Universal Martial Arts

What Universal Martial Arts does

Universal Martial Arts is a privately-held, single-location martial arts training studio operating from a fully equipped facility in the Walkergate area of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. Founded in 1994 and led by principal instructor Stephen Savage (30+ years of martial arts experience), the studio offers group classes 6 days a week across 3 training areas on 2 floors, serving children from age 4 through adults of all fitness levels. The instructional team consists of 8 DBS-checked coaches, several of whom are current or former competitive title-holders at English, British, European and World level.

The product portfolio is segmented by age and discipline. Children's programmes include Little Dragons (ages 4-6), Kids Karate (ages 6-13), Kids Kickboxing, and Junior Boxing (under 13). Adult programmes cover Boxing, Muay Thai Kickboxing, Kickboxing, MMA, and Ladies Only Martial Arts (ages 14+). A structured belt progression system runs from white belt through Black Belt Club, Masters and Excellence tiers, with formal belt tests conducted quarterly. A 1-week free trial is offered to all new members, and personal training is available by arrangement subject to instructor availability. The studio also sells martial arts equipment (gloves and uniforms) to long-term members.

The business operates as a direct-to-consumer service with no intermediaries, app, or digital distribution layer. Revenue is generated primarily through pay-as-you-go per-session fees (£5 adult / £4 child), supplemented by personal training sessions, quarterly belt testing fees, and equipment sales. The company has no external funding, no parent entity, and no disclosed subsidiaries; it relies on local reputation, word-of-mouth referrals, and reviews on Google, Facebook, and Yell.com for customer acquisition. Customer segments are entirely consumer-side, spanning individuals, families, couples, and groups within the Newcastle catchment.

Name

Universal Martial Arts

Legal name

Universal Martial Arts

Website

https://universalmartialarts.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Universal Martial Arts is a privately-held Newcastle martial arts studio offering group classes in kickboxing, boxing, Muay Thai, MMA, karate and ladies-only sessions for children (ages 4-13) and adults (14+), delivered by a team of 8 DBS-checked, title-holding instructors from a single multi-floor Walkergate facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Martial Arts Training Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Combat Sports Gyms & Dojos (MMA, Boxing, Wrestling, Martial Arts) (MPAKAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Combat Sports Gyms (Boxing, Kickboxing, Muay Thai) (HSADADAB), Kids & Youth Martial Arts Programs (HSADADAG), Traditional Martial Arts Schools (Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, etc.) (HSADADAA)

Keywords

• Martial arts training
• Boxing classes
• Kids kickboxing
• Muay Thai instruction
• Personal fitness coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Newcastle

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Per-Session Class Fees: Revenue generated from individual class sessions. Adult classes start from £5 per session, children's classes (under 13) from £4 per session. Customers pay per attendance without long-term commitment.
2. Personal Training: One-on-one or small group personal training sessions built around achieving specific fitness goals, available subject to instructor availability at premium pricing.
3. Equipment Sales: Sale of martial arts equipment including boxing gloves (both for loan/purchase) and martial arts uniforms for long-term members.
4. Belt Testing Fees: Belt progression system where students pay to participate in formal belt tests (every 3 months) to advance through coloured belt ranks from white to black belt.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Universal Martial Arts operates a single-location martial arts academy in Newcastle that delivers scheduled group classes in kickboxing, boxing, Muay Thai, karate, MMA, and ladies-only sessions to children (ages 4+) and adults (14+). The school also sells martial arts equipment and offers one-on-one personal training and a belt-testing progression system on a fee-per-test basis.

