How Verification Works
Understand how gym verification works, what each status means, and where trust signals appear on Open Mat Locator.
Where this should appear
- Footer navigation
- Gym verification flows
- Trust badge areas where verification status is explained
What users should understand
Verification is separate from basic authentication. A gym can have login access before it becomes a verified host account.
The product should explain pending, verified, and unverified states clearly wherever trust badges appear.
User belt verification
Belt rank is self-reported by default — the honor system. To add a verified badge, you can request verification from a coach at your home gym.
How it works: open your personal profile editor, set your belt rank and home gym, then tap Request verification under Belt & rank. Your gym's coaches see the request in their gym dashboard and can approve or deny it.
Eligibility: your home gym must be a verified gym on Open Mat Locator, and at least one coach must have claimed the gym page (owner or manager). If any of those is missing, you'll see a hint on the profile editor explaining what's needed.
After approval, your public profile shows "Verified by [Coach Name] at [Gym Name]" under your belt. You can re-request if you change your belt later or move to a new home gym.