Welcome to 2025, where the fitness industry is booming with premium boutique studios, high-ticket transformation programs, and members who expect more than just access to a squat rack.

Starting a combat sports gym is an exciting venture that combines passion, discipline, and community. Whether you're an experienced martial artist or a fitness entrepreneur, launching your own fight club involves more than just mats and gloves.

Growing a combat sports gym takes more than sweat and sparring—it requires a strategic approach to marketing, community-building, and operations.

You didn’t open your studio or gym to become a full-time administrator. You opened it to build a community. But here’s the thing — if you don’t really know who’s walking through your doors each day, you’re missing the opportunity to serve them better and grow your business faster.

Retaining personal training clients is the cornerstone of a thriving fitness business. While acquiring new clients is important, keeping them engaged and loyal over time is what fuels sustainable growth and builds a reputable brand.

Combat sports are more popular than ever—and it’s not just MMA getting all the attention. From centuries-old martial arts like Karate and Judo to modern hybrids like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, each discipline offers a unique mix of skill, structure, and tradition.

Here’s how automating your fitness business can supercharge your operations, increase revenue, and improve member satisfaction.

The dojos that thrive year after year—the ones packed with loyal students, buzzing energy, and word-of-mouth referrals—they’ve cracked the retention code. So, what are they doing differently?

Running a dojo isn’t just about throwing punches, mastering kata, or winning medals. It’s a business. A community. A legacy. And while you might’ve started your martial arts school with dreams of passing down knowledge and changing lives, chances are, at some point, you’ve been blindsided by the business side of things.

Discover how to build a successful hybrid fitness model, combining online and in-person training for growth, retention, and efficiency.

Create a top-notch onboarding program that retains gym members, boosts engagement, and builds loyalty using these expert tips and tech tools.

Discover the ultimate guide to gym CRM software. Learn how to choose the best solution for member management, scheduling, and business growth.

If you're running a gym, fitness studio, or wellness center, your software is the backbone of your operations. It manages memberships, automates payments, schedules classes, and streamlines communication with clients. But what happens when that software is outdated, clunky, or unreliable?

If you’re a personal trainer launching your own studio, bootcamp, or online coaching program, getting those initial clients can feel like an uphill battle. But with the right strategy, you can quickly build a strong foundation for success.

In this blog, we’ll break down how to define your niche, determine the right pricing strategy, and explore the benefits of using a structured payment system to ensure you get paid on time without awkward money conversations.

Marketing and personalisation go hand in hand, offering opportunities to deepen connections, improve retention, and drive growth. But how can you scale these efforts without adding hours of manual work to your day?

Running a successful dojo is about more than just teaching martial arts; it’s about providing a seamless experience for your students and their families. One of the most common challenges dojo owners face is managing belt tracking and student progress efficiently.

Are you looking to boost enrollment and expand your martial arts school? Look no further! In this article, we will share with you 10 proven strategies that will help you grow your martial arts school and take it to the next level. Whether you're just starting out or have been running your school for years, these strategies are guaranteed to bring in more students and increase your revenue.

This guide offers strategies for how to find yoga instructors who are highly qualified and tick all your boxes, as well as tips on how Clubworx software can simplify management, ensuring a supportive work environment for your teachers.

Prepare your fitness or wellness business for Black Friday and Cyber Monday with these creative marketing ideas. From bootcamps to gift cards, learn how to attract more clients and boost sales this holiday season with Clubworx’s expert guide.

Discover the top 5 SMS messages that your gym should be sending to keep your members engaged, reduce no-shows, and ensure seamless operations throughout their fitness journey.

Learn the essential steps to create a winning fitness marketing strategy that drives growth. Discover effective tactics to attract and retain gym members.

For gym owners, managing the daily operations of their business can be a daunting task. Fortunately, with the advent of gym management software, this task has been made easier.

Personal training is a satisfying and fun career for those interested in helping others in their goals to become fit and healthy.

