Martial Arts Federation International

What Martial Arts Federation International does

Martial Arts Federation International (MAFI) is a London-based, non-profit martial arts federation founded in 1985 that delivers Shotokan Karate instruction and related services across the UK. Its core offering is a recurring schedule of weekly karate classes at dojos in North London (£9.50 per session or £36 monthly) and Central London (£15 per session, with bundled packages), supplemented by sparring sessions, 1-hour intensive classes, and an annual Summer Advanced Course capped at 40 participants (£45/day). Membership is tiered through a formal belt grading system running from 10th Kyu (White) up through Dan ranks, and the federation runs an active Squad Selection Program (2025/2026) that develops athletes for National, European, and World Championships under its affiliation with the World Union of Karate Federations (WUKF).

MAFI extends its product surface through add-on modules: Private Lessons One-on-One delivered at customers' homes (£60/hour) for personalized grading-syllabus or squad-development coaching, recurring grading (belt-testing) sessions, and a small e-commerce shop selling MAFI-branded embroidered karate suits in lightweight and heavyweight variants. Beyond the dojo, the federation runs after-school karate clubs in schools in partnership with local boroughs and charities, reaching a youth segment via institutional channels. The teaching methodology pairs traditional Shotokan Karate principles with modern coaching techniques, delivered by a roster of senior instructors led by President and Chief Instructor Renshi Alex Sylvan (7th Dan).

The go-to-market is predominantly community-led and event-driven: acquisition comes through beginner-friendly trial classes, word-of-mouth referrals, school and borough partnerships, and visibility at gradings, inter-club championships, and international events. Revenue is generated through five streams — class/membership fees (subscription and pay-as-you-go), grading examination fees, summer advanced-course fees, private lessons, and karate equipment sales. Customer segments span the general public (beginners through adults), competitive athletes seeking squad selection, and schools/youth organizations hosting after-school clubs. The federation is privately held, has no disclosed external funding, and operates with 11–50 employees across two principal London locations (head office at 274 Caledonian Road and the main training dojo at Haverstock School).

Name

Martial Arts Federation International

Legal name

Martial Arts Federation International

Website

https://mafinternational.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Martial Arts Federation International is a London-based, non-profit Shotokan Karate federation founded in 1985 that teaches martial arts to the general public, schools, and competitive athletes through weekly classes, belt gradings, squad training, private lessons, and branded equipment, affiliated with the World Union of Karate Federations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Martial Arts Instruction

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Combat Sports Gyms & Dojos (MMA, Boxing, Wrestling, Martial Arts) (MPAKAJAG), Kids & Youth Martial Arts Programs (HSADADAG), Competition & Tournament Team Training (HSADADAJ)

Keywords

• Shotokan karate instruction
• Martial arts training
• Belt grading system
• Karate competition training
• Karate equipment sales

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Class Fees and Membership: Weekly and monthly class fees for karate instruction at various locations. Pricing varies by region (North London vs Central London) with pay-as-you-go and subscription options available.
2. Grading Fees: Fees for belt grading examinations where students progress through the colored belt system toward black belt.
3. Summer Advanced Course: Premium advanced training seminars led by senior instructors with limited capacity for focused technical tuition.
4. Private Lessons: One-on-one instruction at customers' homes covering grading syllabus and squad development training.
5. Karate Equipment Sales: Sale of MAFI branded karate suits (gi) including lightweight and heavy weight options, with embroidery and included belts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MAFI delivers Shotokan Karate instruction through weekly classes at dojos in North and Central London, with supplementary offerings that include one-on-one private home lessons, periodic belt grading examinations under a 10-Kyu-to-Dan ranking system, an annual Summer Advanced Course, and a Squad Selection Program that prepares athletes for National, European, and World Championships. The federation also sells branded MAFI embroidered karate suits (gi) in lightweight and heavyweight variants through an online shop, and operates after-school karate clubs in partnership with local schools and boroughs.

