Tiger Martial Arts

What Tiger Martial Arts does

Tiger Martial Arts operates as Barrington Tiger Academy, a privately held, family-focused martial arts school founded in 1984 in Barrington, Illinois. The school delivers multi-discipline martial arts instruction spanning Karate, KiMudo, Hapkido, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Judo, and traditional Okinawan weapons training (bo, sai, tonfa, nunchaku, kama), serving students ages 4 through adult under four age-segmented programs: Little Tigers (4-6), Youth Karate (7-12), Teen Karate (13-17), and Adult Karate (18+). Operations are conducted from a single 3,000 sq ft facility at 762 West Northwest Highway featuring Olympic Swain training floors, a full-sized MMA cage, functional training equipment, a parent viewing area, and a pro shop. The instruction team comprises four black-belt-holding instructors led by Master David Garrison (8th degree Black Belt, 30+ years experience) with combined experience exceeding 100 years.

The business operates on a subscription-based recurring revenue model with month-to-month, 3-month, 6-month, and annual membership tiers offering unlimited, 8-class, or 4-class-per-month access, with no long-term contracts required. Ancillary revenue streams include one-time uniform and sparring equipment sales (~$65 uniform package, ~$120 sparring gear), belt promotion testing fees, and TNT private/small-group conditioning sessions delivered at the facility, workplace, or client home. A Sports Nutrition Program, developed in collaboration with LT Sport Nutrition experts, provides personalized meal plans integrated with training. Customer acquisition is driven by a free trial offer (7-14 days), local geographic reach across Barrington, Lake Zurich, Palatine, Cary, Fox River Grove, and broader Chicagoland communities, and organic word-of-mouth referrals supported by digital channels (website, social media, email newsletter). The academy reports a 95% student retention rate, 98% parent satisfaction, over 100 black belts promoted, and zero serious injuries on record.

Ownership and operational control are concentrated with founding Head Instructor Master David Garrison, consistent with a founder-owned independent business model. The company has no external funding, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and operates exclusively as a direct-to-consumer service business with no online courses or marketplace distribution. All revenue derives from a single physical location with no geographic expansion or franchise activity disclosed.

Name

Tiger Martial Arts

Legal name

Barrington Tiger Academy

Website

https://tigerumat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Barrington Tiger Academy (Tiger Martial Arts) is a privately held, family-focused martial arts school founded in 1984 in Barrington, IL, offering multi-discipline instruction in Karate, BJJ, Muay Thai, Judo, Hapkido, KiMudo, and Okinawan weapons to students ages 4 through adult via subscription memberships at a single 3,000 sq ft facility serving Chicagoland families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Martial Arts Instruction

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Traditional Martial Arts Schools (Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, etc.) (HSADADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grappling & Submission Arts Training (Judo, BJJ, Wrestling) (HSADADAC), Combat Sports Gyms (Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai) (HSADADAB), Weapons & Historical Martial Arts Training (Kobudo, FMA, HEMA) (HSADADAF), Kids & Youth Martial Arts Programs (HSADADAG)

Keywords

• Martial arts instruction
• Karate classes
• Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
• Muay Thai training
• Self defense classes

Headquarters

HQ city

Barrington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Monthly Membership Fees: Core recurring revenue from month-to-month, 3-month, 6-month, and annual membership plans. Unlimited training, 8 classes per month, and 4 classes per month package options. Family discounts available. No long-term contracts required, maintaining low customer commitment barriers.
2. Uniform and Equipment Sales: One-time sales of martial arts uniforms (gi) and belts for new students (~$65 uniform package), and optional sparring gear for advanced students (~$120).
3. Belt Testing Fees: Belt promotion examinations held every 8-12 weeks. Small testing fees apply for belt promotions, with advance notification provided to families.
4. Private and Small Group Instruction: One-on-one specialized TNT (Tiger Next-level Training) conditioning program combining Muay Thai, Tae Kwon Do, boxing, conditioning drills, stretching, and nutrition. Available at the facility, workplace, or home location for an additional fee.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tiger Martial Arts (Barrington Tiger Academy) delivers in-person group martial arts classes across Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Judo, Kîmudo, Hapkido, and Okinawan weapons at its Barrington, IL dojang, structured by age group from Little Tigers (4-6) to Adults (18+). The core offering also includes Self-Defense classes, a TNT one-on-one conditioning and fitness program, and a personalized Sports Nutrition Program. Customers buy recurring month-to-month or longer-term memberships (Unlimited, 8-class, or 4-class packages) with no long-term contracts, supplemented by one-time uniform/equipment purchases and private training fees.

