Martial arts are a subject the average citizen is mostly uninformed on. Martial arts theories and techniques are demonstrated to varying degrees of accuracy through movies, television, public demonstration, and the like. As long as people "in the know" about martial arts hold themselves outside of general society and do not attempt to educate their fellow citizens, fear and misunderstanding of martial arts will continue. This fear translates into a need, on the part of ordinary citizens, to protect themselves from that which they don't understand. When it is discovered that there is very little in the way of regulation of martial art instructors, the citizens are alarmed and move to have their elected officials step in and make regulations to protect the citizens from abuse, intimidation, or exploitation.

Martial arts instruction is developing as an industry. With the success of martial arts exercise videos, movie, and TV media, more people are looking to Martial Art instruction. As with any market, standards have to be established for the sake of the buyer to ascertain the quality and safety of the product being offered. If the martial arts community will not take steps to regulate itself, regulation will come from outside.

There is a need for regulation to protect the average, uninformed citizen from individuals using martial arts as a scam in a developing sector of the marketplace. Regardless of format ranging from private, informal instruction to commercial, professional instruction, at some point in the future regulations will be created to govern martial arts. Knowing this is a political certainty at some future date, steps should be taken to prevent governmental action by removing the need for it. Certification is a step in the direction of self-regulation in the martial arts community.