Wholesale Boxing and Martial Arts Clothing and Shoes

For Americans martial arts is not just a sport — it is a way of bringing discipline to their lives.

IBIS World reports as of 2023, there are 41,849 martial arts businesses including schools and dojos in the US. And that’s a 5.9% increase from last year.

This means more people are getting into martial arts and they need the right apparel.

Globally, the martial arts industry is growing too. It was worth $90.25 billion in 2022 which is projected to reach $ 171.14 billion by 2028.

These stats indicate a high growth potential for those selling or planning to sell martial arts apparel – be it retail shops or schools.

So, knowing which martial arts are popular in the US can guide what apparel to stock up on, helping reduce unsold inventory.

3 Popular Martial Arts and Their Apparel Items to Stock Up

Boxing

According to Statista, boxing was the 4th most liked sport in the US in 2022 and it’s still very popular, especially among Gen Z.

This surge is partly driven by social media and notable figures in the boxing world like Tyson Fury and the Paul brothers, Jake and Logan.

With thousands of girls and boys participating in boxing, there’s a ripe market for boxing apparel that includes:

Clothing: Stretchable and airy tank tops, tees, hoodies, pullover jackets, shorts, leggings, jogger pants

Shoes: Low-top, mid-top, and high-top boxing shoes.

Gloves: Training gloves, bag gloves, professional fighting gloves.

Other Accessories: Hand wraps, headgear, mouth guard, kidney belt, hand pads, etc. 

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu 

Due to the high popularity of Brazilian Jiu-Jistu (BJJ) in the US, many Americans got trained and started their own BJJ schools.

This led to an increasing demand for BJJ apparel items such as:

Clothing or Gi: Kimono-style uniform— loose-fitting pants and a robe-like top that closes with a belt and denotes the wearer’s rank (based on the skill level)

For “non-Gi BJJ,” half or full-sleeve rash guard (tight-fitting shirt) and grappling shorts are worn instead. 

Shoes: Not required for this combat sport.

Kenpo Karate

Kenpo Karate is one of the most practiced martial arts in the US.

As people of all ages and genders practice this combat sport, particularly for self-defense, the sales of its uniform can generate high revenue for your business.

Here’s what the Kenpo Karate uniform includes:

Clothing or Karategi: Loose-fitting pants with a jacket or pullover top (women wear a t-shirt, tank top, or sports bra under the jacket).

Belts: White, yellow, orange, blue, purple, brown, and black (according to the skill level).

Shoes: Usually played barefoot, so no shoes needed.

Besides, there are other popular martial arts like Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), Kung Fu, Taekwondo, and Muay Thai.

No matter the type of martial art, keep these two things in mind when buying apparel in bulk:

Material

Know that martial arts uniforms usually come in two types of materials:

• Cotton-poly blend (55% cotton and 45% polyester): It is lightweight and well-known for regular training for beginners and seasoned practitioners.
• 100% cotton fabric: Available in different weights (light to heavy), this material is often chosen for demonstrations and competition.

And for shoes, leather and synthetic material is good as it is durable, supportive, and provide adequate ventilation.

Diversity

Each martial art has its own unique dress code. Having a diverse range of products can help meet the needs of numerous martial arts disciplines.

This includes clothes, shoes, and accessories in various:

• Styles — Training, competition, or high-grade legends wear
• Sizes — Small, Medium, or Large
• Colors— Belts of different colors to align with the grading system

Now, let's look at the demographic data. 

Martial Arts Apparel Industry Demographics

Generally, the martial arts apparel market serves a wide range of customers— from young kids to young and old adults. Among these, there are:

• 60% men
• 40% women

When we consider the age, an average martial arts practitioner is 33 years old, although kids aged 6-12 make up the majority of martial arts practitioners.

These demographic insights can help with marketing strategies, allowing for targeted advertising and promotions which can drive sales up.