Product overview

Tiger Martial Arts (Barrington Tiger Academy) is a family-focused martial arts school in Barrington, IL, offering instruction in multiple disciplines including Karate, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Judo, Kīmudo, Hapkido, Okinawan weapons training, Self Defense, and MMA. The school provides personalized meal plans through its Sports Nutrition Program. Programs are structured by age group from Little Tigers (ages 4-6) through Youth (7-12), Teens (13-17), and Adults (18+), with specialized offerings including one-on-one TNT Personal Martial Arts Fitness Training. Founded in 1984, the school serves Barrington, Lake Zurich, Palatine, and surrounding communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Karate Classes Traditional karate program for all skill levels from beginners to advanced, covering kata, kumite, and self-defense applications, taught across the academy's age-segmented programs.
• BJJ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Classes Ground-based grappling martial art emphasizing submissions, holds, chokes, and leverage-based techniques, offered to students of all ages and skill levels.
• Muay Thai Classes Thai boxing program covering punches, kicks, elbows, knees, and clinch fighting, included within the academy's group class offerings.
• Judo Classes Traditional Judo program teaching throws, holds, joint locks, pins, and grappling techniques to students progressing through the academy's belt system.
• Self Defense Classes Classes teaching students how to protect themselves against a variety of threats and attacks using kicks, strikes, and joint locks.
• Traditional Adult MMA Training Mixed martial arts program for adults 18+ integrating striking, grappling, conditioning, and fight strategies across the academy's supported disciplines.
• Children's Kimodo Karate Martial arts program for children teaching self-defense and vital life skills in a safe, supportive, educational, and fun environment.
• Kîmudo Program Korean sword art tracing lineage to ancient warrior traditions, including forms, techniques, and philosophical teachings, taught as part of the integrated curriculum.
• Hapkido Classes Korean martial art blending punches, kicks, joint locks, and throws using an opponent's energy against them, offered across multiple age groups.
• Advanced Okinawan Weapons Training Program covering traditional Okinawan weapons including bo, sai, tonfa, nunchaku, and kama, available to advanced students.
• TNT Personal Martial Arts Fitness Training One-on-one specialized conditioning combining Tae Kwon Do, Thai boxing, conditioning drills, stretching, and nutrition, delivered at the facility, workplace, or home for an additional fee.
• Sports Nutrition Program Personalized meal plans tailored to individual needs for weight loss, muscle gain, and athletic performance, integrated with the academy's training programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% student retention rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• 9Round Fitness: Specialty kickboxing fitness franchise with 30-minute circuit workouts. Comparable on the Muay Thai/kickboxing portion of the curriculum and the recurring-membership fitness model, though narrower in discipline breadth.

Direct peers

• Gracie Barra: World's largest Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu organization with hundreds of schools worldwide. Directly comparable on the BJJ and grappling portion of Barrington Tiger Academy's curriculum and on the recurring-membership studio model.
• UFC GYM: Fitness franchise combining MMA-inspired training (striking, grappling, conditioning) with group classes in a premium facility setting. Comparable on MMA-themed curriculum, MMA cage facility, and tiered membership pricing.
• American Top Team: Premier MMA academy chain with multiple U.S. locations offering striking, grappling, and MMA under credentialed instructors. Comparable on multi-discipline MMA curriculum and instructor-credential-driven positioning.
• Tiger Schulmann's Martial Arts: Long-standing multi-discipline martial arts school chain offering karate, kickboxing, and self-defense to families and adults across the U.S. Closest comparable in the multi-discipline traditional-to-combat mix and family-focused positioning.
• Karate America: Multi-location karate instruction franchise serving families and children across the U.S. Comparable on age-segmented karate programs (Little Ninjas through adults), belt progression, and family discounts.
• Choi Kwang Do: International martial arts organization operating through affiliated schools focused on a single traditional discipline with a health-and-character-development orientation. Comparable on traditional martial arts instruction, belt progression, and family-friendly positioning.
• ATA Martial Arts (American Taekwondo Association): National traditional martial arts organization operating through licensed schools offering taekwondo, leadership, and character development. Comparable on belt-progression curriculum, youth life-skills framing, and school-affiliation model.
• Premier Martial Arts: Large U.S. martial arts franchise offering karate, kickboxing, and self-defense programs for kids and adults through franchised studios. Directly comparable on multi-discipline family programming and franchise-style operating model.

Regional players

• Evolve MMA: Asia-based multi-discipline MMA academy (BJJ, Muay Thai, boxing, wrestling) serving as a benchmark for premium multi-discipline martial arts brands. Comparable on integrated multi-discipline curriculum and instructor depth, though primarily a regional player outside the U.S.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AKFTigerMartialArts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tiger Martial Arts