Netherlands Martial Arts Authority recognises SKMO training programme

The Nederlandse Vechtsportautoriteit (VA, the Dutch Martial Arts Authority) has officially recognised the training programme of the Stichting Kickboksen en Mixed Martial Arts (SKMO, the Kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts Foundation). For more than 15 years, SKMO has been providing training programmes for (youth) kickboxing and MMA instructors in the Netherlands.

As of January 2019, a single licensing system applies to officials and instructors in kickboxing, muay thai and mixed martial arts (MMA). This licensing system is intended to ensure that the various roles within the martial arts sector are carried out by properly qualified people. In due course this will apply to all trainers/coaches, referees, judges and ringside physicians. The VA only issues licences if the officials and instructors of the training provider concerned have been trained in accordance with the Qualification Structure for Sport (Kwalificatiestructuur Sport, KSS) of the national sports umbrella organisation NOC*NSF. Together with the Academy for Sports Officials and Instructors (Academie voor Sportkader, ASK) of NOC*NSF, the VA has assessed the SKMO training programme against the KSS requirements. This assessment took place on 31 March 2019 with a positive outcome, after which the programme was officially recognised by NOC*NSF and the VA.

This means that for the full contact martial arts kickboxing, thai boxing and MMA in the Netherlands, only the Martial Arts Instructor programme (Leraar Martial Arts, LMA) of the Federatie Oosterse Gevechtskunsten (FOG, the Federation of Eastern Martial Arts) and the SKMO programme are currently officially recognised and actually meet the Qualification Structure for Sport of NOC*NSF. Having a trainer with a recognised, valid trainer's licence will become increasingly important in order to raise quality standards and to distinguish gyms from one another, with a view to a national quality mark for martial arts gyms. The VA is currently preparing such a quality mark. A trainer with a valid licence is one of the requirements for this quality mark.

Since January 2019 the VA has also introduced the national promoter's licence, the medical committee is currently developing an annual refresher course for ringside physicians, and we are making preparations to facilitate training programmes for officials such as referees and judges in the martial arts sector.