Capoeira Studio Sports Facility Insurance (UK): A Complete Guide

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Capoeira Studio Sports Facility Insurance (UK): A Complete Guide

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Capoeira Studio Sports Facility Insurance (UK): A Complete Guide

Introduction: why capoeira studios need specialist cover

Capoeira is a unique mix of martial art, dance and acrobatics. That blend is exactly why a “standard” gym policy can leave gaps. A capoeira academy may run high-energy group classes, sparring-style games (roda), live music, public performances, kids’ sessions, workshops, and travel to events. You may also have visitors from other groups, guest instructors, and occasional outdoor training.

From an insurance perspective, that means:

  • Higher likelihood of accidental injury claims (students, spectators, visitors)

  • Greater exposure to slips, trips and falls (fast movement, sweat, mats)

  • Equipment and instrument risks (berimbaus, atabaques, speakers, lighting)

  • Employer and volunteer exposures (helpers, assistants, cleaners)

  • Event and performance liabilities (public venues, festivals)

  • Data and payment risks (online bookings, memberships)

The goal isn’t to scare anyone. It’s to make sure your cover matches how capoeira actually operates, so one incident doesn’t derail your academy.

What “sports facility insurance” usually means

Sports facility insurance is typically a package policy designed for venues that host physical activity. For capoeira studios, it often combines:

  • Public liability

  • Employers’ liability

  • Professional indemnity (instructional liability)

  • Property and contents cover

  • Business interruption

  • Legal expenses

  • Optional add-ons (personal accident, equipment away from premises, cyber)

Depending on how you operate, you might buy this as a single combined policy, or as separate policies.

Core covers for capoeira studios

1) Public liability insurance

Public liability covers injury to third parties or damage to third-party property arising from your business activities.

In a capoeira context, “third parties” can include:

  • Students and trial attendees

  • Parents and spectators

  • Visitors from other groups

  • Landlords and neighbouring tenants

  • Members of the public at demonstrations

Common claim scenarios:

  • A student slips on a wet patch near the entrance and fractures a wrist

  • A spectator is knocked during a demo and suffers injury

  • A berimbau stand falls and damages a venue’s floor

  • A child runs into a wall during a kids’ class and a parent alleges inadequate supervision

What to check:

  • The policy explicitly covers martial arts / capoeira (some insurers exclude combat sports)

  • Limits of indemnity (commonly £2m–£10m; many venues require £5m)

  • Cover for off-site activities (parks, hired halls, community centres)

  • “Participant to participant” liability (important for contact/partner drills)

2) Employers’ liability insurance (legal requirement)

If you employ anyone in the UK, you generally must have employers’ liability (EL) insurance with at least £5m cover (most policies provide £10m).

This can apply even if you have:

  • Part-time assistants

  • Paid instructors

  • Admin staff

  • Cleaners

  • People on work experience

Some volunteer arrangements can also create exposure. If you’re unsure whether someone counts as an employee, it’s safer to discuss it and get the right cover.

Common claim scenarios:

  • An instructor strains a back moving mats or equipment

  • A staff member slips while cleaning after class

  • A helper is injured setting up for an event

3) Professional indemnity (PI) / instructional liability

Professional indemnity covers claims that your professional advice, instruction or supervision caused injury or loss.

In sports and fitness, PI is often described as “instructors’ liability” and it’s especially relevant where technique and progression matter.

Common claim scenarios:

  • A student alleges they were progressed to acrobatic movements too quickly

  • A warm-up was inadequate and contributed to a muscle tear

  • A child’s class is alleged to have insufficient supervision ratios

What to check:

  • PI is included or available as an add-on (don’t assume public liability covers instruction)

  • The policy covers your specific activities (capoeira, acrobatics elements, weapons training if applicable)

  • Retroactive cover (for claims made later about earlier instruction)

4) Contents and equipment insurance

This covers your business-owned items against risks like theft, fire, flood and accidental damage.

Typical items for capoeira studios:

  • Mats, crash pads, mirrors

  • Sound system, microphones, speakers

  • Instruments (berimbau, atabaque, pandeiro, agogô)

  • Uniform stock (abadás), merchandise

  • Laptops/tablets used for bookings and music

Key options:

  • “All risks” cover (broader than named-perils)

  • Cover for equipment away from the premises (events, workshops)

  • Higher limits for portable electronics

5) Buildings insurance (if you own the premises)

If you own your studio building, you’ll need buildings cover for the structure, fixtures and fittings.

