Best Software for Traditional Martial Arts Schools
Karate, Taekwondo, Kung Fu, Hapkido, Aikido
Traditional martial arts schools have specific needs: formal belt progression systems, kata and forms curriculum tracking, structured testing events, and a dojo culture that software should support rather than undermine. Here's what works best for traditional dojos.
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What Traditional Dojos Need from Software
Traditional martial arts schools share a common thread: rank and curriculum are the backbone of the student experience. Whether you teach Shotokan, ITF Taekwondo, or Wing Chun, your belt system is a structured curriculum with defined requirements at each level. Your software needs to support that structure, not fight against it.
Karate and TKD schools in particular tend to have large children's programs — sometimes the majority of students. Family billing with sibling discounts, parent portals, and youth-friendly interfaces for belt tracking become critical features. Testing events — where groups of students test for rank advancement on the same day — also need scheduling and management support.
Essential for Traditional Dojos
- Multi-level belt system (white to black)
- Kata/forms curriculum by belt level
- Group belt testing event scheduling
- Family accounts with sibling discounts
- Youth and adult program separation
- Attendance tied to testing eligibility
- Uniform/equipment sales (gi, obi, protectors)
Good to Have
- ✓Colored stripe tracking within belts
- ✓Student photo for ID cards
- ✓Tournament/competition team management
- ✓Online video technique library
- ✓Parent portal access
- ✓Certificate/award generation
Top Software for Karate & TKD Schools
🥇 Zen Planner — Best for Traditional Dojos
From $99/month · 30-day free trial
Zen Planner has the most comprehensive belt system for traditional martial arts. You can define each belt level, set requirement criteria (attendance count, curriculum completion, time at rank), track stripes, and schedule group testing events. Its inventory management for uniforms and equipment is a bonus most karate and TKD schools appreciate. The 30-day free trial gives you time to fully configure your belt system before committing.
Start 30-Day Free Trial🥈 Kicksite — Best Value for Traditional MA
From $79/month · 14-day free trial
Kicksite handles traditional belt systems cleanly and is a strong choice for smaller karate or TKD schools (under 100 students) where budget is a priority. Family billing, attendance tracking, and basic belt management are all solid. The simpler interface is easier for non-technical school owners to master quickly.
Limitation: Kicksite's belt testing event management is less sophisticated than Zen Planner's. If your school does large group testing sessions with complex eligibility criteria, Zen Planner handles it better.
🥉 PerfectMind — Best for Large/Multi-Location Traditional Schools
From $149/month · Custom demo
For traditional martial arts schools with multiple locations or franchise structures (common with national karate brands), PerfectMind's enterprise features become relevant. Advanced belt tracking, centralized reporting, and franchise management tools make it the right choice for organizations that have outgrown single-location software.
FAQ: Traditional Martial Arts Software
What software do most karate schools use?
Zen Planner and Kicksite are the most common choices among karate schools. Zen Planner is dominant among larger schools with complex belt systems and kids programs. Kicksite is popular with smaller schools and newer operations. Larger franchise karate brands often use PerfectMind.
Can martial arts software handle both kids and adults programs?
Yes — all major platforms support separate programs for adults and children. You can set different class schedules, belt levels, pricing, and communications for each program. Look for platforms that also support family accounts and parent portal access when you have a significant youth program.
How do I manage belt testing events in my software?
Zen Planner handles this best with a dedicated testing event feature that lets you identify eligible students based on attendance and belt level, send invitations, manage sign-ups, and record results all in one flow. Most platforms handle this at some level — Zen Planner just does it most smoothly.