Mobile Menu

Martial Arts Studios in the US - Market Research Report (2016-2031)

Michal Dalal Michal Dalal New York, United States Last Updated: January 2026 NAICS OD4187

Revenue

$21.0bn

2026

$21.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

127k

Businesses

72,029

Wages

$X.Xbn

Martial Arts Studios in the US industry analysis

Martial arts studios have experienced a notable resurgence in recent years, mirroring the momentum of the wider health and fitness sector following the pandemic's uncertainty. Despite a dip in profit, studios quickly bounced back as restrictions eased, with attendance and revenue driven by renewed interest in fitness. Consumers, more focused than ever on physical and mental health, are seeking out martial arts for its blend of fitness, stress relief and social connection—a value proposition that continues to attract both dedicated practitioners and first-time hobbyists. The recent popularity of martial arts has been fueled by a rising demand for structured activities that promote resilience, adaptability and personal growth. Revenue has been climbing at a CAGR of 6.3% to $21.0 billion in 2025, when revenue will expand by 1.1%.

Trends and Insights

  • MMA is seeing a surge in popularity, driven by interest in physical fitness. With its mix of disciplines like Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing, MMA offers a comprehensive training regimen that keeps people hooked.
  • MMA is becoming more popular. Mixed martial arts (MMA) studios and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) gyms are finding success amid the popularity of UFC.
  • Martial arts studios align with population trends. The Southeast, home to over a quarter of the US population, leads the nation in the number of martial arts facilities.
  • Martial arts studios face strong price competition because of numerous internal and external alternatives. Ensuring affordable fees for potential students is essential for attracting and retaining clients.
Show more

Get more expert insights that help you cut through the noise.

Get fast answers to complex questions about your business or your client’s industry. Annual memberships include unlimited access to data and analysis for thousands of industries globally.

Get in Touch

Unlock Expert Insights with Full Platform Access

  • Human Driven & Verified Analysis
  • Structured Database Powering Workflows
  • Intelligent Tools Empowering Confident Decisions
  • Insight where-and how- you need them

How you can access insights on the Martial Arts Studios in the US industry

The Martial Arts Studios in the US Industry Report is available in multiple formats to fit seamlessly into your workflow.

IBISWorld Platform

Answer any industry question in minutes with our entire database at your fingertips.

Screen of the IBISWorld platform user interface Book a demo

API Data Delivery

Feed trusted, human-driven industry intelligence straight into your platform.

Code example of using the IBISWorld API API documentation

Integrations

Streamline your workflow with IBISWorld’s intelligence built into your toolkit.

Screen of Client Application integrating with IBISWorld data View integrations

Related Coverage

Understand the landscape with full access to an IBISWorld license

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2016-2031)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 6.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $21.0bn in 2026.

Trends and Insights

Increasing value on health and fitness boosts martial arts studio attendance

  • Following widespread closures during the 2020 pandemic, martial arts studios saw a sharp resurgence in attendance as restrictions eased. While in-person participation temporarily declined, overall interest in martial arts continued to strengthen over the last five years. This sustained enthusiasm has encouraged both new and returning students to invest in training and memberships.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Martial Arts Studios in the US
Revenue (2016-2031)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2026-2031)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Martial arts studios will face slower growth as economic pressures shift consumer priorities

  • Martial arts studios have seen steady popularity, but a slowdown in growth is likely as economic uncertainty forces consumers to re-evaluate discretionary expenses. Since martial arts instruction averages about $150 per month in 2024, as reported by Ground Standard, many individuals may view it as nonessential and reduce spending accordingly. In periods of economic volatility, consumers historically cut activities that aren’t considered vital, and martial arts, while valued for health and personal development, falls into this category for many households.

Biggest companies in the Martial Arts Studios in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue
2025
Profit
2025
Profit Margin (%)
2025

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Martial Arts Studios in the US industry.

Products & Services Segmentation

Martial Arts Studios in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Mixed martial arts, Karate and Judo and Taekwondo. Mixed martial arts is the largest segment of the Martial Arts Studios in the US.

Trends and Insights

Brazilian jiu-jitsu has become the top discipline

  • Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) emphasizes ground fighting and involves grappling, legwork, mounting, and submissions.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Martial arts studios, many of which operate as nonemployers, offer instruction in martial arts. These classes include karate, kendo, judo, jiu-jitsu, krav maga, taekwondo, muay thai and mixed martial arts, among others. This industry doesn't include self-defense or boxing instruction.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States include Providing instruction in mixed martial arts, Providing instruction in karate, Providing instruction in taekwondo, Providing instruction in judo, Providing instruction in jiu-jitsu and Providing instruction in other forms of martial arts, including muay thai, kung fu and capoeira.

Companies

Companies covered in the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States include .

Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States include mixed martial arts (mma), nunchuk and ultimate fighting championship (ufc).

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 713940 - Martial Arts Studios in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

MMA is seeing a surge in popularity, driven by interest in physical fitness. With its mix of disciplines like Brazilian jiu-jitsu and boxing, MMA offers a comprehensive train...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
  • Employees, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
  • Businesses, including historical (2016-2025) and forecast (2026-2031)
  • Profit, including historical (2016-2026)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

MMA is becoming more popular. Mixed martial arts (MMA) studios and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) gyms are finding success amid the popularity of UFC.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2026
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2026
  • Major market segmentation in 2026

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Martial arts studios align with population trends. The Southeast, home to over a quarter of the US population, leads the nation in the number of martial arts facilities.

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2026

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2026
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2026
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2026
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2026

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Martial arts studios face strong price competition because of numerous internal and external alternatives. Ensuring affordable fees for potential students is essential for at...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2021-2026
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

There are no companies that hold a market share exceeding 5% in the Martial Arts Studios in the US industry.

Analyst insights

The industry is highly fragmented, so there aren't any major companies. Some large schools offer franchising opportunities, but the low barriers to entry allow new martial ar...

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Regulation is light and varies by state. Rules aimed at protecting children involved in martial arts instruction are standard, and schools must abide by contract law when giv...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2016-2031) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2016-2031) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Martial arts studios' profits are under pressure because of economic strain. Rising costs and tighter consumer budgets mean folks are finding it harder to pay for classes.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2026
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2019-2024)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2019-2024)
  • Income Statement (2019-2024)
  • Balance Sheet (2019-2024)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2019-2024)
  • Coverage Ratios (2019-2024)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2019-2024)
  • Operating Ratios (2019-2024)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2016-2031)
  • Revenue per Employee (2016-2031)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2016-2031)
  • Employees per Establishment (2016-2031)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2016-2031)
  • Average Wage (2016-2031)
  • Wages/Revenue (2016-2031)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2016-2031)
  • IVA/Revenue (2016-2031)
  • Imports/Demand (2016-2031)
  • Exports/Revenue (2016-2031)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2016-2031)
  • IVA (2016-2031)
  • Establishments (2016-2031)
  • Enterprises (2016-2031)
  • Employment (2016-2031)
  • Exports (2016-2031)
  • Imports (2016-2031)
  • Wages (2016-2031)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States in 2026?

The market size of the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States is $21.0bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States in 2026?

There are 72,029 businesses in the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 15.3 % between 2021 and 2026.

How may import tariffs affect the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States?

The Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States?

The Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 6.3 % between 2021 and 2026.

What is the forecast growth of the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States is expected to grow.

What does the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States include?

Providing instruction in mixed martial arts and Providing instruction in karate are part of the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States.

How competitive is the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Martial Arts Studios industry in the United States.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

feedback