Here is the short and simple answer to this common question. It can range from $25 to over $500 per month.
If you want a little more insight into why there is such a difference in pricing, keep reading.
I have been involved in martial arts since the age of four and in the business side since the age of 15. When it comes to the martial arts business, I have seen it all. I will do my best to give you an honest explanation of what you should expect to pay and what you should expect to get.
For the sake of comparison, let's assume you are receiving two 45 minute classes per week, which seems to be the standard at most martial arts schools.
Prices at martial arts studios generally fall into three tiers: low, mid, and high.
Low Tier: $25 to $99 per month
In general, the old adage "you pay for what you get" applies in the martial arts education business as much as anywhere else. If price is the most important thing to you, you can probably find martial arts classes for $50 per month or less.
These lessons might be taught at your local fitness gym or out of the basement of a house. The instructor may be a highly experienced martial arts practitioner, but the overall experience can vary greatly.
Let me explain. While the person leading the lessons might be an expert in a certain style, he or she probably has a full time job that pays the bills. Teaching martial arts could be a hobby that turned into a part time gig to make a few extra dollars. This single instructor operation could resemble the Mr. Miyagi and Daniel LaRusso relationship we all remember from the original Karate Kid, but I am going to assume that is a rare thing to find these days.
If you do find an instructor like Mr. Miyagi charging $50 per month, run with it.
In reality, the part time solo instructor model is very difficult to sustain. The reason is simple. What happens when this instructor gets sick? Has a hard day at his real job and does not feel like teaching that night? Or has to attend his daughter's piano recital?
This usually results in a cancelled class, which in my opinion is not ideal for a child trying to learn the intricacies of a martial art. Learning a new martial art is about establishing good habits, and a consistent weekly schedule is vital.
The other factor to consider is the environment your child will be in. If classes are taught in a fitness gym with loud music, people talking, and other distractions, it can be difficult for your child to learn. I firmly believe environment plays a huge role in learning, especially with children.
One more factor to consider at this price point is schedule availability. The days and times the instructor is available are usually limited, so finding a time that works for your family may be a challenge.
Mid Tier: $100 to $199 per month
Now let's say that instructor starts gaining a following and wants to move his side business into a permanent location. After signing a five year lease in a small retail strip center space, he can lead classes without the distractions of a fitness gym.
But his fixed expenses like rent and utilities have increased significantly, so he raises his monthly fee from $50 to $100 and needs more students to cover the difference.
This mid priced option might be exactly what you are looking for. There are probably more class times to choose from and the environment is better suited for learning. The obstacle you may run into again is consistency of experience.
Since this is still a part time job for the instructor and now owner, what happens when he is sick or unable to teach? By this point he may have found an assistant willing to help out, but depending on how many students are enrolled, that assistant is most likely unpaid. This can work in the short term, but it is difficult to sustain. It is hard to find full commitment from a person who is not being compensated.
Also, since the owner is still working a full time job during the day, the new assistant may not have received the training required to deliver a consistent experience while the owner is gone.
Let's say the owner decides to go all in and quit his full time job. Now he can fully commit to teaching more classes and more students. He keeps his price at $100 per month and enrollment grows. Class sizes climb past 20 students, which becomes difficult to manage, especially when different age groups and belt levels are mixed into the same class. The volunteer assistant helps when she can, but is inconsistent because of her own full time job.
Now when the owner is sick or away, the assistant struggles to lead the larger classes. The student experience suffers because everything depends on the personality of the owner. Students start to quit, and the owner responds by offering the assistant a full time position.
The only way he can afford to pay her and still cover the bills is by raising the price to $150 per month. With the assistant fully committed, the student experience improves.
More students continue to join. Classes grow, and the owner and assistant run into the same problem again. Too many students and not enough instructors. Every time the owner is away, the experience suffers even more because it is simply too much for one assistant to handle.
In my opinion, this is the most common business model in martial arts education. The school is usually in a retail strip center and the owner is the main show. When the owner is gone, the student experience suffers.
Please do not misunderstand me. I am not trying to present these hard working owners and instructors in a bad light. I am speaking from many years of owning a martial arts school and talking with fellow owners.
You may find a larger, more sophisticated school with mid tier class fees. Just know that they will usually make up the difference with higher extra fees or with a higher student to instructor ratio. More on extra fees below.
High Tier: $200 to $500 or more per month
Depending on your area, you may come across martial arts schools that charge over $200 per month. I have even heard of schools that charge over $500 per month.
Yes, it can seem crazy to think about paying that much, but like anything in life, it depends on what you are getting. Some people spend over $1,000 on a Gucci wallet. I personally do not get it, but who am I to judge? To them it is worth it, and that is all that matters.
If I were a parent searching for martial arts lessons for my child, I would want to know exactly what I was getting at that price. Here is what I would expect.
Top notch facility. I would expect the facility to be spotless and to feel more like a high end hotel than a boxing gym. It would not smell like a sweaty gym. It would be bright, uncluttered, organized, and aesthetically pleasing. I would want a well thought out learning environment for children, plus a space where I can watch my daughter's class and maybe get some work done.
Professional operation. If I am paying a premium, I expect the staff to be professional and pleasant to deal with. Rules, expectations, how the program works, how to sign up for classes, and upcoming events should be clearly communicated and easy to understand. It really comes down to friction. A premium service removes as much friction as possible for the customer. As a business owner myself, I would also expect systems and processes to be in place so the business runs like a well oiled machine.
Student experience. This is by far the most important part. I would personally be more interested in character development and building positive habits for my nine year old daughter than in her learning how to fight. I would need to fully believe the culture is built around developing character and habits, not just self defense technique. I would want my daughter surrounded by people who push her to become more focused, disciplined, and courageous. I would also expect her experience to be consistent regardless of who is teaching that day. That is again where systems and processes come into play.
You might think I have a biased opinion, and you might be right. But my expectations are the same for any business I pay. The higher the price compared to the competition, the higher the expectations. Our school is not close to perfect, but I can tell you we try every single day.
When looking at schools with higher monthly fees, decide what matters most to you and start there.
Other Fees
Almost every martial arts school has fees beyond tuition. The most common is the belt testing fee, and across the industry it can range from nothing at all to over $1,000. I will dig deeper into belt testing fees separately.
Other fees you may encounter include uniforms, sparring gear, weapons, and special event fees. Some studios keep extras to a minimum. Others may require you to purchase a new weapon, uniform, or piece of gear every month.
To be completely honest, the core of our model at Ko Martial Arts is built on monthly tuition rather than a long list of extras. The uniform and belt are included in the White Belt program every new student starts with. I do not like being nickeled and dimed as a consumer, and I keep that in mind in our own business.
The Bottom Line
When it comes to what you will pay for martial arts lessons, it all depends on what matters most to you.
If you are searching for the lowest price available, be prepared for an inconsistent experience. If you are looking for the middle of the road option, also be prepared for inconsistencies and larger student to instructor ratios. If you want the best experience available, be prepared to pay more.
Decide what is most important to you first, then do your homework. Visit the facility. Watch the classes. Ask a lot of questions.
I hope you found this helpful.
If you would like to see what a premium program looks like in person, ask us about an Intro to KOMA lesson for your child. Ko Martial Arts proudly serves families in Overland Park, Olathe, Prairie Village, Leawood, Lenexa, Stilwell, Shawnee, and other nearby areas.
