A new study per the Sports & Fitness Industry Association’s annual State of the Industry Report places mixed martial arts as a rising fitness activity among the U.S. population.
According to the study, more than 72% of Americans (6 and older) were active in at least one sport or activity in 2015. The nationwide online survey taken in 2015 by 32,658 Americans gages athletic participation habits.
Over a three-year participation range, “MMA for competition” was third in growth activity among U.S participants. Per the study it had grown 72.3% with 749,000 participating in 2012 and then 1,290,000 participating I 2015. According to the survey “MMA for fitness” was 13th on the list with 1,789,000 in 2012 and 2,498,000 in 2015.
“Boxing for competition” came in 7th on the list.
The number 1 sport/fitness activity in 2015: Stand up paddling followed by adventure racing and then MMA for competition. Fourth was Triathlon (nontraditional/offroad) followed by Rugby.
Payout Perspective:
The key here is the activity habits of Americans as opposed to their favorite sport. Thus, these are the fitness activities of the people taking the survey. Although no definition in the article “MMA for competition” means and actual training in the sport of MMA (striking, grapping) as opposed to “MMA for fitness” (I tend to think this is a non-contact kickboxing class). Why the popularity in MMA? Perhaps the fitness benefits of the activity. Participating in MMA is a calorie burner which mainly younger people are interested in trying.
To complete the data since mma for fitness was at 2.4 M…..boxing for fitness has also a number not included in the article its 5.1M for 2014.
https://www.sfia.org/reports/322_Boxing-(Fitness)-Participation-Report-2015
5.4 M in 2015
Boxing seems to appeal to black and latino populations in the inner city, and oddly white females. MMA is almost totally a suburban upper middle class phenomenon that costs A LOT more than boxing to train in. I paid over 200 to be apart of an MMA team for a couple of years, I paid $20 a month to be on an amateur boxing team.
Another reflection of MMA’s growth.
Since the sports biz journal did this pr for mma…heres a pr from boxing gym chain title hahaha http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160104005143/en/TITLE-Boxing-Club-Named-No.-1-Fastest-Growing
As the article says these people aren’t trying to become pro’s they are just doing things to get in shape, the people taking kickboxing classes most couldn’t name one current kickboxer due to that sports lack of stars in the US, you are probably more likely to hear them say Jean Claude Van Damme or something.
Boxing, kickboxing, and mma fitness gyms/workouts don’t indicate the health of the sports at all.
Jean Claude Van Damme, the fighter, did more for kickboxing than any other fighter in kickboxing, he should be mentioned rather than any active kickboxer.