THE chairman of the British Ju-Jitsu Association has warned the public to take care when selecting a martial arts club.

Martin Dixon says he would like to see stricter guidelines over clubs so that each one would have to be a member of their relevant governing body and registered with Sport England.

Mr Dixon, who is also a member of the Accrington-based Go Shin Kempo Ju-Jitsu Association, says there are currently no laws preventing clubs from forming and following guidelines set up by their governing body.

He said: "Martial arts is a minefield at the moment because anyone can form a club.

"There is nothing stopping someone from printing off a few certificates, obtaining insurance and walking into a sport centre claiming to be a third dan black belt who wants to start up his own club.

"And that can happen in any martial art."

However he said that ju-jitsu clubs that are forming and not joining the British ju-jitsu association are missing out on possible funding.

He added: "At the moment there is an award scheme running called the Millennium Award For All scheme which is handing out funding to clubs around the country.

"However clubs that are a part of a dangerous sport, which ju-jitsu is, have to be a member of their governing body. But some clubs would rather keep the money for themselves and not pay membership. But in the end they are missing out." But he said it is not just funding they are losing out on.

He added: "Our organisation for example offers a lot of services and we are constantly looking to raise standards. There are other matters to look into as well such as insurance, child protection policies and providing help for ethnic minority and disabled sportsmen and women."

He said: "The last thing I want to do is put people off joining clubs but they must be made aware of what is happening. I would like to see every club come under governing body guidelines but that would involve government legislation and would be a long drawn out affair."

He also warned clubs to make sure that they know what competitions they are entering.

He said: "Some competitions are not what they say they are and when that happens it is sad to see because people come away thinking they have won some high ranking event when really it is just a competition organised by a particular club."

For a list of all governing body registered clubs in the North West contact 01277 224057 while for a full list of competitions contact Sport England on 0171 3808000.

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