5 Martial Arts Industry Statistics: Key Insights for Studio Owners

Staying on top of martial arts industry statistics is vital to your success. For example, the martial arts industry is expected to grow to $171.14 billion USD worldwide by 2028. But what does that mean for martial arts gym owners like you?

The barrier to entry is relatively low for martial arts schools, so the industry continues to become more competitive. However, it’s important to note that martial arts school owners have a unique opportunity. Being in a niche space can give you an advantage over general fitness studios. So lean into the unique training, environment, and value that you offer.

Use martial arts industry statistics to grow your business

Along with competition, attracting and retaining new students is a major challenge for martial arts gym owners. Luckily, many people of all ages engage in some sort of martial arts practice regularly. Therefore, attracting new students is all about targeting rather than drumming up interest. You can use this as a jumping-off point to expand your client base with more strategic training and marketing.

In this post, we’ll discuss five important martial arts industry statistics. These industry developments can help you overcome significant business growth challenges.

By understanding the martial arts market and what’s in demand, you can more strategically plan your next move.

The martial arts industry is undoubtedly growing worldwide and we’re here to help your business grow with it.

1. Effective martial arts marketing

An impressive 65.9% of clients would recommend the martial arts school they attend to a friend.

From social media ads to email lists, there are many ways to spread the word about martial arts schools. However, when it comes to conversions, nothing compares to word of mouth.

Knowing that so many clients are willing to recommend a martial arts school they’re happy with underscores the importance of giving your students the best possible client experience. So, continue fostering a supportive community at your studio.

Word-of-mouth recommendations can also significantly impact your school’s reputation and attract new students. You can start a referral program to reward existing clients for bringing in new students. Remember that potential students are most likely to take recommendations from someone they trust.

Local social media influencers can also help you attract new students, especially if you only have one or a few locations. You can use member management and student profiles to find your top and most frequent clients. Then, set up a referral program with rewards for successful referrals.

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2. Specializing in youth and family training

About 50% of martial arts students are under 18. That means there are four million children training in martial arts across the US. It also indicates that the industry is primed to keep growing.

As a result, there’s a huge opportunity for martial arts gym owners to offer youth training and attract more young martial artists.

One proven marketing tactic involves offering parent and child classes. When you get more than one family member into your gym, you’re more likely to increase retention rates. You’ll be able to appeal to parents looking for unique and active ways to bond with their children. Martial arts group classes are beneficial environments for children. Parents will likely notice the following once their children start training:

• A boost in assertiveness and self-confidence
• Improved social skills
• Less stress and better mental health
• Increased ability to set goals

3. Martial arts school profitability

On average, annual revenue for martial arts studios in the US ranges from $50,000 to $200,00 USD. However, the most profitable studios earn $500,000 to $1 million USD. Profitability varies quite a lot because of many factors, including location, number of locations, and local competitiveness. Your number of students, style of martial arts, and pricing structure will also impact your revenue.

To boost your revenue, make sure to use a strategic pricing strategy. This goes hand in hand with optimizing class schedules. You should collect relevant data to figure out which classes are the most popular. Look at peak attendance times too. All this information will help you devise a more strategic class schedule.

Since profitability is also related to industry competitiveness, conduct a competitive analysis. Look at other martial arts schools in your area or nearby. Take stock of what they do well, what you can do better, and gaps in their offerings.

Another way to increase profitability is by diversifying revenue streams. Martial arts school owners have a unique opportunity here because many martial arts styles require uniforms and equipment. If you haven’t already, try selling these items and other merchandise online and in your studio. These sales will help maximize your profitability in a relatively sustainable way.

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4. Leveraging the popularity of mixed martial arts (MMA)

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) brand has an approximate $10 billion USD market cap. Some of the biggest fan bases exist in the US, the UK, China, Singapore, and Brazil. The rising popularity of the brand, events, and the sport has fueled the popularity of MMA classes.

MMA is a sport that people around the world enjoy watching together and discussing on social media. Therefore, if you specialize in MMA, you have a huge advantage within the martial arts industry.

Why not sell branded merch at your MMA studio and on your website? With MMA-related merch, your students can show their love for the sport outside of the studio and connect with other students and enthusiasts. This could even lead to some client referrals.

If you don’t specialize in MMA, consider adding some instructors to your roster and testing out MMA classes among your current students.

5. The potential of martial arts equipment

The global MMA equipment market is expected to grow at twice the previous compound annual growth rate (CAGR) by 2033. This puts it at 6% between 2023 and 2033 compared to the previous 3% growth from 2018-2022.

Whether you specialize in MMA or another martial art, why not examine your current equipment landscape? If your martial art uses smaller equipment that can be sold directly to students, be sure it’s available both online and in the studio.

Try to keep the larger equipment that lives in your gym up to date. Having high-quality, well-maintained, and innovative equipment available improves the client experience.

Stay competitive in the martial arts industry with WellnessLiving

At WellnessLiving, we equip your business with features specially designed for martial arts schools.

In our digital world, it’s important to have a solution that allows you to see and analyze client data.

We enable your students to easily book classes and track their progress online. Additionally, our belts and rankings system help you track individual student progress. With this data, you can support students’ goals and market to them more effectively.

You can also track class attendance to reengage clients and identify the most popular classes. Overall, data analysis helps you increase client engagement and retention. That’s why we offer accurate and robust reporting, attendance tracking, client profiles, and more.

Are you ready to grow your martial arts school more strategically? Book your no-commitment demo today.