If you run a martial arts school, you already know the landscape is changing fast. The styles that packed classes five years ago aren’t always the ones people are searching for today. And if you want full mats, strong retention, and steady membership growth, you need to stay aligned with what’s trending right now.
I talk to gym owners every day, and the ones who stay ahead of training trends are the ones who grow consistently. Here’s what students are actually looking for in 2025, and how to market your programs so they get seen.
The Martial Arts Styles People Are Searching for in 2025
Search trends don’t lie—certain disciplines are dominating interest this year. If you teach any of these, or are thinking about adding them, you’re already ahead of the curve.
1. Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
MMA continues to be the biggest magnet for new students. Thanks to the UFC and mainstream fitness culture, people see MMA as the “complete package” - conditioning, self-defense, and community in one.
If you have qualified instructors, adding an MMA program can open the floodgates. Many gyms report rapid class fill-ups as soon as they launch.
2. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ)
BJJ’s growth is unstoppable. It attracts:
- Professionals looking for stress relief
- Women wanting a practical self-defense system
- Parents enrolling their kids, and often training alongside them
It’s one of the strongest retention tools you can offer, since the belt system keeps members committed long-term.
3. Muay Thai & Kickboxing
High-intensity, full-body, and extremely beginner-friendly. Muay Thai and kickboxing classes tend to be packed with people who want a fun alternative to traditional cardio. These styles are also easy to market visually - technique clips and pad-work always perform well online.
How to Market Your Martial Arts Programs in 2025
Great classes aren’t enough, you need visibility. Here are the strategies working best for martial arts gyms right now:
Check out another post about Member Retention Tips to help give you the upper hand
The Tech That Keeps Your School Running Smoothly
Let’s be real, running a martial arts gym isn’t just teaching. It’s:
- Managing class schedules
- Tracking memberships
- Collecting payments
- Communicating with students
- Keeping attendance organized
When you're doing all of that manually, burnout is almost guaranteed.
That’s why so many martial arts gyms are switching to Recess, a free gym management platform built for studios. It handles:
- Class scheduling & reservations
- Payment processing
- Attendance tracking
- Member communication
Everything lives in one place; no spreadsheets, no chasing payments, no messy backend.
That means more time on the mats, less time buried in admin. And when owners have more time for coaching, their schools grow faster. It’s as simple as that.
Keep Your School Growing in 2025
Offering in-demand training styles and using modern marketing tools is the formula for keeping your mats full. The gyms that evolve are the ones that thrive.
