Spark Membership vs MAAT: Which choose for BJJ and MMA gyms

Key Takeaways

• Spark Membership and MAAT are both gym management softwares, but they serve different needs.
• Spark is a traditional martial arts system with broad functionality but expensive and complex to use.
• MAAT is purpose-built for BJJ, MMA and combat sports gyms.

Managing a BJJ Gym Requires Specialized Tools

Running a BJJ or an MMA gym is fundamentally different from operating a typical fitness studio. The day-to-day operations, belt and stripe tracking, student motivation, attendance-based promotions, and managing evolving class structures require software that understands the unique culture and workflows of martial arts.

This article compares Spark Membership and MAAT, two gym management platforms that serve BJJ, MMA and martial arts schools. While both aim to streamline operations, their focus and feature sets differ significantly. Let’s break down what each offers and which might suit your academy best.

What is Spark Membership?

Spark Membership is a gym software platform designed primarily for traditional martial arts schools, such as Karate and Taekwondo. Over time, it's also been adopted by BJJ and MMA academies. Spark emphasizes a tightly integrated suite of tools that go beyond operations and into marketing.

While it delivers powerful tools, it can be quite expensive for the average BJJ or MMA gym, and the breadth of features can create a steep learning curve, particularly for gym owners who aren't focused on lead funnels or digital campaigns.

What is MAAT?

MAAT is a gym management software platform built specifically for BJJ, MMA, and other combat sports academies. Designed by martial artists, MAAT focuses on the actual needs of BJJ and MMA gyms: attendance tracking, belt and stripe promotion, class scheduling, student engagement, and seamless localized payments with clear pricing and no contract lock-ins.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

1. Belt & Progression Tracking

• Spark: Offers belt tracking tied to attendance and automated workflows, useful for scheduling promotions or communications.
• MAAT: Provides robust belt and stripe tracking fully integrated into student attendance, with visibility for both students and instructors.

When to choose: Choose Spark if you want rank automation tied into your admin or marketing workflows. Choose MAAT if accurate, visual, and BJJ-specific belt tracking is central to your gym’s operations.

2. Payment Processing & Fees

• Spark: Offers POS and online payments, but pricing and fees aren’t publicly listed.
• MAAT: Transparent 1% in-app fee plus Stripe charges, with support for SEPA and European payments.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if you want transparent pricing and localized payment support. Choose Spark if you're fine discussing pricing in demos and need a broader POS infrastructure.

3. Student App & Member Experience

• Spark: Multiple apps with branding and push notifications.
• MAAT: Clean, martial arts-focused mobile experience with belt visibility and class schedules.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if your students value tracking belts, rankings, and attendance in an intuitive app. Choose Spark if push-based marketing and mobile engagement tools are a priority.

4. Coach/Admin Usability

• Spark: Comprehensive but complex, with onboarding strongly recommended.
• MAAT: Intuitive interface built around martial arts workflows, easy to adopt for both students and coaches.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if ease of use and quick onboarding are priorities. Choose Spark if you’re prepared to invest time into learning a comprehensive system.

5. Marketing Tools & Automations

• Spark: Focuses on acquisition with funnels, landing pages, CRM, and automation tools.
• MAAT: Focuses on retention with leaner marketing tools and engagement features like attendance-based leaderboards.

When to choose: Choose Spark if integrated marketing is crucial to your strategy. Choose MAAT if your gym thrives on student experience and retention-driven tools.

👉 Check this article if you want to learn How MAAT’s Leaderboard Keeps BJJ Students Coming Back

6. Gamification & Engagement

• Spark: Uses automations and push messaging for engagement.
• MAAT: Includes push notifications but focuses primarily on gamification tools that students actually enjoy using.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if you want in-app tools that foster engagement through visible progress. Choose Spark if you rely more on external communication triggers.

7. Pricing & Value

• Spark: Starts at ~$199/month; details only available via demo.
• MAAT: Starts at €59/month + transaction fees with transparent pricing.

When to choose: Choose MAAT for cost predictability and value. Choose Spark if you need its broader toolkit and are comfortable with variable pricing based on add-ons.

👉 Click here to see MAAT's pricing

8. Support & Onboarding

• Spark: Strong onboarding support but necessary due to complexity.
• MAAT: Also offers strong WhatsApp-based support from martial arts experts, though onboarding is more about unlocking full value than basic usability.

When to choose: Choose MAAT if you want martial-arts-aware support from day one. Choose Spark if you're okay with investing in structured onboarding just to use the system effectively.

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?

Spark Membership is a strong but complex platform for traditional martial arts schools that want integrated sales and marketing funnels alongside operations. But for most BJJ and MMA academies, MAAT offers a better fit. Its belt tracking, student engagement features, localized payments, and simpler UX make it the ideal choice for combat sports gyms focused on community, progression, and clarity.

Ready to simplify your academy?

Book a free demo with MAAT and see it in action.