If you lease, your landlord typically insures the building, but you may still be responsible for:

  • Tenant improvements (flooring, mirrors, wall padding)

  • Your own fixtures

  • Any damage you cause

Always check your lease to confirm who insures what.

6) Business interruption insurance

Business interruption (BI) helps replace lost income and pays ongoing costs if you can’t operate due to an insured event (e.g., fire, flood).

For capoeira studios, BI can help cover:

  • Lost membership income

  • Rent and utilities

  • Instructor wages

  • Marketing costs to re-open

What to check:

  • Indemnity period (often 12–24 months)

  • Whether it covers denial of access (e.g., cordoned-off area)

  • Whether it includes alternative accommodation costs (temporary hall hire)

7) Legal expenses and liability claims support

Legal expenses cover can help with:

  • Defending certain disputes (employment, HMRC investigations depending on policy)

  • Contract disputes (e.g., with suppliers)

  • Pursuing debt recovery

It’s not a replacement for good contracts, but it can be a useful safety net.

Important add-ons for many capoeira academies

Personal accident cover (for instructors)

If you’re self-employed, you don’t have sick pay. Personal accident can provide a lump sum or weekly benefit if you’re injured and can’t work.

This is especially relevant if:

  • You rely on teaching income

  • You do demonstrations or travel frequently

  • You teach multiple classes per week

Event insurance (performances, batizados, workshops)

Capoeira culture often includes events: batizados, rodas in public spaces, workshops with visiting mestres, and performances.

Event insurance may be needed for:

  • One-off venues requiring proof of cover

  • Larger public events with higher footfall

  • Events involving staging, lighting, or hired equipment

Check whether your annual policy already covers events, or whether you need separate event cover.

Equipment hire / hired-in plant cover

If you hire:

  • PA systems

  • Staging

  • Lighting

  • Temporary flooring

You may be responsible for loss or damage under the hire contract. Hired-in equipment cover can protect you.

Cyber insurance (online bookings, payments, member data)

Many studios use online booking platforms, store member details, and take card payments.

Cyber insurance can help with:

  • Data breach response

  • Legal and notification costs

  • Business interruption from a cyber incident

  • Ransomware and fraud support (depending on policy)

Even if you use third-party platforms, you can still face disruption and reputational risk.

Key risk areas insurers will ask about (and how to prepare)

Insurers price risk based on what you do and how you manage it. Expect questions like:

  • Do you teach adults only, or kids too?

  • Do you run acrobatic progressions (au, macaco, flips)?

  • Any weapons training (sticks/knives) for cultural demonstrations?

  • How many instructors, and what qualifications/experience?

  • Do you have written risk assessments and safety procedures?

  • What’s the flooring type and condition?

  • Do you use mats, and how are they maintained?

  • How do you manage warm-ups, spotting, and progression?

  • Do you have first aid provision and incident reporting?

  • Do you run events off-site?

Practical steps that can reduce claims and help premiums:

  • Written risk assessments for classes, kids sessions, and events

  • Clear class rules (jewellery, footwear, hydration, safe conduct in roda)

  • Documented progression for acrobatics and higher-risk movements

  • Instructor-to-student ratios (especially for children)

  • Regular equipment checks (mats, mirrors, speakers, cables)

  • Good housekeeping (sweat management, cleaning schedules, signage)

  • Incident log and near-miss reporting

  • First aid kit and trained first aider on-site where possible

Common exclusions and “gotchas” to watch

Insurance is full of small print. For capoeira studios, the most common issues are:

  • Combat sports exclusions: some policies exclude martial arts by default

  • Participant injury: ensure participants are not excluded, and check participant-to-participant wording

  • Unattended theft: cover may require forced entry or specific security

  • Wear and tear: not covered (maintenance is on you)

  • Heat damage / gradual deterioration: often excluded

  • Off-site activities: may need to be specifically included

  • Subcontractors: you may need to verify their insurance and include them correctly

  • Alcohol at events: can change the risk profile and require disclosure

If you’re unsure, ask for the insurer’s activity list and confirm capoeira is included.

