What this seal means

• USA Karate is the national governing body for karate in the United States, recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
• Under federal law (the Safe Sport Authorization Act), USA Karate and its members are subject to the independent oversight of the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
• Every adult member completes SafeSport training every year.
• Coaches, referees, club owners and instructors pass a background check every two years, with an automatic recheck in between.
• Clubs follow the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP): no unobserved one-on-one time with minors, open and transparent messaging, and parents may watch training.
• A concern can go straight to the independent U.S. Center for SafeSport (833-5US-SAFE), not only to the club.

Not every martial arts program is held to these standards. Before you enroll anywhere, ask: Is every adult instructor SafeSport trained and background checked? Does the program follow the MAAPP? If there is a complaint, who investigates: the program itself, or an independent body? At a USA Karate club, the answers are on this page.