MAAT vs GoCardless: Which Solution is Better for BJJ and MMA Gyms?

Key Takeaways (TL;DR)

• GoCardless is a payment processor, not a gym management system.
• MAAT is an all-in-one software tailored to the needs of BJJ and MMA gyms.
• Gyms using MAAT report saving 5–8 hours per week and reducing no-shows by up to 40%..

Introduction

Running a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or MMA gym involves more than just collecting payments. From belt promotions to class attendance and community engagement, combat sports academies require tools built around their structure.

GoCardless is often the first step offering simple and effective billing, but when gyms grow (over 30 students) so do the admin headaches.
MAAT offers a purpose-built solution designed for combat sports, providing the infrastructure needed to scale and engage students more effectively.

What is GoCardless?

GoCardless is a direct debit platform used to collect recurring payments. It is widely adopted across industries for subscription billing and automating member fees.

Pros:

• Automates monthly billing via SEPA/BACS
• Reduces late payments
• Easy to integrate with accounting software

Cons:

• No tools for scheduling or bookings
• No student-facing app
• Cannot track belt progression or attendance

When to choose GoCardless: If you only need to automate payment collection and plan to manage bookings, progress, and communication manually or via other tools, GoCardless is a low-friction starting point, surely better than manually collecting payments.

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👉 Check out this article to see why a direct debit collector might not be enough for a BJJ or MMA gym

What is MAAT?

MAAT is a full-featured gym management App designed exclusively for BJJ and MMA academies. Built by practitioners, it offers tools that reflect the real operational needs of combat sports schools.

Key Features:

• Belt and stripe tracking
• Gamified attendance and leaderboards
• WhatsApp messages integration
• Multilingual interface
• Class-type support
• Full member app with bookings, reminders, and rank progress

When to choose MAAT: If you're looking for a system that manages your entire gym, not just payments, and helps increase student retention, streamline admin, and foster community, MAAT is purpose-built for you.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

1. Belt & Progression Tracking

• GoCardless: No built-in tracking; requires external spreadsheets.
• MAAT: Fully integrated belt and stripe tracking with rank history.

When to choose: GoCardless suits fitness-style gyms without rank progression.

BJJ/MMA gyms should use MAAT to handle belt promotions and maintain clear student progress.

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2. Payment Processing

• GoCardless: Handles SEPA/BACS transactions reliably.
• MAAT: Integrates with Stripe. It allows you to accept payments both by Debit/Credit Cards and SEPA/BACS

When to choose: GoCardless is solid for payment alone but accept only Direct Debits. MAAT is ideal if you also want to automate discounts, refunds, and invoicing, allowing you many types of payment, giving you and your students more flexibility.

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👉 Wondering which payment method is best for your BJJ or MMA gym? This article breaks it down

3. Student App & Experience

• GoCardless: No member-facing functionality.
• MAAT: Branded student app for bookings, attendance, rank tracking, and notifications.

When to choose: If member experience is a priority, MAAT’s app boosts engagement and accountability.

My students love using MAAT

Samuel Hernandez - Mataró BJJ

4. Coach/Admin Usability

• GoCardless: Limited to payment dashboards.
• MAAT: Coach dashboard with real-time metrics, attendance logs, belt readiness, and communication tools.

When to choose: Use MAAT if you want centralized, actionable data for decision-making.

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

Jacopo Madaro - Tribe Jiu Jitsu

5. Class Scheduling & Check-Ins

• GoCardless: Not supported.
• MAAT: Complete calendar, bookings, capacity limits, cancellations, and check-in logs.

When to choose: Any gym with a structured class timetable will benefit from MAAT’s automation.

6. Gamification & Engagement

• GoCardless: None.
• MAAT: Dynamic attendance based Leaderboard

When to choose: MAAT is the choice for community-building and boosting student retention.

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

7. Migration & Trial Experience

• GoCardless: N/A (not a full system).
• MAAT: Free onboarding and data import, live support via WhatsApp.

When to choose: The transition from any other system to MAAT is free, seamless and without any disruption for you and your students.

“Don’t hesitate. Really, don’t worry about it. They helped me not only with the migration but with everything afterward too.”

says Aitana from Atenea BJJ.

👉 Read the full Atenea BJJ’ Story here

8. Support Experience

• GoCardless: Email and online helpdesk.
• MAAT: Direct WhatsApp and E-mail support, onboarding guides, and hands-on assistance.

When to choose: GoCardless support is highly criticised online. Choose MAAT if you want responsive, real-time support on Whatsapp from people who understand BJJ.

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"You're not dealing with some big faceless corporation... I'm literally on WhatsApp with the founders, getting tailored support."

says Andrew from The Fighting Arts Academy

👉 Read the full The Fighting Arts Academy Story here

9. Pricing & Value

• GoCardless: Transaction fee-based, low monthly cost.
• ‍MAAT: Clear pricing that includes all MAAT's features, based on monthly subscription + transaction fees

When to choose: If you're beyond 40+ students and spending hours on admin, MAAT delivers greater value long-term, even if at a higher price.

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

For gyms that only need payment collection, GoCardless is a reliable starting point even if limited by only SEPA/BACS payments.

But if you’re running a BJJ or MMA academy, you need more than traditional billing.

MAAT replaces multiple tools and spreadsheets with one streamlined platform. It saves time, reduces no-shows, increases retention, and builds stronger student communities.

Call to Action

Ready to simplify your gym’s operations?
Book a Free Demo and see how MAAT transforms your academy from the ground up.