Product overview

Universal Martial Arts is a martial arts training academy offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs for both children and adults. The children's programs include Little Dragons (ages 4-6), Kids Karate (ages 6-13), Kids Junior Boxing (under 13), and Kids Kickboxing. The adult programs cover Boxing, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, MMA, and Ladies Only classes. Additional services include Personal Training sessions. The school operates from a fully equipped centre with three training areas across two floors, offering sessions six days a week, and provides a 1-week free trial for new members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Little Dragons Fun kickboxing classes for children ages 4 to 6 that introduce basic martial arts fundamentals in a playful, structured environment.
• Kids Karate Karate sessions for children aged 6 through 13 that cover belt progression from white through higher ranks, with Black Belt Club, Masters, and Excellence programs.
• Kids Junior Boxing Boxing classes for children under 13 that focus on footwork, technique, defensive movements, and core strength development.
• Kids Kickboxing Kickboxing classes for children of all fitness and ability levels that teach footwork, punches, kicks, and defensive movements combined with fitness drills.
• Adult Boxing Boxing classes for adults aged 14 and over teaching foundation boxing techniques, strength and conditioning drills, with options for sparring, bag work, and partner exercises.
• Adult Muay Thai Muay Thai kickboxing classes covering punches, elbows, knees, kicks, and clinch work, with sessions including warm-up, technique drills, and fitness workouts suitable for beginners to experienced fighters.
• Adult Kickboxing Kickboxing classes for all skill levels featuring traditional kickboxing techniques, bag work, pad drills, partner exercises, circuit training, and optional controlled sparring.
• Adult MMA Mixed Martial Arts training combining striking, grappling, and self-defence techniques from multiple disciplines, with high-energy drills and optional controlled sparring.
• Ladies Only Martial Arts Women-only martial arts classes for ages 14 and over, providing a safe and supportive environment for fitness, self-defence skills, and skill-building without the discomfort of a mixed-sex environment.
• Personal Training One-on-one or small group personal training sessions built around achieving specific fitness goals, available subject to instructor availability.
• Martial Arts Equipment Sales Sale of boxing gloves (available for loan or purchase) and martial arts uniforms to long-term members.
• Belt Testing and Progression Formal belt tests conducted approximately every 3 months that enable students to advance through coloured belt ranks from white belt to black belt, available alongside the Black Belt Club, Masters, and Excellence programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Children develop confidence, discipline, focus, and coordination through martial arts training
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Legends Boxing: US boxing fitness franchise offering pay-as-you-go boxing classes with a community focus. Comparable as a boxing-only group class model targeting similar adult fitness customers with similar pricing architecture.
• 9Round Fitness: International kickboxing fitness franchise built around 30-minute circuit-style kickboxing workouts. Comparable as a branded kickboxing studio targeting adults seeking structured, repeatable combat-sports fitness sessions.
• Straight Blast Gym (SBG): International MMA academy network offering striking, grappling, and competition-team training. Comparable as a multi-discipline combat-sports gym brand serving both hobbyists and competitors, similar to Universal Martial Arts' adult MMA/kickboxing/boxing mix.
• TITLE Boxing Club: Large US/International boxing and kickboxing fitness franchise offering pay-as-you-go group classes with a similar instructor-led, community-driven model. Comparable as a boxing/kickboxing gym chain competing for the same adult fitness-and-combat-sports customer.
• Kobox: London boxing-themed boutique gym combining boxing circuits with full-body conditioning. Comparable as a pay-per-class boxing studio targeting time-pressed adults seeking structured boxing fitness.
• Sweatbox Boxing: UK-based boxing gym offering group boxing and conditioning classes. Comparable as a UK boxing-studio brand competing for the same adult fitness customer seeking non-contact or light-contact boxing training.
• iLoveKickboxing: US-based kickboxing studio franchise combining boxing, kickboxing, and MMA-style fitness classes. Comparable as a branded group kickboxing chain serving the same broad adult demographic with similar class-based pricing.
• GKR Karate: Largest Australian-founded karate franchise globally, with a structured belt-progression curriculum and large kids/adult class model. Comparable as a multi-region traditional martial arts chain monetising belt progression and youth programs.

Broad incumbents

• UFC Gym: Global MMA/fitness franchise offering striking, conditioning, and group classes in branded facilities. Comparable as a multi-discipline combat-sports gym brand, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader fitness scope than Universal Martial Arts.
• Gymbox: London-based boutique fitness operator with boxing, kickboxing, and combat-inspired group classes. Comparable as a combat-flavoured fitness brand, though it operates at city-centre boutique scale rather than as a dedicated martial arts school.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Universalmartialarts.co.uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universal-martial-arts

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Universal Martial Arts