Equipment purchase exclusivity & permission to cross train - What do you think?

**Judah Maccabee** · Posted On: 7/30/2007 6:42pm

You are paying THEM for a service. Tell them to **** off, you'll buy your gear where you want to and train with who you want to.

At my former school, their insurance company (along with the Krav Maga HQ in the US) required that students have standardized gear within a limited number of brands. Technically, the sparring gloves I used weren't on the list, but they were cool with it because I got all my other gear from them (I didn't own any at the time - headgear, shinpads, etc.)

**Fantasy Warrior** · Posted On: 7/30/2007 7:33pm

Originally Posted by Judah Maccabee

At my former school, their insurance company (along with the Krav Maga HQ in the US) required that students have standardized gear within a limited number of brands.

Why would the insurance company require that? Are you sure you weren't being fed manure. And big orgs insisting is part of the problem.

If memory serves me right several major karate orgs require contestants (and in general club members) to wear 'approved' equipment, which in turn means a very limited choice of brands.

"WKF Approved"

Screen shot of rules document from WKF website:

**Judah Maccabee** · Posted On: 7/30/2007 7:47pm

Why would the insurance company require that? Are you sure you weren't being fed manure. And big orgs insisting is part of the problem.

I know for a fact Krav required everyone to have Revgear at the main school. At the sister school I was at, they told me it was an insurance requirement to have gear within a certain number of brands.

**Fantasy Warrior** · Posted On: 7/30/2007 8:08pm

Do you believe the insurance thing? My gut feeling is that insurance companies are too risk adverse to endorse a third party product in this manner.

**Judah Maccabee** · Posted On: 7/30/2007 8:23pm

It was 3-4 years ago when they told me, and I'm not there any longer. So I dunno. For me as someone who didn't have much equipment at first, it wasn't that big of a deal. If I had a lot of my own gear, then I'd have a problem.

**Fantasy Warrior** · Posted On: 7/30/2007 8:39pm

I had a quick look at the IKMF's online shop, no mention of mitts or other training equipment - is that because it's only available via the instructor?

But on a funny note I did find this rather ironic advert.

**MaverickZ** · Posted On: 7/30/2007 8:48pm

Originally Posted by Kickcatcher

Do you believe the insurance thing? My gut feeling is that insurance companies are too risk adverse to endorse a third party product in this manner.

You have a lot of experience with US insurance companies and their contracts with martial arts schools?

**Fantasy Warrior** · Posted On: 7/30/2007 8:51pm

Originally Posted by MaverickZ

You have a lot of experience with US insurance companies and their contracts with martial arts schools?

Why don't you take this excellent opportunity to educate the masses.

**MaverickZ** · Posted On: 7/30/2007 8:55pm

Originally Posted by Kickcatcher

Why don't you take this excellent opportunity to educate the masses.

I haven't a clue about those topics, I've never run a commercial school nor dealt with US insurance companies. I take it you have? Just curious where your gut feeling comes from and want to make sure that people here are getting good information from reliable sources.

Hey you know who would know, Omega, who runs an actual commercial school in the US.

**Fantasy Warrior** · Posted On: 7/30/2007 9:10pm

Well if you want to contribute to the thread you could try doing some research mate.

Anyway, here's a screen shot of a martial arts insurance application from http://www.martialartsinsurance.com/Applications/

It specifies a requirement for kit but does not mention "approved" or specifically branded kit: