In 2014, the IBISWorld Industry Report OD4187 Martial Arts Studios in the US was released. It was an important document that led many projects and discussions at my workplace. One issue I had with the report was how loosely defined the different Martial Arts styles were broken down in the categories. In the example of Jiu Jitsu, which at the time, was a popular Martial Art compared to other ranked only 6% compared to Judo’s 10% in the US marketplace. MMA studios scored higher vs Jiu Jitsu, yet the argument can be made that these Mixed Martial Arts schools are in fact Jiu Jitsu academies.
Of the 8588 US Martial Arts Studios in 2014, here was the breakdown:
My hope, as it was in 2014, is that there will be more unity in Jiu Jitsu and with other Martial Arts organizations as well. Martial Arts is a great way to develop confidence levels for all ages of people. The benefits and study can last a lifetime. The competition that is highlighted in this report should not be between other Martial Arts studios to gain a higher market share, but what really is and will need to be countered now and into the future is other sports, activities, and technologies. The growth of the Martial Arts industry should not solely be led by the popularity of Mixed Martial Arts. What is the next area(s) of popularity to bring people to our industry?