Army Martial Arts Association (AMAA)

The Association was officially formed in 1995 to cater for practising martial artists and to provide a single body to regulate competition and insurance requirements across the recognised martial disciplines. The six ‘main’ competitive disciplines currently recognised by the (Combined Services) Sports Control Board are:

• Karate.
• Taekwondo (International Taekwondo Federation).
• Taekwondo (World Taekwondo).
• Kendo
• Weapons.
• Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

The Association also caters for various other martial arts, such as Kung Fu, but either through a lack of participative members, insufficient competitive activity or absence of Service integration, these are not currently considered ‘main’ disciplines. For the purposes of administration the constituent groups that the Association represents are organised as follows:

• Korean Martial Arts Section.
• Chinese Martial Arts Section.
• Japanese Martial Arts Section.

Individual Association members practicing martial arts in civilian clubs are required to be affiliated to the national governing body of their respective disciplines. The rules for competition, for insurance and medical requirements of these governing bodies are adopted by the Association and are used as standards from which Army MAA events are organised. The respective governing bodies are as follows:

• Karate – World Karate Federation (WKF).
• Taekwondo (International Taekwondo Federation).
• Taekwondo (World Taekwondo) – British Taekwondo, formally known as the British Taekwondo Control Board (BTCB); British Taekwondo Council.
• Kendo – British Kendo Association.
• Brazilian Ju-Jitsu – British Ju-Jitsu Association (BJJA)

The objectives of the Association are to:

• Promote the practice and development of martial arts within the Army.
• Regulate the practice and development of martial arts within the Army.
• Affiliate to, assist, co-operate with and support national and international organisations having objects approved by the Association.
• Act as an advisory body on all matters relating to the practice and development of Army martial arts through liaison with statutory and voluntary bodies, news media and other relevant parties.
• Provide members with services and support as may be available through their membership of the Association.

In furtherance of these objects, the Association may:

• Raise, administer and expend funds at its discretion.
• Arrange for the supply, purchase, sale and hire of all materials, goods and services as may be required.
• Do all such things as are incidental or conductive to the furtherance of the objects of the Association.

• President – Col David Ansell
• Chairman – Lt Col Ollie Major
• Secretary – Capt Matthew Frost
• Treasurer – SSgt Colin Faires
• Media – Capt Karen Owen
• Events – Capt Lee Cronian
• Reserves – SSgt Hayley Just
• Karate – WO2 Hall
• Kendo – Maj Jones
• Taekwondo – Capt Stephen Gibson
• BJJ – Capt Rob Maynard

Categories of Membership. There are two categories of membership of the Army MAA:

• Individual Members. Individual membership is open to all Regular, Reserve, NRPS, FTRS and MPGS of the British Army as defined in the rules of the Association who hold a current registration issued by the Association.
• Life Members. At the discretion of the Executive of the Association, individuals who have retired from the Army and have made a significant contribution to the Association may be offered Life membership of the Association. Life Members are elected by a two-thirds majority of the Executive Committee present and voting at an Executive Committee meeting.

Membership Enquiries
Capt Mathew Frost, Royal Artillery Barracks, Woolwich, SE18 4BB Tel: Mil 94691 3245 Civ 0208781 3245 Email: ASCB-AMAA-Secretary@MOD.uk