Real Men Want Karate

April 26, 2011 - PRLog -- The latest studies in the martial arts industry show that the newest customer is the same as the most common customer in the early 1980’s.  Many years ago, the world of martial arts classes in the United States, belonged almost entirely to men.  At the time, the male dominated industry was suddenly rocked off tradition with a 1984 movie called “The Karate Kid”.  This movie peaked the interest of children in the late 1980’s and in the early 1990’s women followed the children in the doors of Karate studios all over the country.  

More recently, with the growing popularity of Mixed Martial Arts on television, men are researching and joining martial arts classes again at an incredible pace.  Although to most men, Mixed Martial Arts is a spectator sport, they appear to want some of it for themselves.  All they have to do is find the right place to take up their new interest.  Men are looking into MMA schools, boxing clubs and Karate schools all over the U.S. and they range in age from 34-49.  Most of these men are also spending 1-5 hours researching their choices on the internet.

For the past 20 years, the main client of the larger martial arts schools has been, for the most part, children.  The average Karate school in the U.S. will boast of a ratio of 70% or more children in their program.  

Recent internet searches have indicated however, that men are the new customer and that schools will have to step up their game to offer what these men want.  They want classes that are 3-5 days per week.  They want classes that are exclusively adult.  They are looking for flexible schedules and for great workouts every time they walk through the door.  In addition, they are looking for safety in the program so that, these typically professional men, can get up and go back to work the next morning without fear of having a black eye or broken bone.

Chris Rader, a new student at Karate International in Raleigh, NC says he followed his children into the program.  Although he takes classes with other adults only, he sees this as an opportunity for family bonding.  "As for me, I'm glad to be participating in a program that is varied and goal oriented, and one that I can share with the entire family despite how many years old each of us might be. That my 5 year and I are currently working towards the same belt goal and that my green belt 6, 8 and 10 year olds are able and motivated to teach the rest of us is very cool, indeed."  Chris also states, "Traditional gym memberships and machine use just don't work for me. Frankly, their boring and tedious. And, the gym fitness classes are repetitive with no sense of improvement or advancement.  Meanwhile, at Karate each workout is a new challenge and is never the same.  And, with each session, I know how I am advancing. It's never boring.  Further, everyone is supportive and helpful. No one judges, allowing me to feel comfortable and not intimidated by the performance of others. Instead, I find myself energized and encouraged by what others are doing knowing that I'm headed in that direction, too."

In the second decade of this Century, it appears that we will have come full circle with the martial arts.  Children will still have a place in the average dojo.  The Mom’s have discovered the martial arts and are proving that they can do it as well or better than anyone.  And now we see the Men coming back to take part in what was originally mostly about men in the first place.

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Karate International of North Carolina was formed in 1974 with locations in Apex, Cary, Garner, Raleigh, West Raleigh and Durham.