Percentage of People that will end up competing

[Paul8474]

Hi guys,

Just out of curiosity, what percentage of people that enter a striking gym will end up competing at least once? Examples include boxing/muay thai/kickboxing. I spoke to one of my coaches awhile back about this topic and was interested in what others had to say.

 

[j123]

Hi guys,

Just out of curiosity, what percentage of people that enter a striking gym will end up competing at least once? Examples include boxing/muay thai/kickboxing. I spoke to one of my coaches awhile back about this topic and was interested in what others had to say.

Do you mean competing as in just competing in general or those that end up going down the path of becoming a pro? Because the numbers will probably vary. Usually most types that join combat sport gyms are:

-pure hobbyists
won't compete and the gym to them is for fitness, social life, etc. Sometimes ex pros who've been injured in some way become hobbyists

-serious hobbyist
these types will take maybe 1-3 fights and will never compete anymore, but will still keep active in the gym. Competing to them is trying a new experience

-ammy fighter
Competitors, it ranges. Sometimes serious, sometimes doing it for fun. It's not rare to come across those who compete alot too much and too early, but burn out before their 10th fight, and end up back at the serious hobbyist group

-High level ammy
Guys who you can tell are going to be pros. Theyve made the decision they're going to do this as a career. These are usually guys with 10+ fights

-pros
Guys who are competing as their career path. Pretty self explanatory

Overall I'd say roughly 10% of a gym will have competed in some form, but for them to get serious and keep on competing to a high level, maybe 1%. It's normal for gyms to have 100-200 members, and their fight team (ammy+pro) ends up with 5-6 people. The exception to this are fighter only gyms, where it's purely for fighters, but that's a terrible business plan, and those guys go bankrupt within a year or 2

 

[SandisLL]

Good explanation. In Europe if 10% of gym compete, this is high percentage.
Not rarity that club offer also gym services for bodybuilding, wieghtlifting amateurs etc, self defense class etc stuff, aerobic programmes. Bills and taxes must be paid.
serious hobbyists and perspective amateurs might re think their life plans, because they are college/ university students or , forced to work paid job full time, sometimes both reasons together.
Competitive sportsmans at good ( even in local meaning ) level are value beause concurence between gyms, better advertisement than successful fighters can't imagine.

 

[Cole train]

1 procent of people who will walk into gym become ammys

1 procent of people who become ammys become pros

1 procent of pros become international level pros

 

[Davem10]

From the gyms ive been to id say at the very minimum 50% of the gym have taken fights, thats the bare minimum

 

[SandisLL]

That's good.
For low populated localities not rarity, that they have no other chance than offer additional services.
One world is large city, another if in municipality with ~20000 inhabitants 2 clubs / dojo co exists.

 

[j123]

Good explanation. In Europe if 10% of gym compete, this is high percentage.
Not rarity that club offer also gym services for bodybuilding, wieghtlifting amateurs etc, self defense class etc stuff, aerobic programmes. Bills and taxes must be paid.
serious hobbyists and perspective amateurs might re think their life plans, because they are college/ university students or , forced to work paid job full time, sometimes both reasons together.
Competitive sportsmans at good ( even in local meaning ) level are value beause concurence between gyms, better advertisement than successful fighters can't imagine.

Over here, most gyms don't offer services outside of martial arts, aside from "combat fitness", which is pretty much just circuits , kettlebells, and cardio workouts. It's pretty much the niche of niche.

I think ammy / pro is a north american thing. In Thailand everything is pro. I hear in Europe it's similar, usually east Europe. Not sure if that's true, or if there are actually amateurs (excl. Boxing, I'm talking about KB/MT/MMA)

People don't like to hear it, esp fighters turned gym owners. But hobbyists are the target market. Catering only to fighters is a guarantee for bankrupt. They train for free, and give a 10% cut on fights. Avg new and mid pro makes something like $600-$2000 a fight (2000 being lucky), and you collect 10% off that. So that's $60-$200 x4-5 for your yearly income. Not looking to good on rent when it costs $5k a month alone.

whereas lots and lots of joes to are looking to slim down and have fun are willing to pay gym fees of $140-200 a month.

 

[iwillbebackin3weeks]

I do not know, but Im 100% sure that the number will be much lower in the next few years.

 

[j123]

I do not know, but Im 100% sure that the number will be much lower in the next few years.

What makes you say that?

 

[SandisLL]

In Baltics, yes, they start as amateurs, for KB always with Kick Light "bouts". Small market, not all are paid for bouts. For tournaments registration fees also are charged, when without sponsor or club support, then parents pay for these fees. If good results, then easier to get sponsors, later become pro. In KB concurence relatively high between amateurs - beginners and ami. Gyms might teach for free if there clearly showed potential, but of course this is risk.
Muay Thai and MMA come in Baltics later than KB.
Poland and Belorussia larger market, more population.

 

[shincheckin]

1 procent of people who will walk into gym become ammys

1 procent of people who become ammys become pros

1 procent of pros become international level pros

couldnt have said it better!

we are NOT the 99% lol

 

[j123]

...Gyms might teach for free if there clearly showed potential, but of course this is risk

There's been a few people over here like that. But I've only seen bad experiences, guys who are potential "UFC-calibur" fighters (not my saying, but the coaches who drink their kool-aid said so), but shit happens, said fighters either burn out, or just get lazy and coast life, and you have a coach who PAID for their lifestyle with nothing to show for after a few years.

 

[Paul8474]

Hi guys,

Thanks for all your responses! When I was speaking with my coach awhile back he mentioned only half a dozen people competing in a gym with over 100 people.

Just to be specific this question was tailored towards US gyms.

I’d agree the vast majority of marketing is towards people trying to find a fun way to workout. And some people interested in really learning on how to punch.

 

[Uchi Mata]

More than half of the people at my gym compete or have competed, though for many of us it's only been a few times. There are a few serious amateurs and a handful of pros but I'd guess the median fight count is around 3. But we're also a very small gym, and my coach brought most of his fighters from his previous gym to his new one but fewer of the hobbyists made the jump.