From GoCardless to MAAT: 222 Jiu Jitsu' Story
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
222 Jiu Jitsu outgrew GoCardless as admin complexity increased with growth.
MAAT provided a gym management system tailored for BJJ academies.
The transition was smooth, and the academy now saves time while improving student engagement.
Introduction
222 Jiu Jitsu is a growing BJJ academy built on strong community values, high-level coaching, and a structured environment for both competitors and beginners.
Led by Tyrone, a 2nd degree black belt with nearly three decades of experience, the academy has evolved into a serious training hub where consistency and culture matter.
As the academy expanded, so did the operational complexity behind the scenes. Here’s how 222 Jiu Jitsu transitioned from GoCardless to MAAT, and why they haven’t looked back.
Before MAAT: Managing Growth with GoCardless
Before switching, 222 Jiu Jitsu relied on GoCardless for handling payments.
While it worked well in the early stages, it was never designed to be a complete gym management system.
“At the time it was just a simple, reliable way to take payments and it worked well when things were a bit smaller and easier to manage.”
As the academy grew, limitations became clear, and what started as a simple solution became a bottleneck, limiting growth and increasing admin work.
The Breaking Point: When Simplicity Became a Limitation
Growth created new demands.
Managing memberships, tracking payments, and organizing day-to-day operations manually or across multiple tools started taking valuable time away from coaching.
“As the academy grew, I needed more than just payment collection."
At that point, the need for a complete BJJ gym software became unavoidable.
Why They Chose MAAT
MAAT stood out as a solution built specifically for combat sports academies.
Instead of relying on separate tools, the App combined membership management, payments, and daily operations into a single system.
I wanted something that could handle everything in one place and cut down the time I was spending on admin, so I could focus more on coaching and developing the team.
MAAT also introduced features like the attendance leaderboard, while providing reliable support throughout onboarding and beyond.
MAAT offered a single system designed specifically for how BJJ gyms operate.
Before the Migration: Concerns About Switching
Like many gym owners, Tyrone had concerns before making the switch.
“Any time you switch systems there’s always that worry it might be a bit of a hassle or affect your members.”
The main concerns were potential disruption to students, the complexity of migrating data, and the time required to learn a new system. These concerns are typical for growing academies relying on existing tools.
After the Migration: A Smooth Transition
In practice, the transition to MAAT was far easier than expected.
“It was actually really smooth. I had solid support the whole way through and everything was explained properly, so it never felt stressful.”
The onboarding process was structured and well-supported, with clear guidance at every step. There was no disruption to members, and the system was set up quickly, removing one of the biggest barriers gym owners face when switching software.
A New Era: Life with MAAT Today
Today, MAAT plays a central role in the daily operations of 222 Jiu Jitsu.
“The main thing for me is having everything in one place. Managing memberships, tracking payments, and keeping things organised day to day is much easier now.”
The impact was immediate. Memberships and payments became easier to manage, daily operations were more organized, and admin workload dropped significantly, freeing up more time for coaching.
But beyond operations, MAAT also improved student engagement.
“The attendance leaderboard has been really good. The students love it, it adds a bit of friendly competition and keeps people consistent.”
This aligns perfectly with the academy’s culture of consistency and progression.
Final Advice to Other Gym Owners
For gym owners still relying on basic tools like GoCardless, Tyrone offers a clear message:
“If your gym is growing or you just want to make things more efficient, it’s definitely worth it. It’s not just about taking payments, it’s about simplifying everything behind the scenes.”