Product overview

Martial Arts Federation International (MAFI) is a karate federation offering a unified portfolio of martial arts instruction and related services centered on Shotokan Karate. The core offering is regular karate classes across London and the UK, supplemented by specialized add-on modules including private one-on-one lessons, the MAFI Summer Advanced Course, grading (belt-testing) sessions, and a Squad Selection Program for competitive athletes. MAFI also operates an e-commerce shop selling branded MAFI Embroidered Karate Suits in both lightweight and heavyweight variants. The organization is affiliated with the World Union of Karate Federations (WUKF).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shotokan Karate Classes Regular weekly Shotokan Karate classes across North and Central London dojos, covering beginner-friendly instruction through sparring and intensive 1-hour sessions, designed for students of all ages and skill levels.
• Private Lessons One-on-One Personalized one-on-one karate instruction delivered at customers' homes covering the MAFI Grading Syllabus or Squad Development Training, priced at £60 per hour with additional hour and 30-minute add-ons, targeted at individuals seeking focused curriculum and accelerated progress.
• MAFI Summer Advanced Course Annual full-day advanced karate seminar led by senior instructors at the London Dojo for karate enthusiasts seeking focused technical training, priced at £45 per participant and limited to 40 attendees.
• Squad Selection Program Talent identification and development program for existing and next-generation karate athletes, including training sessions, assessments, mentorship, and competitive pathways to National, European, and World Championships via WUKF affiliation.
• MAFI Grading Sessions Recurring belt grading examination events following the MAFI belt syllabus, covering colored belt levels from 10th Kyu White through 1st Kyu Brown and black belt Dan ranks (Sho Dan, Ni Dan, Sandan and beyond), conducted at Haverstock School and other venues.
• MAFI Embroidered Karate Suits (Shop) Branded MAFI karate uniforms (gi) sold directly through the online shop in lightweight (8oz polycotton, £27.99–£35.99) and heavyweight traditional Japanese cut (12oz cotton, £59.99–£76.99) variants, sized 100cm–200cm and including a white belt.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pathway from first lesson to black belt and competitive athlete

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• World Union of Karate Federations (WUKF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMAFI is affiliated with WUKF, a major international karate governing body. This affiliation enables MAFI members to pursue internationally recognized certification and provides pathways to compete in WUKF World Championships and other international competitions. MAFI recently participated in the WUKF World Championship held in Malmö, Sweden.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Premier Martial Arts: Franchise network of martial arts studios offering karate, kickboxing, and youth programs with structured curriculum and grading. Comparable to MAFI on instruction delivery, family/youth focus, and supplementary retail/private offerings.
• Tiger Schulmann's Martial Arts: Multi-location martial arts school chain offering karate and kickboxing with belt progression and private lessons. Comparable business model to MAFI's club-based instruction, multi-tier membership, and premium private training, though US-focused.
• Shotokan Karate International (SKI): International Shotokan Karate federation offering graded syllabus, instructor certification, and championships. Closely comparable to MAFI's traditional Shotokan methodology with international competition pathway via WUKF.
• Bushido Martial Arts UK: UK-based karate and martial arts club network offering traditional karate instruction and belt grading pathways across multiple locations, directly comparable to MAFI's club-based Shotokan delivery model in the UK.

Broad incumbents

• British Karate Federation: UK karate governing body providing recognized gradings and national/international representation. Comparable to MAFI's federation-style affiliation and certification role within the UK karate ecosystem.
• Japan Karate Association (JKA): The foundational global Shotokan Karate organization with worldwide affiliated dojos. Comparable as a top-tier Shotokan federation but operates at vastly larger international scale than MAFI.
• Karate England (formerly English Karate Federation): National governing body for karate in England providing affiliation, gradings, and competition pathways. Comparable to MAFI's WUKF-affiliated federation role, though operating at national scale rather than single-city focus.

Regional players

• United Martial Arts Schools: Network of UK martial arts clubs providing karate, kickboxing, and self-defense instruction. Comparable to MAFI on community-led club model and multi-discipline family/youth programming within the UK.
• Suzuki Shotokan Karate Association: UK-based traditional Shotokan organization with affiliated clubs, gradings, and instructor certification. Comparable to MAFI on traditional karate methodology and UK club network structure.

Others

• World Karate Federation (WKF): International Olympic-recognized karate governing body. Adjacent peer relevant to MAFI's competition pathway ambitions and federation structure, though WKF is sport-karate oriented versus MAFI's traditional Shotokan focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/martialartsfederation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/martial-arts-federation-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 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 Martial Arts Federation International