Here’s what we learned about Indiana’s impact.
We recently analyzed everything we could find to answer the question:
How has Indiana had an impact on Muay Thai?
We looked at our own data. We looked at the Olympics. We looked at other gyms data, like the amazing group at MTAG (Muay Thai Founders at Dragon Gym). Everything.
Here’s what we found.
The Industry
The American Muay Thai Revolution has arrived – and Indiana is leading the charge.
In 2024, The Thai Foreign Promotion Office in Chicago estimates it’s a $1.25 billion industry.
California, Texas, Florida, and New York claim the highest concentration of gyms. And many people online will tell you to gather there if you’re looking to take the sport to the next level.
But they are missing something: Indiana.
Strategically placed around 5 major midwestern hubs (Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Louisville, and Indianapolis), Indiana is primed to continue to grow the combat sports scene.
As Indiana’s leading Muay Thai gym, we crunched our own numbers from the past two years to bring you these surprising stats.
Indiana Muay Thai Experience Levels
From hundreds of inquiries over the past few years, we were able to extract…
- First-timers: About 70–75% of our inquiries explicitly mention they are complete beginners.
- Cross-Training: ~15% mention some experience in boxing, BJJ, or a different martial art but are new to Muay Thai specifically.
- Advanced or Returning Students: The remaining ~10% are people who once competed, have real ring experience, or are simply transferring from another gym at an intermediate/advanced level.
What Age Group Participate in Muay Thai?
We want to make this loud and clear:
MUAY THAI IS FOR EVERYONE.
The numbers tell a clear story about who’s joining Muay Thai in Indiana. Our member data shows people of all ages are getting involved:
Younger Adults (18-35) lead the way at 40%. They’re often looking for something more exciting than regular gym workouts, telling us: “I’m bored of regular gyms” or “I want to try a martial art for the first time.” These young adults are fueling Indiana’s Muay Thai growth.
Kids (4-12) make up 25% of our community. Parents across Indiana are choosing Muay Thai over traditional sports, seeing how it builds confidence, discipline, and physical skills. This growing youth segment has helped us develop programs that create champions like Jayden Stafford.
Teens (13-17) account for 20% of members. They come looking for self-defense, or simply decided team sports are not for them.
Older Adults (36+) represent 15% of our gym. This includes parents training alongside their kids and people in their 40s and 50s trying something new or returning to martial arts after years away.
What Are The Primary Drivers for Muay Thai?
From hundreds of inquiries over the past few years, we were able to extract…
- Fitness/Weight Loss (45%): Alternative to boring gym routines, seeking structured workouts
- Self-Defense (20%): Building confidence and practical safety skills
- Family Activity (15%): Parents seeking kids’ programs with discipline and focus
- Competition (10%): People who thrive on competition, looking to see how far they can push their limits
- New Hobby (5%): Simply wanting to try something different and stay active
What does all of this data tell us? People want Muay Thai—and they specifically want it in Indiana.
Breaking Ground in the Midwest – POV of Indiana’s Top Coach
Indiana’s Muay Thai scene exploded from a few scattered gyms in the 2010s across the state, to many more dedicated Muay Thai facilities by 2025.
The average U.S. Muay Thai gym is under 7 years old – a statistic reflected in Indiana’s rapid growth.
That growth didn’t come from nowhere. It was planted as a tiny seed in the early 2000s, blossoming 25 years later with Olympic debuts and world-class facilities and instruction (rooted in travels to the home of Muay Thai itself – Thailand)
Olympic Recognition Meets The Midwest
The rise of Muay Thai in Indiana has been spearheaded by a handful of notable fighters, coaches, and gyms whose impact is felt regionally and even nationally.
Jamie Bradley (Coach and Gym Owner)
A pioneer of Indiana Muay Thai, Jamie Bradley is the founder and head coach of KruFit in Fishers, IN. She boasts competitive credentials as the 2007 IKF World Classic Muay Thai champion and trained extensively in Thailand.
Jamie Bradley made history as Lion Fight Promotions first female head coach in 2016, a huge U.S. Muay Thai professional circuit.
Her achievement broke centuries of gender barriers in a male-dominated sport, and it put Indiana on the map in terms of coaching talent. Bradley has since focused on building the sport locally – from hosting the Midwest’s first youth Muay Thai event in 2017, to coaching a stable of fighters at KruFit.
Under her leadership, Indiana has produced champions and even international competitors. She is frequently quoted voicing pride in Muay Thai’s growth (for instance, celebrating its Olympic debut) and exemplifies the passion driving Indiana’s Muay Thai scene.
Creating an elite program in Indiana isn’t easy, and required Jamie to seek the mentorship of the broader community. For her, that mentor was Coach Kirian Fitzgibbons of CSA Gym.
“Building an elite Muay Thai program in Indiana meant looking beyond our own backyard. I knew if I wanted to elevate KruFit and our fighters, I had to learn from the best. Coach K of CSA Gym has provided invaluable mentorship that has shaped our program into what it is today.” – Jamie Bradley
Jayden Stafford (Youth Champion)
Jayden Stafford is one of the brightest success stories out of Indiana, brought up through KruFit’s competitive program.
Stafford is a multiple-time national champion in youth Muay Thai and in 2021 became the first-ever fighter from Indiana selected for Team USA under the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations.
In 2022 at just 17 years old, he was Indiana’s first Team USA selection for WBC Muay Thai.
Jayden went on to win gold at the WBC Muay Thai World Youth Games in Calgary, Canada, which brought global attention to Indiana’s developing talent.
When talking to Jamie,
“Jayden’s journey is a testament to what’s possible when hard work meets opportunity. He’s paving the way for young fighters in Indiana, proving that with the right mindset and training, you can compete—and win—on the world stage.” – Jamie Bradley
His rise illustrates the opportunities now available to Indiana fighters – a decade ago, it was almost unheard of for an Indiana-based Muay Thai athlete to compete (and win) on the world stage.
Stafford’s success has inspired other local youths and underscored Indiana’s ability to train top-tier fighters when given the proper infrastructure and coaching.
Exploding growth And An Announcement
2025 is shaping to be one of the best years ever for Muay Thai in Indiana.
Which is why we at KruFit are proud to announce we are growing our own gym 🎉
When we first bought this space in 2017, we couldn’t have imagined it would grow into what it is today — serving the community for many martial arts sports now including boxing and BJJ.
We are taking over the suite next door to us and adding an additional 1,900 sq feet to be used for purely Muay Thai gym training. This extra space will allow us to serve you with new strength & conditioning programs, and so much more.
If you’re interested in trying Muay Thai yourself at Indiana’s #1 fighting gym, get in touch with us. We would love to see you in the gym.