39 martial arts statistics to know in 2022
Did you know that compared to other gym owners, martial arts gym owners have the highest median salary? Whether that’s because of higher retention rates or pricier membership rates is unclear, but one thing is sure: If you’re looking to open a gym in the near future, a dojo is a great option.
To make sure you have the highest chance of success, it’s important to understand industry norms. This can help you offer the most popular martial arts at the correct prices.
Keep reading to learn important martial arts industry statistics that can help you open a successful dojo.
- U.S. Martial Arts Industry at a Glance
- Business and Revenue Data
- Martial Arts Studio Demographics
- Most Popular Martial Arts
- U.S. Combat Sports Popularity by Age
- Youth Martial Arts Industry
- Martial Arts Industry Trends
- Martial Arts FAQ
Key Takeaways
- Since 2012, the number of martial arts businesses in the United States has grown at an average rate of 18.7% (Statista, 2021).
- The martial arts studio market in the United States was worth $8.16 billion in 2020, a number projected to grow to $9.05 billion in 2022 (Statista, 2020).
Martial arts schools in the U.S. average $114,657 in annual revenue (Gymdesk, 2022).
U.S. Martial Arts Industry at a Glance
Curious how the martial arts industry is operating in the U.S.? These data points can help you understand the big picture. Overall, the U.S. martial arts industry is steadily growing in size, which is great news if you’re planning to open your own school.
In 2021 2.34 million people participated in mixed martial arts for fitness in the U.S.
There were 39,310 martial arts businesses in the United States in 2020, with 50,490 businesses projected by the end of 2022.
Since 2012, the number of martial arts businesses in the United States has grown at an average rate of 18.7%
In 2021, 1.03 million people participated in mixed martial arts for competition in the U.S.
Business and Revenue Data
If you’re looking for a profitable business, data shows martial arts studios are a great choice. Not only is the industry growing in overall revenue, but martial arts gym owners were found to have the highest median salary among differing gyms. Growing your school is not likely to be an issue.
The martial arts studio market in the United States was worth 8.16 billion in 2020, a number projected to grow to $9.05 billion in 2022.
In 2021, there was $578 million in wholesale mixed martial arts equipment sales.
Out of various gym owners, martial arts gym owners were found to have the highest median salary.
The average martial arts gym in the United States had $35,525 in expenditures in Q3 2020
About 50% of martial arts gyms are profitable.
The mixed martial arts industry employed 61,280 employees in 2020, a number projected to grow to 72,810 in 2022
U.S. Martial Arts Schools Annual Revenue by Gym Size
It’s nice to know that martial arts is a growing industry, but how do the numbers break down on a smaller scale? Here’s how much martial arts school owners can expect to make depending on their gym size.
- The average annual revenue for U.S. martial arts schools with under 50 members is $30,782 (Gymdesk, 2022).
- The average annual revenue for U.S. martial arts schools with 51 – 100 members is $72,410 (Gymdesk, 2022).
- The average annual revenue for U.S. martial arts schools with 101 – 200 members is $154,433 (Gymdesk, 2022).
- The average annual revenue for U.S. martial arts schools with 201 – 300 members is $269,962 (Gymdesk, 2022).
- The average annual revenue for U.S. martial arts schools with over 300 members is $369,209 (Gymdesk, 2022).
U.S. Martial Arts Annual Revenue by Discipline
Gym size isn’t the only factor that can affect your bottom line. Different disciplines tend to bring in more money than others. Here’s how much gym owners in the U.S. can expect to make based on discipline.
- The highest earning discipline in the U.S. is MMA, averaging $254,083 in annual revenue (Gymdesk, 2022).
- Boxing is the second highest earning discipline in the U.S., averaging $152,544 in annual revenue (Gymdesk, 2022).
- Brazilian jiu-jitsu is the third highest earning discipline in the U.S., averaging $139,193 in annual revenue (Gymdesk, 2022).
- Karate is the fourth highest earning discipline in the U.S., averaging $105,472 in annual revenue (Gymdesk, 2022).
- Taekwondo is the fifth highest earning discipline in the U.S., averaging $103,455 in annual revenue (Gymdesk, 2022).
- Kung fu is the sixth highest earning discipline in the U.S., averaging $74,783 in annual revenue (Gymdesk, 2022).
Martial Arts by Country
The U.S. isn’t the only place with a love for martial arts. Here’s how the industry is faring in other countries around the world.
Martial Arts School Averages by Country
| Country | Avg. Annual Revenue (Local Currency) | USD Normalized | Avg. Membership |
| USA | $114,657 | $114,657 | 112 |
| Canada | $143,313 CAD | $109,842 | 136 |
| Australia | $75,767 AUD | $52,108 | 114 |
| UK | £66,529 | $78,276 | 143 |
| EU | €70,967 | $70,557 | 159 |
England had 160,600 participants in mixed martial arts between November 2020 and November 2021.
South Korea had 13,830 registered martial arts studios in 2020.
In Wales, about 3% of a nationally representative population said they would like to start participating or participate more in martial arts.
In Brazil, MMA has the fourth largest fan base compared to other sports.
In Australia, there are about 256,700 participants in martial arts.
