiple locations, provided you declare all your teaching activities during your quote.
Does MartialGuard cover all martial arts disciplines?
It covers a wide range of recognized disciplines, though higher-risk or highly specialized styles may face unique underwriting terms or exclusions.
Is my training equipment covered under a standard policy?
No, core liability insurance doesn’t protect gear against loss or damage; you must add specific property or dojo insurance to cover equipment like mats and kits.
What is typically excluded from MartialGuard insurance?
Policies standardly exclude deliberate acts of harm, fraudulent claims, and any activities outside your declared business operations.
Can our club add new instructors halfway through the policy year?
Yes, you can notify your insurer to update your policy when new instructors join, though it may adjust your premium or terms.
How quickly are martial arts insurance claims processed?
Processing times vary by complexity, but submitting clear documentation, witness details, and photos early helps speed up the assessment.
