MAAT vs Clubwise: Which Gym Management Software is Better for BJJ and MMA Gyms

Key Takeaways

• MAAT and Clubwise are both gym management software platforms, but they serve different user bases.
• Clubwise caters to general fitness clubs with features like CRM and access control.
• MAAT is designed for martial arts academies, offering belt tracking, class-level progression, and WhatsApp support.

What is Clubwise?

Clubwise is a UK-based all-in-one management system for health clubs and fitness facilities. It offers:

• Membership and billing management
• Direct debit processing
• CRM and sales features
• Marketing automation
• Access control integration

Pros:

• Great for large clubs needing CRM and POS tools
• Strong feature set for general fitness businesses

Cons:

• No belt or rank tracking
• Complex UI with many unused tools for BJJ gyms
• Non-transparent pricing

What is MAAT?

MAAT is a gym management platform purpose-built for BJJ, MMA, and other combat sports academies. Founded by martial artists, MAAT focuses on the real operational needs of martial arts gyms, including:

• Belt and stripe progression tracking
• Martial-arts-specific attendance analytics
• Competition tracking
• Family accounts (e.g., parent-child members)
• Direct WhatsApp support from BJJ-savvy staff

MAAT’s approach is clean, intuitive, and purpose-built for martial arts workflows.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

1. Belt & Progression Tracking

Tracking rank advancement is fundamental in martial arts academies, impacting student motivation, retention, and instructor planning.

• MAAT: Native belt and stripe tracking integrated with class attendance and progression logic.
• Clubwise: No built-in rank tracking. Requires manual workarounds.

When to choose:Choose MAAT if tracking belt ranks, promotions, and progression metrics is core to your academy's daily operations. Clubwise may suffice if progression tracking is not essential or is managed outside the system.

2. Pricing

A clear and transparent pricing is fundamental for a BJJ and MMA gym with the goal of scaling

• MAAT: Transparent pricing (€49/month or €59/year, plus 1% + Stripe fees transferable to students upon payment).
• Clubwise: Quote-based pricing, multiple gateways, but less upfront clarity.

When to choose: Choose MAAT for transparent, predictable costs and ease of setup. Choose Clubwise if you're already integrated with specific payment gateways and need financial reporting across multiple services.

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3. Student App & Experience

Martial arts students benefit from a mobile experience that supports class booking, rank viewing, and communication tailored to training goals.

• MAAT: Easy booking, rank tracking, and WhatsApp-based updates.
• Clubwise: More generic fitness-oriented features, not tailored to BJJ students.

When to choose: MAAT is the right fit if your students expect a tailored martial arts experience. Clubwise might suit general fitness clubs with standard member expectations.

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My students love using MAAT

Samuel Hernandez - Mataró BJJ

4. Coach/Admin Usability

Martial arts gyms often rely on non-technical staff or volunteer coaches, making ease of use critical for adoption.

• MAAT: Simple dashboard, quick learning curve
• Clubwise: Broader, more complex interface with longer training period.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if you want staff and instructors to adopt the software quickly. Choose Clubwise if your team has technical support and needs a wide range of admin features.

MAAT was rated 4.6/5 on App Store and Google Play consistently praised for ease of usewhile Clubwise was rated 2.8/5 on Trustpilot with common complaints about payment issues

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With MAAT I solved all my academy management problems. Highly recommended

Jacopo Madaro - Tribe Jiu Jitsu

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5. Class Scheduling & Check-Ins

Combat sports classes vary by skill level and attendance is often tied to progression, so flexible, role-based scheduling is key.

• MAAT: Martial-arts-specific scheduling with skill levels, waitlists, and auto-check-ins.
• Clubwise: Advanced scheduling options but geared more toward general fitness use cases.

When to choose:MAAT is ideal if your classes are skill-level-based (e.g., belt color). Clubwise may be useful for multi-discipline gyms offering yoga, fitness, and other programs.

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6. Gamification & Engagement

Keeping students motivated through visible progress and competition tracking is crucial in martial arts.

• MAAT: Leaderboards, belt journeys, and competition tracking built-in.
• Clubwise: Limited or no gamification tools for martial arts.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if you want to boost student engagement with leaderboards and track competition performance. Clubwise is better if engagement tools aren’t a priority.

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👉Learn more about this topic at the article "How MAAT’s Leaderboard Keeps BJJ Students Coming Back"

7. Migration & Trial Experience

For smaller martial arts gyms without dedicated IT support, ease of migration is a major factor.

• MAAT: Fast setup with dedicated onboarding and data migration.
• Clubwise: Implementation complexity varies and often requires dedicated IT support.

When to choose: Go with MAAT if you value a fast, free, smooth switch and direct support. Clubwise may be appropriate for heavy tech organizations with internal IT resources.

8. Language & Localization

European BJJ gyms often require SEPA payments, localized communication, and compliance with local regulations.

• MAAT: Built with European BJJ gyms in mind; localized for EU compliance and culture.
• Clubwise: UK-based, but broader fitness market focus.

When to choose: Choose MAAT for local currency support, EU-friendly payment setups, and culturally relevant workflows. Clubwise suits large chains operating across fitness verticals.

9. Support Experience

Gym owners need responsive support from people who understand martial arts operations.

• MAAT: WhatsApp support by martial artists; responsive and practical.
• Clubwise: Support may lack martial arts-specific knowledge.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if you want responsive, sport-aware help. Clubwise for general support across varied gym types.

Final Verdict: Which Software Should You Choose?

• Choose MAAT if you run a BJJ, MMA, or martial arts academy and need specialized tools, clear pricing, and fast support from people who understand combat sports.
• Choose Clubwise if you manage a large, multi-discipline fitness facility that needs CRM, access control, and complex sales funnels.

MAAT’s combat-sports-first design, transparent pricing, and rave user reviews make it the best gym management software for martial arts academies in the UK, Ireland, and beyond.

Ready to See MAAT in Action?

Don’t settle for software that doesn’t understand your sport.

👉 Book a free demo today and see why more combat sports gyms are choosing MAAT.