Martial Arts Studio Demographics
The typical martial arts student is either a boy between the ages of 7 – 12 or a man between the ages of 25 – 34. This population represents about one-third (34%) of the total martial arts membership. Women who participate in martial arts are more likely to learn karate or taekwondo.
Here’s what else you can expect from the average martial art school demographic.
- Men participate in martial arts at a much higher rate than women, representing about 73% of overall martial arts studio membership (Gymdesk, 2022).
- The two disciplines with the highest female participation rates are karate and taekwondo, with about 31% and 35% of total memberships respectively being female (Gymdesk, 2022).
- Men outnumber women in both Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo at a rate of about 4:1 (Gymdesk, 2022).
- Men outnumber women in kung fu at a rate of about 3:1 (Gymdesk, 2022).
- The largest age group participating in martial arts is 7 – 12 year olds, representing about 26% of the total membership (Gymdesk, 2022).
- The second largest age group participating in martial arts is 25 – 34 year olds, representing about 21% of the total membership (Gymdesk, 2022).
- The smallest age group participating in martial arts is those 55 and up, representing about 2% of the total membership (Gymdesk, 2022).
Most Popular Martial Arts
Wondering what the top martial arts styles are? While there is no data on the most popular martial arts sports globally, there is enough to make a few educated guesses. Surveys conducted in Vietnam and Poland show that karate and taekwondo are among the most popular martial arts in the world.
Vietnam
A 2021 survey found the following mixed martial arts forms to be the most popular in Vietnam. Respondents were nationally representative, ages 13-65.
Taekwondo and karate, with 33% of respondents reporting participation in both sports.
Boxing, with 25% of respondents reporting participation.
Vovinam, with 24% of respondents reporting participation.
Muay Thai, with 21% of respondents reporting participation.
Poland
Based on a 2020 survey conducted by the Central Statistical Office of Poland, here are the most popular martial arts in Poland.
Karate with 46,166 respondents reporting participation
Kickboxing, with 9,540 of respondents reporting participation.
Judo, with 26,362 of respondents reporting participation.
Taekwondo ITF, with 10,407 of respondents reporting participation.
Ju-jitsu, with 7,011 of respondents reporting participation.
Taekwondo WTF, with 4,249 of respondents reporting participation.
Freestyle wrestling, with 4,187 of respondents reporting participation.
Boxing, with 9,327 respondents reporting participation
U.S. Combat Sports Popularity by Age
Just how popular are mixed martial arts in the U.S.? Here’s how the sport fares in different age groups throughout the country.
About 49% of people ages 18-34 consider themselves a fan of combat sports, with 16% considering themsevles avid fans.
About 51% of people ages 35-44 consider themselves a fan of combat sports, with 17% considering themsevles avid fans.
About 34% of people ages 45-64 consider themselves a fan of combat sports, with 8% considering themsevles avid fans.
About 20% of people ages 65+ consider themselves a fan of combat sports, with 5% considering themsevles avid fans.
Youth Martial Arts Industry Statistics
Looking to recruit more members to your martial arts studio? Children and young adults can be an important part of your target demographic. Here are some statistics on how young people participate in mixed martial arts.
On average, children participating in mixed martial arts remain active in the sport for 2.6 years
The average child stops participating in mixed martial arts by age 9.
In 2019, U.S. families spent an average of $777 annually for children participating in mixed martial arts. This Includes:
- $467 for lessons
- $107 for travel
- $86 for equipment
- $82 for registration fees
- $25 for camps
Martial Arts Industry Trends
Over the past five years, the size of the U.S. martial arts studio industry has grown at an average rate of 0.8% per year. This data spans 2017-2022, meaning that even with the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the martial arts industry still saw an overall increase (IBIS, 2022).
Additionally, the martial arts studio industry is projected to grow another 3.9% in 2022 (IBIS, 2022). Growth in the martial arts industry corresponds to consumers’ time spent on sports and leisure, which are typically impacted by disposable income and changes in employment. With the pandemic ushering in a uniquely employee-centered job market, it’s likely we’ll see increased time spent on sport and leisure into 2023, which is great news for the martial arts industry.
Martial Arts FAQ
Have additional questions about the martial arts industry? Here are the answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.
What Industry Does Martial Arts Fall Under?
Martial arts falls under the sports and leisure industries. It includes such disciplines as karate, taekwondo, kickboxing, judo, boxing, ju-jitsu, wrestling and muay Thai, to name a few.
What Is the Number One Martial Arts in the World?
While there is currently no data that can definitively tell us the most popular martial art form, there is enough to make an educated guess. In both Poland and Vietnam, karate and taekwondo are among the top three most popular martial arts. When looking at businesses and reviews in the U.S., karate and taekwondo are again among the top sports.
Given this theme, the most popular martial art in the world is very likely to be either karate or taekwondo.
Are Martial Arts Popular in the U.S.?
Martial arts is a popular sport in the U.S., with about 50% of people ages 18-44 considering themselves a fan. Of these fans, nearly 1 in 5 would consider themselves an avid fan.
Overall, the martial arts industry is a growing market with positive signs for profitability. If you’re a gym owner or prospective owner, you can help people find your gym by offering popular disciplines like karate and taekwondo.
Don’t forget to stay organized while running your gym. Our management software streamlines your business by taking care of billing, memberships, booking and more. That way, you can stay focused on what you do best: teaching!
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