Martial Arts Software (2026): 10 Tools for Dojos and Gyms

Running a martial arts school means being an instructor, a mentor, a salesperson and an admin team all at once. Trial class follow-ups, missed payments, grading eligibility and parent messages can swallow the time you'd rather spend on the mats.

Here are ten martial arts software options in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. Some are built only for martial arts schools, others are gym tools that many dojos use. One is a well-known name and the rest are smaller. Every description comes from each company's own website, re-checked today. If you lose students between their trial and their first membership, my piece on fixing membership follow-up is worth a read.

Martial arts software side by side

In the free plan column, Yes means the company's own site describes a free plan or free version, Trial only means a time-limited free trial, and No means neither is stated on the page I read. Things change, so check each site before you rely on one.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Clubworx	Gym and martial arts software	Small clubs starting on a free tier	Yes
Gymdesk	Gym and dojo software	Dojos wanting simple memberships and attendance	Trial only
Kicksite	Martial arts software	Schools focused on student retention	No
Member Solutions	Membership and billing software	Schools wanting billing handled for them	No
MyStudio	Studio management software	Martial arts studios selling programmes online	No
PushPress	Gym management software	Small academies starting free	Yes
Spark Membership	Martial arts school software	Schools wanting marketing and lead follow-up	Trial only
TeamUp	Group class management	Clubs running mixed group classes	Trial only
Virtuagym	All-in-one gym software	Boxing and martial arts gyms with coaching	Trial only
Zen Planner	Gym and martial arts software	Established schools with several programmes	No

Ten martial arts school software tools

Clubworx

Best for: Small martial arts clubs that want a free starting tier with bookings and member emails.

Gymdesk

Best for: Dojos and academies that want memberships, attendance and rank tracking without heavy setup.

Kicksite

Best for: Martial arts schools that want attendance, rank tracking and retention tools built for the trade.

Member Solutions

Best for: Schools that want membership software backed by a team that handles billing support.

MyStudio

Best for: Studios that want to sell programmes and trials online with a branded member app.

PushPress

Best for: Small academies and gyms that want a free starting plan for memberships and payments.

Spark Membership

Best for: Martial arts schools that want lead follow-up, memberships and marketing tools in one.

TeamUp

Best for: Clubs that run group classes across several disciplines and want simple booking.

Virtuagym

Best for: Boxing and martial arts gyms that want member apps and coaching tools with a free trial.

Zen Planner

Best for: Established schools that run several programmes and want detailed billing and reporting.

Background checks for martial arts instructors in the UK

If your school teaches children, instructor checks are part of your admin. The DBS eligibility guidance for England and Wales says a Standard or Enhanced DBS check can only be applied for if the specific role, or the activities within it, are covered by the relevant legislation, and organisations must assess eligibility first.

Software won't run checks for you, but it can store each instructor's check date, first aid certificate and coaching licence and remind you before they lapse. That's far safer than a folder in the office. Check the rules for your own nation and governing body, as they differ.

What a dojo or academy should look for

• Rank and grading tracking: belts, stripes and attendance needed before each grading?
• Check-in: a tablet kiosk or app check-in at the door?
• Family accounts: siblings and parents on one account and one bill?
• Recurring billing: failed payment alerts and easy freezes?
• Trial class funnel: online sign-up and automatic follow-up?
• Messaging: texts and emails to a class, a rank or everyone?
• Waivers: signed online before the first class?

Moving your martial arts school to new software

1. Write down every programme, rank and membership type you offer.
2. Ask your current provider how billing details will move across.
3. Rebuild your grading requirements before importing students.
4. Pick a start date at the beginning of a billing cycle.
5. Tell parents and students what's changing and how to log in.
6. Check attendance and payments closely for the first month.

Renewals are where many schools lose students quietly, and my renewal reminder email sequence is easy to adapt for memberships.

Common mistakes martial arts schools make with software

• Choosing generic gym software that can't track ranks the way your style grades.
• Leaving trial class leads in a notebook. They're your future members, and they go cold fast.
• Making check-in slow. If there's a queue at the kiosk, students skip it and your attendance data falls apart.
• Forgetting the parents. For kids' classes, the parent is the customer, so the app has to work for them.

Do you make martial arts software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice on martial arts software

Start with grading. If a tool can't track progress the way you grade, you'll end up with a spreadsheet next to it. Ask every provider to set up your own belt system in the demo.

Then follow a trial student through the whole journey, from booking a free class to signing up and paying. That journey is where your school grows, so it's where the software matters most.

Frequently asked questions

What is martial arts software?

It's software for dojos and academies that manages memberships, billing, attendance, rank tracking and messages to students and parents.

Is there free martial arts software?

A few gym tools offer a free starting plan, and most martial arts tools offer a free trial or demo.

Can software track belts and gradings?

Many martial arts tools track ranks, stripes and the attendance needed before each grading.

Do martial arts schools need a member app?

It helps with bookings, messages and progress tracking, but a good web portal can work too.

How should a school handle trial classes?

Let people book trials online, then follow up automatically after the class and again a few days later.

Can families share one account?

Most tools support family accounts so siblings can be on one bill.

Is gym software good enough for a dojo?

It can be, but check rank tracking and family billing before you choose.

How long does it take to switch?

Plan a few weeks, mostly to move billing safely and rebuild your grading system.