From Martialytics to MAAT: Kent Grapple's Story
Discover how Kent Grapple, a thriving BJJ academy in the UK, made the leap from Martialytics to MAAT and why they’re not looking back. Led by black belt Jon Jarvis, the team faced growing frustration with outdated tools and limited features that just didn’t fit a modern Jiu-Jitsu gym. In this video, Jon shares the full story: what pushed them to switch, how smooth the migration was, and how MAAT is now powering their day-to-day operations. Thinking of switching systems? Hear it directly from a coach who’s done it.
Kent Grapple is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy based in Sittingbourne, UK, led by black belt Jon Jarvis and supported by coaches Eduardo and Nathan.
Over the years, they’ve built one of the most active grappling communities in the area but behind the scenes, things weren’t always smooth.
Here’s the story of how they left Martialytics behind and made the jump to MAAT and why they’re not looking back.
Before MAAT: Too Many Limitations, Not Enough Progress
When Kent Grapple first opened, Martialytics seemed like the obvious choice. It was one of the few tools designed for martial arts. But over time, Jon and the team realized the software just wasn’t keeping up.
“We used Martialytics for a long time, but it just didn’t fit what we needed anymore.”
The biggest issues?
- A rigid, outdated user experience for both coaches and students
- No way to create a sense of community inside the app
- Limited support and product updates
Do you want to learn more about this topic? Check the article MAAT vs Martyalitics
The Breaking Point: Time to Move On
Eventually, Jon had enough.
“We had to work around the system constantly and that takes time away from what we actually want to do, teach.”
says Jon
The team needed a tool that actually supported what a modern Jiu-Jitsu gym looks like.
Something built by people who live on the mats, not just build software for gyms in general.
That’s when they came across MAAT.
Why Kent Grapple Chose MAAT
What convinced them?
- MAAT was built by people who actually run Jiu-Jitsu gyms
- It included a community-facing app for members
- Students could see who’s attending, track their own attendance, and even compete for leaderboard spots
- Coaches could finally track class popularity, manage payments, and check attendance all in one place
- Direct WhatsApp support, not a faceless support portal
“It just made more sense it was clearly made by people who understand how BJJ gyms work.”
Jon said.
Before the Migration: Hesitation and Doubts
Still, Jon was nervous about switching.
“I was really kind of unsure how the process would go… we had been using the old system for years.”
Like many gym owners, he worried about losing data, breaking payments, or confusing his members.
After the Migration: “It Was Just So Smooth”
But the transition turned out to be incredibly simple.
“The MAAT team gave me everything I needed: step-by-step help, full support… and everything moved over easily.”
Stripe payments? No problem. Member data? Fully preserved. Students were using the new app within days.
Jon didn’t have to chase support tickets or read through technical docs, MAAT team was on WhatsApp the entire time.
“They just made it easy. It took all the stress out of the move.”
A New Chapter for Kent Grapple
Today, MAAT is part of Kent Grapple’s daily rhythm.
- Jon checks who’s coming to class every day
- Coaches know which classes are packed and which ones need a push
- Students sign in easily and track their own progress
- The team even runs attendance-based prizes using the leaderboard
“It helps us keep people engaged, they know who’s showing up. It’s actually fun.”
Jon says.
Thinking About Switching? Here’s What Jon Would Say:
“Just do it. Don’t worry about the migration! MAAT will help you with everything. And once you're on, it just works.”
You don’t have to be stuck with a tool that doesn’t support your gym.
Kent Grapple made the switch and it has made all the difference.
If you want to learn more about MAAT:
👉 Book a Free Demo with us!
