Muay Thai Kickboxing at Your Jiu Jitsu Gym? Make Sure You're Covered!"

Attention Jiu Jitsu gym owners! If you're looking to expand your martial arts offerings to include Muay Thai kickboxing, there are a few things you need to know about insurance coverage.

In the past, finding a gym or coach who teaches Muay Thai kickboxing in America was a challenge. However, with the rise of the UFC and the increasing popularity of combat sports, there has been a recent surge in the growth of Muay Thai gyms throughout the USA. Nowadays, many Muay Thai gyms share mat space with other types of martial arts programs like Jiu Jitsu, but standalone gyms can also be found.

If you're planning to offer Muay Thai kickboxing at your gym, it's essential to double-check with your insurance agent to ensure that your commercial general liability coverage covers all the students and coaches participating in all activities at the gym, including Muay Thai kickboxing. Listing Muay Thai kickboxing as a "covered activity" at your martial arts school is crucial if you host these classes or seminars at the gym.

It would be a huge mistake for gym owners to assume that this activity is covered under all insurance policies. Some insurance companies may provide gym owners with liability insurance coverage certificates for their gym, but the policy may exclude "participation in Muay Thai" in the fine print or not list it at all.

Another critical error in the insurance policy that gym owners might overlook is whether or not their Muay Thai coaches or seminar instructors are covered under the school liability insurance. Most of the time, the school's general liability insurance only covers the owners and actual W2 employees at the school. If a coach is teaching classes at your school, and you are paying them with a 1099 as independent contractors, those employees might not be covered in the case of a lawsuit against them for claims from activities against them at your school.

It's important to note that many insurance companies do not provide coverage for 1099 employees at all. Therefore, it's crucial to work with an agent to make sure that if you are teaching Muay Thai at your Jiu Jitsu school, your coaches and students are covered for this martial art. If not, your insurance agent can help you add this coverage. Don't risk your business and clients' safety; make sure you have the right insurance coverage.