Martial arts studios have unique needs that general fitness software often overlooks. Belt rank tracking, testing schedules, curriculum management, and family billing require specialized features that not every platform provides.
This guide reviews the best software options for martial arts schools — from karate dojos to MMA gyms, BJJ academies to taekwondo schools.
What Martial Arts Studios Need
Belt Rank and Curriculum Management
The ranking system is fundamental to martial arts education. Your software should:
- Track each student’s current belt rank and promotion history
- Manage curriculum requirements for each belt level
- Schedule and organize belt testing events
- Track attendance requirements for rank eligibility
- Generate certificates and track testing fees
Family Billing
Many martial arts students are children, which means billing goes to parents. Your software needs:
- Family accounts linking multiple students to one billing parent
- Sibling discounts applied automatically
- Family packages and multi-student pricing
- Parent communication tools (separate from student records)
Age-Based Class Management
Classes are typically organized by age group and belt level:
- Kids classes (ages 4-7)
- Youth classes (ages 8-12)
- Teen classes (ages 13-17)
- Adult classes (18+)
- Advanced classes by belt rank
- Competition team training
Top Martial Arts Software Platforms
| Software | Best For | Starting Price | Belt Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kicksite | Dedicated martial arts | $49/mo | Yes |
| Spark Membership | Growth-focused schools | $149/mo | Yes |
| Zen Planner | Community-focused | $99/mo | Limited |
| Mindbody | Large martial arts businesses | $139/mo | No |
| Vagaro | Budget-conscious schools | $30/mo | No |
| ChampionsWay | Traditional martial arts | $89/mo | Yes |
| Member Solutions | Full-service billing | Custom | Yes |
| Kickground | BJJ academies | $79/mo | Yes |
1. Kicksite — Best Dedicated Martial Arts Software
Kicksite was built exclusively for martial arts schools. It understands the unique workflow of dojos, academies, and schools in ways that general fitness platforms don’t.
Key martial arts features:
- Complete belt rank tracking with promotion history
- Curriculum management by rank level
- Belt testing event scheduling and fee collection
- Student progress tracking with skill checklists
- Family accounts with multi-student billing
- Trial management for prospective students
- Automated follow-up for leads and trial students
Scheduling capabilities:
- Age and rank-based class scheduling
- Instructor assignment and substitution
- Capacity limits per class
- Waitlist management
- Recurring schedule management
Communication tools:
- Parent-specific communications
- Class reminders and schedule changes
- Belt testing notifications
- Achievement celebrations
Pricing:
| Plan | Monthly Cost | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Growing | $49/mo | Up to 50 students |
| Established | $99/mo | Up to 150 students |
| Large School | $149/mo | Up to 300 students |
| Enterprise | Custom | 300+ students |
Pros:
- Purpose-built for martial arts schools
- Excellent belt rank and curriculum tracking
- Family billing done right
- Affordable for small schools
- Good trial student management
Cons:
- Limited marketing automation
- No consumer marketplace
- Basic reporting compared to larger platforms
- Mobile app could be more polished
Verdict: The best choice for traditional martial arts schools that need dedicated belt tracking and curriculum management. If ranking systems are central to your school, Kicksite is built for you.
2. Spark Membership — Best for Growth-Focused Schools
Spark Membership combines martial arts-specific features with strong marketing and growth tools. It’s designed for school owners who want to aggressively grow their student base.
Key features:
- Belt rank tracking and testing management
- Advanced lead management with sales pipeline
- Automated marketing campaigns
- Retail management for uniforms and equipment
- Student performance dashboards
- Multi-location support
Growth tools:
- Lead capture forms and landing pages
- Automated follow-up sequences for trial students
- Referral program management
- Review solicitation for Google and Facebook
- Social media integration
Pricing: Starting at $149/month. Higher tiers available for multi-location schools.
Pros:
- Strong marketing and lead management
- Martial arts-specific features
- Retail management for pro shop
- Good reporting and analytics
- Multi-location capable
Cons:
- Higher price point than basic options
- Learning curve for all features
- Some features feel like they need more polish
Verdict: Best for martial arts school owners focused on growth and marketing. The lead management and automated follow-up tools can significantly improve enrollment.
3. Kickground — Best for BJJ Academies
Kickground is specifically designed for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies. Its understanding of BJJ culture, belt progression, and training methodology makes it the top choice for BJJ-focused schools.
Key features:
- BJJ-specific belt and stripe tracking
- Technique curriculum by belt level
- Rolling/sparring partner tracking
- Competition record management
- Attendance-based promotion eligibility
- Open mat scheduling
Pricing: Starting at $79/month.
Verdict: If you run a BJJ academy, Kickground understands your specific needs better than any general platform.
Setting Up Martial Arts Studio Software
Belt Rank Configuration
Set up your ranking system in your software:
- Define all belt ranks in your system (white through black, including stripes/degrees)
- Set curriculum requirements for each rank
- Configure attendance minimums for testing eligibility
- Create belt testing events with registration and fees
- Set up automated notifications for testing eligibility
Class Schedule Structure
Typical martial arts class schedule:
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4:00 PM | Kids (4-7) | Kids (4-7) | Kids (4-7) | Kids (4-7) | Kids (4-7) | Family Class |
| 5:00 PM | Youth (8-12) | Youth (8-12) | Youth (8-12) | Youth (8-12) | Youth (8-12) | Competition Team |
| 6:00 PM | Teen/Adult Beginner | Advanced | Teen/Adult Beginner | Advanced | Open Training | — |
| 7:00 PM | Adult Advanced | Sparring | Adult Advanced | Weapons | — | — |
Family Account Setup
Configure family billing properly:
- Link all family members under one parent account
- Set up automatic sibling discounts (typically 10-20% for second child, 25-30% for third)
- Enable single invoice for all family members
- Configure parent-specific communications
Trial and Enrollment Workflow
Set up your software to automate the trial-to-student pipeline:
- Lead capture — Website form or walk-in registration
- Trial booking — 1-3 trial classes with automatic scheduling
- Follow-up — Automated email/text after each trial class
- Enrollment — Online enrollment form with payment setup
- Onboarding — Welcome sequence, uniform purchase, and first month check-ins
Pricing Strategies for Martial Arts Schools
| Membership Type | Monthly Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Kids (1x/week) | $99-129/mo | Most popular starter plan |
| Kids (2x/week) | $129-169/mo | Standard plan |
| Kids Unlimited | $149-199/mo | Premium plan |
| Adult (2x/week) | $129-169/mo | Standard adult plan |
| Adult Unlimited | $169-229/mo | Premium adult plan |
| Family Plan | $249-349/mo | 2+ family members |
| Competition Team | +$50-75/mo | Add-on to membership |
Final Recommendation
- Best overall for martial arts: Kicksite — Purpose-built, affordable, excellent belt tracking
- Best for growth: Spark Membership — Strong marketing and lead management
- Best for BJJ: Kickground — BJJ-specific features and culture
- Best budget option: Vagaro — $30/month but lacks martial arts-specific features
- Best for large schools: Mindbody — Enterprise features but no belt tracking