Mistakes BJJ gym owners make when buying liability INSURANCE.
Jiu-jitsu gym owners make several mistakes when it comes to buying liability insurance, which can result in inadequate coverage or unnecessary expenses. In this article we will cover what some of those mistakes are as well as provide you with some tips for shopping out the right type of insurance coverage for your jiu jitsu, or mixed martial arts gym.
In the meantime, feel free to text, email, or message one of our insurance brokers who can guide you in the right direction and make insurance recommendations based on your specific needs and activities at your martial arts school.
Some common mistakes jiu jitsu gym owners make when buying liability insurance:
Not understanding the coverage: Gym owners may not fully understand the coverage provided by their insurance policy, which can result in gaps in coverage or purchasing unnecessary coverage. It's important to have a clear understanding of what your policy covers and what it doesn't. One example of this is assuming that your gym liability insurance also covers your in-house scrimmages, tournaments, or competitions. This is not often the case which is why it is important understand what you have so that you can pick up supplemental coverage to cover your Jiu Jitsu events if needed.
Not having enough coverage: Gym owners may purchase liability insurance with lower limits than what they actually need, which can result in inadequate coverage in the event of a claim.
Not regularly reviewing and updating the policy: Gym owners may purchase a policy and then forget about it, which can result in coverage that doesn't reflect the current risks and exposures of the gym. We see this alot with BJJ gyms who start out just offering jiu jitsu classes but add fitness kickboxing, or mma classes a few years later without updating their insurance policy.
Not shopping around: Gym owners may purchase insurance from the first company they find, without shopping around to compare prices and coverage options. Luckily, here at JiuJitsuInsurance.com we are a brokerage which means that we do all the shopping around for you because we represent multiple insurance companies, not just one.
Not considering specific risks: Gym owners may not consider the specific risks associated with jiu-jitsu training, such as injuries from grappling and joint locks, which can result in inadequate coverage. For example, just having a general “martial arts policy” will not guarantee you coverage for all your martial arts. We can not stress enough the importance of an annual policy review (see #3 above)! If you email us a copy of your gym insurance policy then we can let you know what it covers, or does not.
Not checking the reputation of the insurance company: Gym owners may purchase insurance from an insurance company with a poor reputation for handling claims, which can make it difficult to get claims approved, or paid out.
It's crucial that gym owners understand what kind of coverage they need, how much have, and to shop around for the right coverage to cover their business. The gym owner should also review and update their policy regularly, and consider the specific risks associated with jiu-jitsu training. Additionally, it's important to check the reputation of the insurance company, as well as the claims process and the history of the company. On the other hand, why do all the shopping and due diligence yourself when one of our brokers can do it all for you?