Keen to open your own pole dancing or aerial studio? Here's what to do.

What's next in the world of fitness? Here's what you need to know.

Just after a much-needed holiday break is the best time to take a fresh look at your business goals.

Clubworx has made it easy for fitness businesses to accept these vouchers.

Instagram has become the must-have tool for digital marketing and its importance in the aim of achieving new leads can’t be overstated.

Loved by convenience-obsessed gen z and millennials, the buy-now-pay-later platform allows customers to split payments into smaller chunks that can be spread out over a number of weeks. Here’s what it could mean for your fitness business.

Sales seasons are great times to consider sales and promotions as consumers tend to already be looking for bargains.

YouTube is a fantastic way to engage with an online audience, not to mention earn some extra income. If you want to become the next YouTube star follow our easy steps.

Improving mental and physical fitness has been a high priority for many in a post-pandemic world but, for many, nutrition can often be the forgotten element in the holistic health equation.

When it comes to running a business it’s impossible to overstate the importance of standing out from the crowd to maintain existing clients and attract more.

A nutrition program can lead to more than just a boost in smoothie consumption for your clients - they can also benefit your business for the long term.

Throughout our lives but especially as we age it’s important to stay active for the fitness of our bodies as well as our mind.

Boutique gyms have been around for a while now but what exactly are they and how are they different to a regular gym?

Want to get the most out of your yoga? Learn about what it's really like as a yogi

Want to be more customer-inclusive in your gym marketing? Consider how to market to different gym-goers.

Websites are key to interacting with your members and attracting new people to your door. Find out what your gym website needs this year.

Insurance can be a dry subject for gym owners. But operating a gym without it can be risky. Know the different types of insurance and why you might need them as the owner of a dojo or gym.

It can be hard to know what works when taking on marketing strategies for a gym, studio or dojo. The competition is all doing similar free trials or discounted rates for new members, so which works better?

Learn what you can do to increase revenue and create sustainable growth for your gym in 2022.

Find out how you can support your employees and members at your gym, studio or dojo as COVID-19 vaccination rates go up.

From ancient farming tool to effective cross-functional trainer, learn why kettlebells are so popular today.

Even if you can’t do classes in person, there are many ways you can keep your dance community alive and twirling during a pandemic.

Clear the hurdle of attracting new members to your gym or dojo with these 5 simple promotional ideas.

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel during a pandemic. Explore ways to not only survive but grow your gym or studio during challenging times.

Whether it’s for booking classes or educating clients on training and technique, it’s important to have your dojo or studio website working seamlessly.

A crisis can test a leader. So what can you focus on as a business owner during a crisis to come out stronger on the other side? Find out now.

Use this checklist to make sure your membership app is performing for both you and your customers.

Set yourselves apart from your competitors and improve your connection with customers using a custom-branded membership app.

Find out how custom mobile apps help gym owners stay in touch with and retain members, manage schedules and increase branding opportunities.

Finding the right dance studio software can help streamline your processes and improve the experiences of your students.

Discover how to mix traditional and digital techniques for finding new students for your dance studio.

The world of workouts changes a fair bit in the last two years. Take a look at some of the most biggest fitness trends to invigorate your exercise plan.

Martial arts is one of the fastest growing sports for children. Why not extend your martial arts portfolio to teach kids? Find out how now.

Explore this comprehensive guide to writing a kickass business plan for your dojo now.

If your members are anxious to return to the gym after a COVID-19 outbreak or lockdown, discover a few tips to help give them confidence now.

Outdoor workouts are here to stay – check out what you need to make the most of the trend now.

Want to know more about lodging a tax return for your business? Discover top tips and what your fitness business can claim this end of financial year.

Download our handy e-book to with tips and advice on discover how to run a successful gym. Lift your fitness business game now.

Smashing your personal training career goals is easier than you think. Master these 8 handy tips and you’ll be a successful personal trainer in no time.

