From BSport to MAAT: Hands Down Academies' Story
Key Takeaways
Hands Down Academies in Surrey switched from BSport to MAAT after realizing generic gym software did not meet martial arts-specific needs.
The transition process was smoother than expected, with strong support ensuring no disruption to classes or payments.
MAAT now simplifies daily operations through easy-to-use tools for bookings, memberships, and member management.
Introduction
Hands Down Academies, based in Surrey, is a martial arts academy specialising in kickboxing for all ages and levels.
Led by Director Kalon Page, the academy focuses on delivering structured training while building a strong and inclusive community.
Like many combat sports gyms, they relied on gym management software to handle memberships, bookings, and payments. However, their experience with BSport revealed a key limitation: not all all-in-one platforms are designed for martial arts academies.
Here is how Hands Down Academies transitioned from BSport to MAAT and why they continue to rely on it today.
Before MAAT: Using BSport
Before adopting MAAT, Hands Down Academies used BSport, a generic fitness platform designed to serve a wide range of studios, from boutique fitness to wellness spaces as their primary gym management software. Initially, it appeared to offer everything required to run the academy efficiently.
"At the time, it seemed like a good all-in-one system for memberships, bookings, and payments, which is what initially drew us to it"
says Kalon Page.
However, as the academy grew, limitations became more apparent.
While BSport covered general fitness use cases, it lacked the specificity required for martial arts operations.
The Breaking Point: Not Built for Martial Arts
Over time, the team began to notice that BSport did not fully align with how a martial arts academy, like Hands Down, operates on a daily basis.
"We started to feel that BSport wasn’t quite suited to how a martial arts academy operates, particularly with things like gradings and belt progression"
explains Page.
Tracking student progression, an essential component of martial arts training, became increasingly difficult. Combined with general admin inefficiencies, this created friction in daily operations.
This was the turning point that led the team to actively search for a more suitable solution.
"We wanted something more aligned with our structure and easier to manage day-to-day"
Why They Chose MAAT
When evaluating alternatives, MAAT stood out because it is specifically designed for combat sports academies rather than general fitness gyms. Its martial arts-first approach, combined with an intuitive mobile interface and features aligned with real academy workflows, made it a more natural and effective fit for Hands Down Academies.
Before the Migration: Concerns and Apprehension
Like most gym owners, the team had concerns about switching systems.
Migration can often be complex and risky, particularly when it involves sensitive data and ongoing payments.
"Moving systems is always a concern, especially with member data, payments, and making sure everything runs smoothly without disrupting classes"
says Page.
These concerns are common across the industry and often delay necessary upgrades to better systems.
After the Migration: A Smooth Transition
Despite initial concerns, the transition from BSport to MAAT was handled efficiently and without disruption.
"The transition was actually smoother than expected. We received good support throughout, and any issues we had were dealt with quickly"
Page explains.
The onboarding process ensured that member data, bookings, and payments continued to run smoothly, allowing the academy to maintain its operations without interruption.
A New Era: Life with MAAT Today
Today, MAAT is fully integrated into the daily operations of Hands Down Academies.
The team uses MAAT for:
Class bookings
Membership management
General member administration
"We use MAAT daily for class bookings, memberships, and general member management. It’s very easy to use,"
says Page.
The platform has helped streamline workflows and reduce the administrative burden on the team. In addition, the responsiveness of the support team has been a key advantage.
"Overall, it’s definitely helping streamline things and save time."
Final Advice to Other Gym Owners
For Hands Down Academies, that difference has translated into a more structured, efficient, and reliable way to run their academy.
"It’s definitely worth considering. MAAT is clearly built with martial arts gyms in mind. It’s easy to use, the customer service is strong, and they’re very accommodating when it comes to feedback and improvements."
For other combat sports gym owners currently using BSport or similar platforms, Kalon offers clear advice.
"We’ve had a really positive experience so far and would strongly recommend it."
