Self-Defence Training Risk Assessment Checklist
8 Critical Questions Every HR Leader Must Ask Before Booking Corporate Self-Defence Training
Why This Matters
Self-defence training isn’t like booking a Zumba instructor or yoga session.
The wrong choice can result in:
- Employee injuries during the training itself
- Legal liability for your organization
- Ineffective techniques creating false confidence
- Wasted budget on training that doesn’t work when needed
- Reputational damage from a failed “safety initiative”
π How to Use This Checklist
Ask EVERY potential trainer these questions. Check YES or NO for each. If you answer NO or UNSURE to even ONE question, do not proceed with that provider.
βοΈ Government-Approved Certification
Provider has verifiable government certification
Only martial arts belts or sport certifications
π© RED FLAGS:
- “I have a black belt in [martial art]” (sport β self-defence expertise)
- “I’ve been training for X years” (without certification proof)
- Cannot provide certification documentation
βοΈ Zero-Injury Track Record
Zero or near-zero injuries across 500+ participants
Has injuries on record or cannot verify statistics
π© RED FLAGS:
- “Injuries are normal in self-defence training”
- “Participants need to sign waivers” (without proper insurance)
- Cannot provide safety statistics
- Vague answers about past incidents
βοΈ Professional-Grade Training Equipment
Complete professional equipment for safe training
Makeshift items or participants hit each other
π© RED FLAGS:
- “Participants will practice on each other”
- Uses gym equipment or improvised items
- Minimal or no protective gear
- “You don’t need equipment for awareness training” (but includes physical techniques)
βοΈ Corporate Training Specialization
Trained 100+ corporate batches with verifiable references
Mainly teaches kids or fitness classes
π© RED FLAGS:
- Primarily teaches children or competitive martial arts
- Cannot name 5+ recent corporate clients
- “I can adapt my regular class for corporate”
- No understanding of HR requirements or documentation needs
βοΈ Legal Compliance & Indian Law
Knows IPC Section 96-106, teaches legal techniques
Unfamiliar with laws or teaches excessive force
π© RED FLAGS:
- Teaches “fight to win” or “destroy the attacker” mentality
- Encourages excessive force
- No mention of legal considerations
- “Don’t worry about legality in self-defence”
βοΈ Verifiable Corporate References
Names, companies, contact details of recent clients
No recent clients or won’t share references
π© RED FLAGS:
- “I can’t share client names due to confidentiality”
- Only provides testimonials without contact information
- No recent (last 6 months) corporate clients
- References are all from 5+ years ago
βοΈ Liability Insurance Coverage
Verified liability insurance for corporate training
No insurance or only personal insurance
π© RED FLAGS:
- “We’ve never had an incident, so we don’t need insurance”
- “Your company’s insurance will cover it”
- Cannot provide insurance certificate
- Requires extensive waivers without corresponding insurance
βοΈ Complete HR Documentation & Support
Comprehensive HR toolkit with all materials
Just shows up, trains, leavesβno materials
π© RED FLAGS:
- “Just send an email announcement”
- No supporting materials beyond the training hour
- No documentation for compliance or CSR purposes
- “You’ll need to create your own materials”
π YOUR RISK ASSESSMENT SCORE
Count your YES answers:
Budget vs. Professional Training Comparison
| Criteria | Budget Martial Arts Instructor | CTS CorpDefence Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Q1: Government Certification | β Usually NO | β YES (Verified) |
| Q2: Zero-Injury Record | β Cannot verify | β YES (25 years, 6,000+) |
| Q3: Professional Equipment | β Minimal/makeshift | β YES (Complete kit) |
| Q4: Corporate Specialization | β Kids/sport martial arts | β YES (700+ sessions) |
| Q5: Legal Compliance | β Unknown/not considered | β YES (Indian law compliant) |
| Q6: Verifiable References | β Few or none | β YES (300+ companies) |
| Q7: Liability Insurance | β Usually NO | β YES (Full coverage) |
| Q8: HR Documentation | β Nothing included | β YES (Complete toolkit) |
| TOTAL SCORE | 0-2 / 8 | 8 / 8 |
| Typical Cost | βΉ5,000-8,000 | βΉ12,900-18,900 |
| True Risk-Adjusted Cost | βΉ20,000-30,000+ (with risk) | βΉ12,900-18,900 (zero risk) |
π― THE BOTTOM LINE
This isn’t about finding the cheapest trainer.
It’s about protecting your employees and your organization.
- Book unqualified training and hope for the best
- Compromise on safety to save a few thousand rupees
- Put your employees at risk for a “checkbox” initiative
Ready to Make an Informed Decision?
Use this checklist when speaking with ANY self-defence training provider.
Print it. Take notes. Compare scores. Then choose wisely.
CTS CorpDefence: The 8/8 Standard
We created this checklist because we believe you deserve transparency.
Our score: 8/8 on every criterion.
We encourage you to verify everything before booking.
Your employees’ safety is too important to leave to chance.