Keep up to date on the latest trends with our top fitness industry blogs and websites for gym owners. Read on.

If you aren’t using martial arts software to organise your dojo, you’re wasting valuable time. With the right tools, your admin issues will be a thing of the past.

With a few handy tips, it’s easy to show parents that your kid-friendly martial arts dojo is the one to trust. Discover a few now.

Discover the impact of the pandemic on the fitness industry and ways to get back on top.

Mother’s Day is prime to market your Yoga Studio to your key target audience. These 5 tips can show you how. Find out more now.

Find out what you need to know to grow your martial arts school and maintain your business, with time to spare for what you love – teaching martial arts.

More leads mean more potential members for your gym. Find out how to generate more leads to grow your gym memberships, and your fitness business.

We list some essential business statistics you should keep track of to monitor the health of your fitness business, and grow it.

Do the hard work of managing a gym early on so you, your staff, and your clients can focus on what you love: the actual grunt and muscle work.

A dojo is a place to learn martial arts, like karate, judo, taekwondo, or aikido. Here are the facts on how much it costs to run a martial arts business.

See how Clubworx can help boost your sales results through prospect management

Everyone loves a fitness challenge. See how you could increase sales by setting up a fitness challenge with Clubworx.

Although online fitness classes aren’t new (they’ve been around for a few years now), they've boomed because of COVID-19.

News of restrictions easing has given gym goers worldwide a reason to rejoice and gym owners, some much needed relief. You’ve managed to keep your fitness business afloat through the Covid-19 storm with your online classes and constant engagement with customers

The growing popularity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) thanks to its place in mainstream media has made Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) the third most popular sport in the world right behind soccer and basketball. The Covid-19 pandemic has done little to dampen the spirit

The Covid-19 outbreak has completely altered lifestyles, from the way we study, work and party to even the way we exercise. Due to social distancing and other restrictions in place, most gyms and fitness studios have had to close their doors, forcing customers to find ways to still stay fit

Whether it’s motivating millions of people to start exercising every day or creating communities for like-minded athletes and fitness enthusiasts, social media...

It’s not just a catchy headline, it’s true. If your business is broken, software alone will not fix it. Software only works when it's supporting great business processes.

If you’re running your gym without accessing and utilising analytics, you’re running your business blind.

Tracking attendance with Clubworx gym software has never been easier.

Time management is an important skill that any business owner must possess, but unfortunately this skill is often overlooked.

One of the biggest hassles of managing a yoga studio is always organization. Fortunately, there is certainly software out there that can help. Before you make a choice about your yoga studio software, ask yourself the following seven questions.

Deciding to start your own yoga studio is exciting, and while there are plenty of steps to take before you begin booking out your first class

As a business owner, you are constantly looking for ways to add more value to your memberships and to improve the overall experience

Every martial arts school needs a good set of resources to fall back on for help, guidance, advice and to ensure they keep improving and always stay up-to-date with new trends in the industry

If you’ve achieved your black belt and mastered the proper techniques required in martial arts, you may have considered making the transition from a student to a martial arts teacher.

If you have started up your own fitness or personal training business, then you will already know that there’s a lot to get your head around: understanding clients, knowing what to provide to them, learning new things, and teaching them forward to your clients.

If you want to succeed in your dream of owning a yoga studio business, read ahead to carve your path towards a new and fulfilling career.

As a martial arts school owner, you're likely juggling multiple responsibilities each day. Between teaching classes, managing students, and dealing with the business side of things, it can feel overwhelming.

Retention isn’t just about stopping churn. It’s about building loyalty, trust, and community. It’s what transforms a one-time visitor into a lifelong client and a fan who refers their friends.

We've put together 42 activities from our most popular blogs to serve as a kind of checklist for your gym, box or studio.  If you have some other great strategies for growing your fitness center through marketing, sales, automation or member retention, we'd love to hear from you!

