From Martialytics to MAAT: Team Ryano Portlaoise's Story

Key Takeaways

Martialytics was difficult to use and failed to provide real value, leading to wasted time and money
The migration to MAAT was smooth and fully handled by the MAAT team with no disruption to members or payments
Team Ryano Portlaoise is extremely satisfied with MAAT and would highly recommend it to other gyms

Introduction

Team Ryano Portlaoise, based in Portlaoise, Ireland, is led by Kenneth Higgins and has built a strong reputation within its local martial arts community.

Like many Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academies, the gym depends on efficient systems to manage memberships, payments, and communication while maintaining a high-quality training environment.

Earlier this year, the team made a decisive move to upgrade their operations by switching from Martialytics to MAAT.

The transition marked a turning point in how the academy manages its day-to-day processes.

Before MAAT: A System That Created More Work Than Value

Before adopting MAAT, Team Ryano Portlaoise relied on Martialytics as their gym management software. While the platform offered functionality, the overall experience proved to be frustrating and inefficient.

The system was difficult to use, for both students and admins, and instead of simplifying operations, it added unnecessary complexity.

As Kenneths explains:

“ We were previously using Martialytics but found it too difficult to use"

When usability is poor, even feature-rich platforms fail to deliver real value.

The Breaking Point: When Cost No Longer Justifies the System

The decision to move away from Martialytics came when the team recognized that the software was not supporting their growth or simplifying their operations.

Paying for a system that adds friction rather than removing it becomes unsustainable.

The issue was not just financial, but operational: time spent navigating a difficult platform is time taken away from coaching, community building, and growing the academy.

"We were wasting money paying for it when it was not helping us.”

At that point, the need for a change became clear.

Why They Chose MAAT

Team Ryano Portlaoise first heard about MAAT through another gym. This initial recommendation led them to book a call to better understand the platform.

MAAT stood out for its simplicity and relevance to BJJ and MMA academies.

The team saw a solution that could reduce complexity rather than add to it, while also offering strong support and a clear onboarding process.

Before the Migration: Concerns About Switching Systems

Despite the positive first impression, the team approached the transition carefully. Switching gym management software can carry risks, particularly around payments and member data.

Their main concern was avoiding disruption. As Kenneths noted:

“We were still nervous as we did not want huge upheaval with our payments.”

This hesitation reflects a broader concern across the industry: many gym owners delay switching systems because of the perceived difficulty of migration, even when their current setup is not working.

After the Migration: A Smooth and Fully Supported Transition

Once Team Ryano Portlaoise decided to move forward, the migration process proved to be straightforward and stress-free.

MAAT handled the transfer of existing members and ensured that all active subscriptions remained intact. The entire process was managed by the MAAT team, removing the technical burden from the gym.

“We were able to keep existing customers already signed up on our other system and transferred them over

Kenneths explains.

This level of support is a key differentiator, especially for smaller academies without dedicated administrative or technical staff.

“It was all done by the MAAT team, without us having to do anything.”

A New Era: Daily Operations with MAAT

Following the transition, Team Ryano Portlaoise quickly integrated MAAT into their daily operations and began to see immediate improvements.

New member onboarding became significantly easier. Onboarding new students is now much quicker, allowing people to sign up easily and without friction.

"We let people join the academy using a QR code. They can create their profile, and they’re good to go."

Payment tracking is now clear and accessible, giving the team better visibility over memberships and reducing administrative overhead.

Class management has also improved. Signing members into classes, updating schedules, and managing timetables can all be done quickly, without unnecessary steps or confusion.

"It's easy to sign in to classes and update or add classes and timetables."

Support has played a significant role in the overall experience.

"Any of our questions is answered very quickly by MAAT Team"

Final Thoughts from Team Ryano Portlaoise

The transition to MAAT has had a clear and positive impact on the academy. What began as a search for a simpler system resulted in a complete improvement in how the gym operates.