Matt Fiddes

What Matt Fiddes does

Matt Fiddes is a UK-originated, founder-led martial arts and dance franchisor that claims to operate the largest chain of martial arts schools in the world, with more than 2,000 franchise locations across the UK, Portugal, Cyprus, Australia, and other international markets. The core offering is age-segmented Taekwondo-based programs (Kinder Matts, Mighty Matts, Juniors, Adults & Family, Ladies Only) plus street dance (MF Dance), delivered through independent franchisees and supplemented by MF Online for virtual classes. The founder, Matt Fiddes, holds an 8th Degree Black Belt and is the central brand asset, leveraging his prior association with Michael Jackson and recurring mainstream media appearances to drive franchise recruitment and student enrollment.

The business operates a multi-brand franchise and ancillary services portfolio, monetizing through initial franchise fees, ongoing royalties from the 2,000+ locations, tuition collected at the franchisee level, branded merchandise via shop.mattfiddes.com, and the MF Club and MF Prestige business mentorship platforms targeted at aspiring entrepreneurs. Adjacent brand extensions include MF Nurseries (early childhood education) and MF Properties (real estate). Marketing is heavily driven by the founder's personal brand across Instagram, Facebook, X, WhatsApp, podcast interviews, and school-based anti-bullying campaigns, supported by International Master Class Events and Championships as community-building mechanisms. The corporate entity is private, founder-owned, headquartered in the UK with international offices, and operates with a very lean HQ staff of approximately five employees.

Name

Matt Fiddes

Legal name

Matt Fiddes

Website

https://mattfiddes.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Matt Fiddes is a UK-founded, founder-led martial arts and dance franchisor operating the self-described largest chain of martial arts schools globally, with 2,000+ franchise locations and ancillary mentorship, nursery, and property brands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Martial Arts and Dance Education (Franchise)

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Kids & Youth Martial Arts Programs (HSADADAG), Workshops, Webinars & Live Masterclasses (MPACALAD)

Keywords

• Martial arts schools
• Dance education
• Franchise business
• Business mentorship
• Anti-bullying programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Devon

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Franchise Operations: Franchise fees and ongoing royalties from over 2,000 franchise locations worldwide. Franchisees pay for the right to operate under the Matt Fiddes Martial Arts and MF Dance brands.
2. Tuition and Class Fees: Fees charged to students attending martial arts and dance classes across franchise locations.
3. Business Mentorship Programs: MF Club and MF Prestige platforms provide business mentorship and entrepreneurial training for aspiring business partners.
4. Merchandise and Shop: Online shop (shop.mattfiddes.com) selling franchise-only merchandise and branded products.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Matt Fiddes operates the world's largest chain of martial arts schools under a franchise model, offering Taekwondo-based martial arts instruction through age-specific programs (Kinder Matts, Mighty Matts, Juniors, Adults & Family Classes, Ladies Only), street dance classes via MF Dance, and business mentorship through MF Club and MF Prestige. The company distributes its programs through over 2,000 independently owned franchise locations worldwide, supplemented by MF Online for virtual classes and an e-commerce shop for branded merchandise.

Product overview

Matt Fiddes operates a multi-brand franchise business centered on martial arts and dance education programs. The core offerings consist of Matt Fiddes Martial Arts (with age-specific programs including Kinder Matts, Mighty Matts, Juniors, Adults & Family Classes, and Ladies Only) and MF Dance (street dance classes), both available through a network of over 2,000 franchise locations worldwide and via MF Online for remote learning. The broader MF brand ecosystem includes MF Club and MF Prestige (business mentorship platforms), MF Nurseries (early childhood education), and MF Properties (real estate), collectively representing a diversified brand portfolio that extends beyond education into entrepreneurship services and property investment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MF Martial Arts: Core martial arts school franchise offering classes for Kinder Matts, Mighty Matts, Juniors, Adults & Family Classes, and Ladies Only programs
• MF Dance
• Kinder Matts
• Mighty Matts
• MF.Club
• MF Prestige

Products and services

• Matt Fiddes Martial Arts (MF Martial Arts) The flagship martial arts school franchise program offering Taekwondo-based classes across multiple age-specific programs including Kinder Matts (young children), Mighty Matts, Juniors, Adults & Family Classes, and Ladies Only classes. Operated by independent franchisees under the Matt Fiddes brand worldwide.
• Kinder Matts

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,000+ franchise locations worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Dave KovarminorOthersRenowned martial arts instructor based in the USA who trains MF instructors, including Master Chris Weir. Partnered for instructor development and curriculum enhancement.
• Ryan CanavancoreOthersBusiness partner to Matt Fiddes who provided swift action during emergency situation involving Master Chris Weir in Australia. Described as a key business partner in MF organization.
• Chris WeircoreOthersHead of curriculum for MF Australia and close family friend. Survived near-fatal medical emergency during which business partner Ryan Canavan provided swift assistance. Key figure in MF organization.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Anytime Fitness: Global 24/7 fitness franchise with thousands of locations worldwide. Comparable as a high-velocity franchised fitness/recreation model that competes for the same family and adult fitness-discretionary spending.
• UFC Gym: Fitness franchise brand leveraging the UFC MMA IP to offer martial arts-inspired group fitness, personal training, and youth programs. Comparable as a broader martial-arts-adjacent fitness franchise targeting similar demographics.
• Gold's Gym: Global fitness franchise chain offering memberships, group classes, and personal training. Comparable as a broad membership-based sports/recreation franchise with international footprint serving adults and families.
• 9Round Fitness: International kickboxing-themed fitness franchise with hundreds of locations. Comparable as a martial-arts-derived fitness franchise operating on a similar recurring-membership model with multi-site global footprint.

Direct peers

• Premier Martial Arts: Multi-discipline martial arts franchise offering karate, kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu classes for kids and adults across many US locations. Comparable as a youth-focused martial arts franchise chain.
• ATA Martial Arts (American Taekwondo Association): One of the world's largest Taekwondo-based martial arts franchise organizations, with hundreds of licensed locations globally. Closely comparable to Matt Fiddes given shared Taekwondo curriculum focus and franchise distribution model.
• Gracie Barra: Global Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu franchise network with hundreds of schools worldwide. Comparable as a martial arts-focused franchise system targeting youth and adult learners through structured belt-curriculum instruction.
• Tiger Schulmann's Martial Arts: Large US-based martial arts franchise chain offering karate, kickboxing, and MMA classes across multiple age groups. Directly comparable to Matt Fiddes as a multi-location martial arts school franchise system targeting kids and adults.

Emerging players

• The Little Gym: International franchise offering structured movement, gymnastics, and martial arts classes for children. Comparable in targeting the same Kinder Matts/Mighty Matts demographic with parent-paid enrichment programs.
• Kids Kicking Cancer (and similar kids martial arts nonprofits): Children-focused martial arts programs with a charitable/character-development mission. Compares to Matt Fiddes' Kinder Matts/Mighty Matts youth programs that emphasize anti-bullying, confidence, and discipline rather than competition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MattFiddesUK
• Facebookfacebook.com/OfficialMattFiddes
• Instagraminstagram.com/officialmattfiddes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/matt-fiddes

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Matt Fiddes