So you want to start a Martial Arts business? Learning a martial art takes willpower, discipline and persistence. Guess what! Those are the exact things you need to succeed in a business too. Let us take you through managing your mindset, goal setting and common mistakes.

If you're a fitness business of ANY kind and want to get that competitive edge, The Business Of Fitness is launching soon especially for you! A fountain of industry specific business tips, tactics and strategies that you will wonder what you ever did without.

If you really want to show off your dojo and everything you have to offer, a free trial is by far the best way to go about it. You can host an open house or offer a free session – whatever works best for your schedule. No matter which type of free trial you choose, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to ensure its success.

Moving a prospect or lead to a paid member is the job of your sales function. There are some myths about sales, but as your own progression as a martial artist, sales and selling is a discipline. It involves a process of persuasion and while there are some techniques and tools, ultimately, you will apply your own style to the process.

Well integrated fitness club software very quickly becomes a core part of a business’s operations and staff come to rely on it for everything from booking and taking payments to storing vital member data and attendance tracking.

When it comes to marketing your yoga studio, there are several ways you can go about it. You can pay for ads on Facebook, you can write a weekly blog and advertise it, or you can post meaningful photos on Instagram to help capture the public’s attention. Here are 11 awesome tips to market your yoga studio on Instagram.

If you’re stuck and need new ideas on how to motivate your members, try some of these tactics out.

If you've ever been interested in martial arts, then you would also be aware that there are a lot of different varieties out there. Some are designed as sports, others for meditation, and then there are, of course, some martial arts that focus purely on self defense. Choosing the right martial art for you depends on what you actually want to do with it.

There is something to be said for enrolling your child in any kind of extracurricular physical activity. After all, too many children these days lead sedentary lifestyles that are detrimental to their health. However, if you are still trying to find the right activity for your child, here are five reasons why you might want to consider martial arts over team sports.

As a fitness professional, you have an opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of your members. People who partake in fitness classes are people who are looking to get healthier, lose some weight, or just live a more active lifestyle.

A sales funnel encompasses the journey you take web visitors through to try and convert them into a customer. A sales funnel can be as simple or complicated as you like, but in our example here,

So you love the fitness life and want to start your own gym? Here are a few tips to help get you started!

There’s a perception that marketing small fitness and lifestyle businesses can’t be done effectively.

If you are a martial arts teacher and you want to provide the very best to your students, their caregivers, and even your potential students, then your website is a very important consideration.

With all of the different business and entrepreneurs online, it can be hard to keep ahead of the game and prevent your presence from being swallowed up by the competition.

Before the start of the new financial year is one of the best times to update your business plan.

Acquiring new students is important, but keeping them engaged is what sustains long-term success. Retention is the key to a profitable dojo, ensuring consistent revenue and a strong community. Many dojo owners focus on marketing but fail to develop strategies that keep students enrolled for the long haul.

So when deciding what fitness classes your gym offer, the key focus should be on what your customers and potential customers would want.

First impressions count. Your website is usually the first experience or impression a (potential) member has of your business. A poorly designed website can give the wrong impression and mean that you miss out on a chance to get new members. Today we’re going to look at what actually makes a bad website so that you can do...well..the opposite!

A business is as good as the employees who work within it. Here we'll go through what you need to consider to make sure you hire the right people for your fitness business, while at the same time steering clear of some of the more common pitfalls in the industry.

‍No matter what type of fitness business you run, chances are, you are the cheerleader and motivator for your clients.

When you’ve been involved in the development of as many small businesses as I have, you see a lot of websites — and a lot of website building mistakes. If you’re building a website for your martial arts dojo, PT Studio, affiliate box or fitness center, here are some of the most common mistakes and how your fitness business can avoid them:

Amongst all of the advice that well-meaning parents and friends and spouses give when they find out you’re starting your own business, you’ve probably heard, “Hire someone better than yourself.” This is one tip that you should definitely follow. Your business is your baby, and like a baby, you wouldn’t just put it in the hands of any random person.

