With the increase in popularity of MMA has traditional Martial Arts Schools attendance increased or declined?

My observations and my contacts show that there are more martial arts schools opening now than ever before. At the same time more schools are closing down than ever before. The economy is more responsible for this than anything else.

I keep in touch with Al Tracy. Not because I'm connected. It is just that he has more information about what is happening in the martial arts business community than anyone else. Dozens of martial arts schools are connected with him in some way. Tracy gets lots of statistics on who is doing what and what works and what does not. With all his knowledge he has said that he does not recommend for anyone to open a commercial dojo as the economy is. Tracy used to sell what he called "The Business Bible". I bought a copy of it around the early to mid 1990's. It tells you everything from how to shop for a location, to what colors to paint the dojo,.....etc. Someone a few months ago asked me where they could buy a copy of this. I went to Tracy's web site and could no longer find the Business Bible listed. An email to them got a reply saying that they no longer sold the business bible. Then they said that they did not have anything of value to share with a martial arts school to increase its enrollment of students. Then the comment saying they did not recommend anyone opening a dojo in this economy. Tracy has always been open to helping other martial arts schools. He has given away free tips on running a dojo, that work well. The fact that they are saying what they told me was shocking.

Hope this answers the question as directly as is possible. As for me I think the mma craze has taken a few students that might have studied in a traditional school/style. At the same time I think that the increase in the popularity of the mma has also brought some people to traditional schools that might not have done it otherwise. I seriously doubt anyone can prove the effect of mma on traditional schools. that is especially true with the big effect the bad economy has had on everyone.

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Mcdojos are what is hurting traditional martial arts more than anything. MMA is a whole different ball game than classical styles. From what I see, no. There are still people who want what works and has been proven, and have no interests in sports.

There has been, and always will be a need, demand, and desire for the great arts. However that being said, I do think MMA is in the spotlight with all the popularity. But it still hasn't snuffed out boxing, nor can it. Same for "TMA."

EDIT: Increased perhaps.Many watch UFC and want to pursue it. Not all people have an MMA gym in there area, and as such may pursue martial arts that are available. There may be a small decline in number of TMA practitioners, in recent years, but tradition isn't going anywhere.

I haven't done an official study or anything, but I would have to say it has. In the area where I live, it seems like it has become harder to find traditional martial arts school. But there does seem to be a decent number of MMA or BJJ schools around. I'd say TMA's popularity has decreased as fighting arts. There used to be a time (prior to the UFC) where when if someone said they do "karate" people thought that meant they were dangerous. Now, it seems like that has the opposite effect.

I think TKD will always have stability though because of its "sport" and isn't necessarily concerned with real life fighting. Just as a boxer isn't really concerned about real fighting, but is instead concerned about the sport of boxing.

Other arts that may not have a popular Olympic sport will probably be impacted the most.

I want people to think real hard about what Dana White said. He said something along the lines of how many boxing gyms are there in every city not very many how many martial arts schools in those same city a lot more. The people have spoken martial arts are what the people love martial arts Martial arts is a sport about martial arts. it is not martial arts, but it is a fighting system. It is NOT about violence it is about competition. Some people like to argue that MMA is about ego stroking. Who has had there ego stroked more in the past twenty years, Royce Gracie or Micheal Jordan. Maybe Chuck Liddell or Mike Tyson. Go start in those sports if that is your arguement. If you look at any top name MMA fighter they all say the same thing "evey Martial art has something to give." I also would like to point out something else dana white said. He accredited Bruce Lee as being one of the founding fathers of MMA -take that for what you will- Edit: messed up. I meant to say Mixed martail arts is a sport not a martial art. Sorry bout that

In many areas, attendance is down across the board. The Recession has taken it toll on martial arts in general. In some areas, Martial arts attendance is up, it just depends on the demographics. Areas with a lot off MMA schools might not have as many TMA schools and vise a versa. Mcdojos have hurt the reputation of TMA because they exist to only make money and teach nothing useful. Real schools are doing well.

I’m not sure it’s had much impact at all. A few years ago at a school I was helping we would get people coming in asking for MMA training because they were under the impression that it was the most practical self-defense method. Since we didn’t do cage fighting, they would leave looking for people who did.

Flash forward to now, and we’re starting to see some former (and even current) MMA people coming to our school looking for street self-defense work.

If nothing else, I’d say that MMA has, in a way, aided self-defense oriented schools because MMA clubs give people who enjoy “fighting” (for lack of better words) a place to go and do exactly that. It makes for more harmony in a dojo.

Honestly, for most karate schools, I’d dare say that they wouldn’t normally attract people who want to compete in the MMA in the first place. It’s a different philosophy and specialization.

Overall, it has helped spark more interest in the martial arts. People stop and see me while I'm teaching and ask if that's what I do. I have to tell them that it's not what I do and then I show them what I do and some stay and become my students some don't. The only real good MMA gym near me is about an hour away and I tell people about them in case they are interested. I've met those (MMA) people and they are wonderful people who respect me and I respect them. I would have to say that it has helped and not hurt.

Yah sort of, what I see is MMA is the new generation of fighting. As time goes athletes, martial arts,etc. are constantly finding new and improved techniques and training methods. Many traditional MA have a lot of great techniques but mma has the advantage of stealing moves from here and there and forming a ultimate style based on their skills. MA will always be around for young kids because most parents don't there kid in mma until there older.

Sure helped me in the last town I lived in before moving here.

They opened MMA place a few blocks away from my little dojo. One of my students had a brother going there. Soon I had most of them coming to me too. They still played their sport, but came to me for extra training. Their teacher too.

Fact is, I have had nothing but good experiences with MMA types, students and teachers too.

Only here do MMA folks come off as a bunch of nuthuggers jealous because they think we have something they don't. We do too, but they could have it as easily as we but for some effort.

I wish we had more good MMA folks here too, the half dozen we have are by far outweighed by the highly misinformed.

yes,but any good tma takes advantage of that and diversifies after all mma is pretty much tma without katas,bunkai,forms or tradition.

mma's that i teach and others ive met from other clubs are nothing like the opionated know all losers that answer on here.never had a bad experience with mma,s until on here.