You enjoyed our martial arts predictions for 2025 so much that we’re back with a fresh set of predictions for 2026.
We predict that the biggest shifts in 2026 will come from how people want to live, connect and learn, creating a landscape full of opportunity for martial arts clubs.
These are the trends that we predict will shape member expectations next year.
The Rise of ‘Third Spaces’: What It Means for Martial Arts Clubs
If you’re not already aware, the concept of a Third Space was first coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg and refers to a place where a person can seek connection and interact with others. Typically, the ‘first space’ is home, the ‘second space’ is a workplace, and the ‘third space’ refers to a somewhere a person can seek connection and interact with others.
Students today aren’t just looking for a place to train; they’re seeking community. They want to arrive early to warm up with familiar faces, stay after class for a chat, and feel part of something bigger than themselves.
Martial arts clubs are uniquely suited to this idea because they naturally bring people together through shared discipline, routine and progression. The clubs leaning into this through thoughtful design, staff interactions and identity-driven communities (for example, the London-based Third Space luxury fitness chain) are already seeing stronger loyalty.
In 2026, embracing the third space concept becomes a strategic advantage. When someone sees your club as their “place” to connect, learn and unwind, their commitment deepens. Retention improves, referrals happen organically and your club becomes much harder for competitors to imitate.
Strength Training Becomes Essential for Every Age Group in 2026
Strength training has long supported martial arts performance, but 2026 marks a shift in how universally it’s expected. Students across every age group, from young adults wanting to improve power and injury resilience to older adults focused on maintaining mobility, balance, and confidence, are becoming more aware of how strength underpins longevity and everyday function.
Public health campaigns and major publications continue to promote strength training as critical to healthy ageing and metabolic health. For martial arts clubs, this presents a valuable opportunity. Incorporating accessible strength-based sessions, such as mobility and conditioning classes, resistance training for beginners, or strength circuits tailored to different age groups, helps students feel physically capable and supported in their training journey.
When students can clearly see and feel progress, they stay longer. Strength becomes one of the most powerful retention tools a club can adopt.
Automation and Seamless Digital Experiences Will Define the Martial Arts Experience
Technology is always a point of discussion when analysing future trends. But in 2026, the focus is less on wearables and kit, and more on members expecting everything to work smoothly.
People will judge a martial arts club just as much on its digital journey as its in-class one.
If joining is a pain, payments fail for no reason, booking classes feels confusing, or cancellations require an awkward text, members simply won’t engage. On the other hand, a seamless online experience makes your club feel modern, organised and student-focused.
Automation also frees instructors to do what they do best: teach, motivate and build relationships. It also protects revenue, reduces errors and removes the friction points that cause members to cancel. Heading into 2026, the clubs that run smoothly behind the scenes will stand out. Friction in the digital experience is becoming a brand issue, not just an operational one.
Corporate Partnerships Will Become a Key Revenue Stream for Martial Arts Clubs
Corporate wellbeing is evolving, and businesses are no longer relying solely on large fitness chains for employee fitness. Employers are looking for ways to support staff mental health, reduce burnout and counteract the physical strain of long hours seated at a desk. Martial arts ticks all these boxes: it offers stress relief, structured progression, social connection and a highly engaging form of movement.
For club owners, this opens the door to stable, recurring revenue and a fresh stream of new students. Corporate partnerships can take many forms: dedicated lunchtime sessions, discounted memberships, onsite workshops, self-defence seminars or even team-building events. These partnerships also help fill quieter hours in your timetable and strengthen your role within the local community.
With the right packages and a clear value proposition, 2026 could be the year B2B becomes a core part of martial arts club growth.
The Shift Toward Learning-Focused Fitness in 2026
Martial arts has always been skill-based, and this puts clubs at a natural advantage as the wider fitness industry shifts toward learning-focused training. In 2026, more people will want fitness with purpose: not just burning calories, but gaining a skill, understanding technique and working through a progression.
We’re already seeing algorithms favour educational content, and students increasingly want clarity, structured learning and visible improvement. Martial arts fit this perfectly, but clubs can take it even further by offering specialised workshops, block-based beginner courses, sparring fundamentals, weapons forms, grappling clinics or mobility programmes designed specifically to support martial arts practice.
These structured, skill-based sessions are easier to price at a premium and create strong retention because students feel the satisfaction of progressing through clear levels. They also position your club as a place to grow.
Unlike in the past, the trends shaping 2026 are driven by what people genuinely need in this day and age: belonging, confidence, and seamless experiences. The opportunity for martial arts clubs lies in leaning into these deeper expectations. Whether you focus on becoming a ‘third space’ for your students, expanding strength education, refining your digital journey, exploring corporate partnerships or building skills-based programmes, even small changes can create big advantages in the next year.
ClubRight is the go-to management software for martial arts clubs, taking care of everything from membership management and billing to class bookings and online joining, plus a whole lot more. Give us a call today on +44 (0)203 884 977 or book a free online demo with one of our product experts to find out why we’re trusted by more than 1000+ fitness businesses across the UK.
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