It is difficult for a software provider to meet the individual needs of all martial arts businesses. There are different styles to consider, different approaches to business and then there is the unique perspective and philosophies of each dojo owner

It is no secret that the fitness industry is booming. Greater health consciousness has led to more and more people taking to gyms and fitness centers worldwide. Having said that, certain personal trainers are more in demand than the others. Besides their greater client involvement skills, there is one important factor that marks their business as different from the rest and that is their business website.

<p>With more than 10,000 Affiliate Boxes around the world, how can you tip the scales in your favor and run a successful box. Check out these 5 tips for growing a fantastic affiliate box! 1 - Offer Free Classes Most affiliate boxes offer at least one or two free classes each week to draw the </p>

Sometimes business is easy. A new person walks in your door, asks to join your martial arts studio or dojo, and signs up there on the spot.

Organization and communication are key when it comes to retaining Box members. Get them right and watch your total membership skyrocket. Do it poorly and it will feel like you are trying to fill a sieve with water. Here are our 3 tips for growing your Affiliate Gym using your Box Management Software. Tip 1

Leads are oxygen for your business. If you are not generating leads through word of mouth, your website or some form of direct marketing then your business is in trouble. But it's not about how big your list of leads is, it's what you do with them. Basically all leads fall into 3 basic

I've been fortunate enough to spend the last couple of months in San Sebastian, Spain. As well as being a beautiful part of the world, San Sebastian is famous for its Pintxos Bars. They are everywhere in the old town of San Sebastian. The thing about these Pintxos Bars is that you often go to one bar which is famous for its pork dish and another bar for its mushrooms or another bar for its dessert. You get the idea.

Do you give prospects and clients the option to book appointments online? If not, here are four reasons why an online booking system is a smart choice for your business.

Warning! If you are currently using paper records or Excel to manage your martial arts business, this article may make you squirm.

It’s easy to tell when someone LOVES what they do. On a recent holiday, I got to see first-hand how a passion for what you do gives your businesses an advantage.

The number one reason most businesses fail is because they expect the customers to find them. In reality, it’s a business’s job to find customers. When you own a business, opportunity doesn’t knock—you have to go out and find it. Here are three tips to help you generate more leads for your Personal Training Studio:

With a whopping 1.44 billion monthly active users (as of April 2015), Facebook is the most popular social network in the world today. The average user spends 21 minutes on the social giant every day, sifting through photos and videos on their newsfeed. With more than 300 million monthly active users, Instagram is the most popular photo-sharing network in the world.

In today’s economy, data is everything. With personal trainer software, you have the ability to track leads, conversions, sales, membership information, and more. But what’s the point of having all of this data? Many personal trainers and gyms would rather focus on the people they train, rather than the data they collect. However, capturing data and analyzing that data is one of the best ways to improve your efficiency, the services you offer, and even your conversions. Here are just four of the many reasons an effective information management system like personal trainer software is important:

The need for a website for your fitness center cannot be overstated. With a dedicated website you can market your gym, generate, capture and convert leads and manage online bookings - boosting your online visibility and offline business at the same time.

Your website is your greatest and most prolific salesman. But what is yours saying about you?

There are a number of commonly held beliefs amongst fitness professionals that often (unfortunately) stand in the way of them implementing smart, automated systems and getting the most out of their business. These beliefs often stop them from either successfully launching or growing their gym or studio. It can be a hard lesson to learn but

Effective marketing is crucial for growing your student base and establishing your dojo’s reputation. This blog covers both online and offline marketing strategies to help you increase visibility, attract leads, and convert them into loyal members.

Going online is perhaps no longer an option but a necessity for businesses aiming to grow and expand their customer base at a faster pace.

Everyone loves a fitness challenge. How many viral push-ups, running, squats challenges have we seen during COVID-19? So popular. So much fun.