| Summary: | Background. The legal status of martial arts societies has remained unresolved under various laws and policies in many countries. This delays the legal aspect of institutional existence and the sportizational development process. Problem and aim. Many traditional martial arts have oscillated between formal and informal art; they usually become part of dance, culture, and heritage. This study will examine the legal entity of martial arts societies in Malaysia to promote the sportization development process at the national and international levels. Material and methods. The study employs a mixed-methods approach to determine the legal content analysis and interpretation of the collected data and national laws. This approach is suitable for this study as it examines the crises and conflicts encountered by the Malaysian population and as reflected in the martial arts demography. Results. The study finds that club (n=1144), district (n= 363), state (n= 361) and national (n=41) martial arts societies in Malaysia are registered and legally recognized as sports. However, the legal status of the martial arts societies in Malaysia is still subject to challenges due to the lack of a national governing body and inconsistent legal provisions. This has led to conflicting interests between two or more umbrella bodies, thus obstructing the development process of martial arts as sports. Conclusions. The study suggests a new approach to the legal status of martial arts societies in Malaysia through proper registration and amendment of their constitution. In order to formalize the sportization development, martial arts societies in Malaysia must be registered under the 1997 Sports Development Act (Amendment 2018) and thus adopt the objective of the 2009 National Sports Policy © Idōkan Poland Association
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