Gym Management Software for BJJ Gyms

Key Takeaways (TL;DR)

• Managing a growing BJJ gym without software quickly becomes unsustainable without a software
• Generic gym software lacks the martial arts nuance needed for effective belt and class management.
• Some platforms try to cater to martial arts but fail to deliver a BJJ-first experience.
• MAAT is the only platform truly built for BJJ and MMA gyms, making operations smoother and student engagement stronger.

Choosing the Best BJJ Gym Management Software

Managing a BJJ academy is nothing like running a general fitness gym. Class hierarchies, belt progression systems, student attendance, and community engagement all demand tools designed with combat sports in mind. Unfortunately, many gym management platforms try to serve everyone and end up serving no one particularly well.

In this guide, we’ll explore the best gym management software options for BJJ gyms, breaking down what makes each type of system more or less suitable and we’ll show which one is considered the best BJJ gym management software by many successful academies.

Why BJJ Gyms Need a Management Platform

As your BJJ gym grows, the complexity of managing students, classes, payments, and promotions increases exponentially. Using spreadsheets, paper cards, or manual systems might work for a small, tight-knit group, but they quickly become inefficient and error-prone.

A gym management software acts as a centralized hub that streamlines key operations like:

• Automating recurring payments and reducing missed dues.
• Tracking attendance with ease for students and coaches.
• Managing belt and stripe progression with clear criteria.
• Offering students a portal or app to book classes, check schedules, and monitor their progress.

Beyond saving time, it reduces administrative mistakes, keeps students engaged, and helps owners scale without losing control.

However, not all gym software is designed for martial arts, let alone Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

In fact, most gym software can be divided into two main categories when it comes to serving BJJ gyms: generic fitness platforms and martial-arts-adapted tools.

Generic Gym Management Software: Overbuilt, Underfit

Tools like Mindbody, Glofox or Clubwise are staples in the broader fitness industry. While they offer robust features, they were never meant to handle the specific workflows of martial arts academies.

Common issues with generic software:

• No native belt or stripe tracking: You end up using workarounds or external spreadsheets.
• Overwhelming UX: Systems like Mindbody are bloated with features irrelevant to combat sports (e.g., spa services, personal training modules).
• Poor student experience: Students often need to search for your gym inside a larger app ecosystem.
• High costs: You often pay a premium for features you won’t use.

For example, Mindbody offers robust marketing and point-of-sale tools, but lacks the ability to track belt ranks or attendance-based promotion eligibility—a core function for any BJJ gym.

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Martial Arts-Inspired Tools: Closer, But Not Quite There

Platforms like Gymdesk, Kicksite, and Martialytics attempt to bridge the gap with martial arts-specific features. They do a decent job, especially for general martial arts programs. However, when it comes to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, these platforms often fall short.

Typical limitations:

• Stripe tracking may be manual or not automated based on attendance.
• Class types aren't always customizable for adult vs. kids divisions or belt-level separation.
• Don't always support kids belts
• Limited support for European payment systems and languages.
• Lack modern UX or intuitive dashboards for coaches and staff.

These platforms show that some developers are listening to martial arts gyms, but they're often trying to retrofit features rather than building from the ground up for BJJ.

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We used Martialytics for a long time, but it just didn’t fit what we need

says Jon from Kent Grapple.

👉 Read about Kent Grapple's migration from Martialytics to MAAT here!

What Makes MAAT Different?

MAAT was built from the ground up for combat sports, with BJJ at its core. That means every feature, from class booking to graduation tracking, reflects how martial arts academies actually operate.

Why MAAT stands out:

• Belt & Stripe Tracking: Fully integrated system that tracks progress by attendance, with clear dashboards for coaches.
• Class Customization: Separate classes by belt level, age group, or discipline (Gi/No-Gi, MMA, etc.).
• Gamification: Leaderboards and badges encourage consistent training and retention.
• Smooth Payments: Supports card, SEPA, and direct debit with automated recurring billing.
• Student Experience: Mobile-first design, no clutter, no confusion. Students instantly see their schedule, attendance, and progress.
• Local Support: Designed for European gyms with multilingual UI and WhatsApp-based customer support.

I started working with MAAT because it is a system tailored for BJJ academies

says Samuel from Matarò Jiu Jitsu

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My students love the motivational leaderboard feature! It adds a fun bit of competition.

says Simon from Performance Jiu Jitsu

Real Coaches, Real Results

MAAT is already used by dozens of BJJ gyms across Europe. Coaches consistently cite time savings, easier management, and better student engagement.

MAAT allows me to spend less time doing paperwork and more time doing what I love, which is staying on the mat and teaching.

says Federico Tisi from Tribe Jiu Jitsu

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👉 Check here How MAAT’s Leaderboard Keeps BJJ Students Coming Back

Final Verdict: The Best Gym Management Software for BJJ Academies

If you run a general fitness studio or bootcamp, tools like Glofox or Mindbody might work for you.

But if you're running a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy or a combat sports gym, the difference is clear:

• MAAT has the features that matter: belt tracking, division by rank, class filters.
• MAAT avoids the fluff: no spa scheduling or unused fitness modules.
• MAAT speaks your language literally, and operationally.

Ready to take the stress out of gym management and focus more on your students?

MAAT is the best BJJ gym management platform for modern academies ready to scale without the stress.

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