How much capoeira studio insurance costs (and what affects price)

There isn’t a single “capoeira studio insurance price” because it depends on your setup. The main factors are:

  • Annual turnover and number of members

  • Number of instructors and whether you employ staff

  • Type of premises (standalone unit vs shared hall)

  • Claims history

  • Activities (kids classes, acrobatics intensity, events)

  • Liability limit required (£2m, £5m, £10m)

  • Contents sum insured and security

  • Business interruption cover level and indemnity period

As a rough guide, smaller studios hiring a hall a few nights a week may pay less than a dedicated full-time facility with multiple instructors, higher footfall, and more equipment.

The best way to avoid overpaying is to accurately describe your activities and insure the right sums, rather than buying the biggest package “just in case”.

Insurance for different capoeira operating models

Studio renting a community hall

Common needs:

  • Public liability (often £5m)

  • Professional indemnity

  • Equipment away from premises

  • Optional personal accident

Key tip: confirm the hall’s requirements and whether they need to be noted on your policy.

Dedicated studio premises

Common needs:

  • Public liability + PI

  • Employers’ liability

  • Contents and tenant improvements

  • Business interruption

  • Money cover (cash on premises) if applicable

Key tip: pay attention to security, alarms, locks, and any conditions for theft cover.

Academy running events and performances

Common needs:

  • Off-site liability and events cover

  • Hired-in equipment

  • Travel cover for equipment

  • Higher liability limits in some venues

Key tip: keep a template “event pack” ready: insurance certificate, risk assessment, and method statement.

Risk management checklist (capoeira-specific)

Use this as a practical starting point.

  • Pre-class checks: floor condition, mats in place, cables secured

  • Warm-up structure: mobility, joint prep, progressive intensity

  • Progression: clear steps for acrobatics; no pressure to attempt advanced moves

  • Roda management: defined space, clear rules, instructor oversight

  • Kids sessions: sign-in/out, safeguarding policy, ratios, parental consent

  • Music area safety: instruments stored safely; trip hazards managed

  • Hygiene: cleaning schedule, sweat management, ventilation

  • First aid: kit stocked; incident forms; emergency contacts

  • Documentation: risk assessments updated; staff training records

FAQs: capoeira studio sports facility insurance

Do I need insurance if students sign a waiver?

Waivers can help set expectations, but they don’t remove your duty of care. If someone is injured and alleges negligence, a waiver won’t automatically prevent a claim. Insurance is still essential.

Is capoeira classed as a martial art for insurance?

Often yes. Some insurers treat it as a martial art, others as a fitness/dance activity. The important thing is to disclose it clearly as capoeira and confirm it’s accepted.

Do I need professional indemnity if I already have public liability?

In many cases, yes. Public liability is about accidents arising from your premises/activities. Professional indemnity focuses on claims linked to instruction, advice, supervision, and progression.

What limit of public liability do venues usually require?

Many UK venues ask for £5m. Some councils and larger venues ask for £10m, especially for public events.

Are visiting instructors covered under my policy?

Sometimes, but not always. Some policies cover “bona fide subcontractors” or guest instructors if declared. Often you’ll need to:

  • Confirm they have their own insurance, or

  • Add them as insured persons

Always check before the event.

Does insurance cover injuries between students (participant-to-participant)?

Not automatically. You need to confirm participant-to-participant liability is included, especially for partner drills and roda play.

Can I cover my instruments and equipment at events?

Yes, with “equipment away from premises” or “all risks” cover, subject to limits and security conditions.

What about safeguarding and kids’ classes?

If you teach children, insurers may ask about safeguarding policies and DBS checks. Having clear procedures can help both safety and underwriting.

How Insure24 can help

If you run a capoeira academy in the UK, we can help you arrange sports facility insurance that fits your real-world activities—classes, events, performances, hired venues, and equipment on the move.

We’ll talk through:

  • Your class types (adults, kids, mixed)

  • Your premises and how often you use them

  • Events, workshops and off-site rodas

  • Your equipment and instruments

  • The liability limits your venue requires

Call to action

Want a quick, practical review of your current cover (or a fresh quote)? Call Insure24 on 0330 127 2333 or visit insure24.co.uk to get started.

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