If you run a martial arts school, tracking belt promotions is one of your most important responsibilities. Every student's progression — from white belt to black belt — needs to be accurately recorded, easily accessible, and professionally managed.
Yet most martial arts schools still track belts on paper, in spreadsheets, or not at all. The result? Lost grading records, forgotten stripe awards, and students who don't know where they stand.
In this guide, we compare the best apps to track belt promotions in 2026, covering features, pricing, and which disciplines each tool supports.
Why You Need a Belt Tracking App
Before we compare tools, here's why digital belt tracking matters for your academy:
- Accuracy — No more lost paper records or forgotten stripes. Every promotion is logged with date, instructor, and notes.
- Transparency — Students and parents can see their progression, creating engagement and motivation.
- Grading decisions — When it's time for assessments, you have attendance data and promotion history to make informed decisions.
- Professionalism — A proper belt tracking system shows students you take their journey seriously.
- Scalability — What works for 30 students breaks at 150. Digital tracking scales with your academy.
The Best Belt Tracking Apps Compared
Here's how the leading martial arts management platforms handle belt and rank tracking:
| Feature | ClubForge | Gymdesk | Zen Planner | Kicksite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belt progression | ✅ Full | ✅ Full | ✅ Full | ✅ Full |
| Stripe tracking | ✅ Individual | ⚠️ Basic | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Basic |
| Custom belt systems | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ |
| Instructor feedback | ✅ Detailed | ⚠️ Basic | ⚠️ Limited | ❌ |
| Student portal view | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Attendance integration | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ |
| Kids belt systems | ✅ | ✅ | ⚠️ | ⚠️ |
| UK pricing (from) | £39/mo | $99/mo | $117/mo | $59/mo |
1. ClubForge — Best Overall for Belt Tracking
ClubForge is purpose-built for martial arts academies, with belt progression as a core feature rather than an afterthought. You can define custom belt systems for any discipline — BJJ (white through black with four stripes per belt), Karate (kyu/dan), Taekwondo (gup/dan), Judo, or any custom structure.
What sets ClubForge apart is the depth of its belt tracking. Every stripe award and belt promotion is logged with instructor name, date, and detailed written feedback. Students see their full progression history in their member portal — from white belt to black belt, every milestone is recorded. When it's grading time, you can see exactly how many sessions each student has attended since their last promotion, giving you data-backed confidence in every promotion decision.
Unlike competitors that bolt on basic rank tracking as an afterthought, ClubForge was designed from day one around the martial arts grading workflow. It supports kids' belt systems (grey, yellow, orange, green in BJJ), custom stripe progressions, and multi-discipline academies where students may train across BJJ, MMA, and striking.
Best for: BJJ academies, MMA gyms, Karate dojos, multi-discipline schools, and any martial arts club that takes belt progression seriously. Includes integrated payments, scheduling, and attendance alongside belt tracking — all from £39/month.
2. Gymdesk — US-Focused Alternative
Gymdesk offers belt tracking capabilities and is used by some martial arts schools. It covers basic belt and stripe recording, though it lacks the detailed instructor feedback and grading workflow depth that ClubForge provides.
The main drawback for UK clubs is significant: pricing is in USD (starting at $99/month), there's no native UK payment support, and GDPR compliance is unclear. If you're a UK-based academy, you'll likely find a better fit with a platform designed for the UK market.
3. Zen Planner — Enterprise Option
Zen Planner is a feature-rich but expensive platform (from $117/month USD) aimed at larger operations. It includes belt tracking and reporting, but the complexity and price point make it overkill for most martial arts clubs. The interface can feel overwhelming compared to more focused tools like ClubForge.
4. Kicksite — Best for Simplicity
Kicksite is a simpler option that covers the basics of belt tracking. It's affordable and easy to set up, making it suitable for smaller schools that don't need advanced features like custom belt systems or detailed instructor feedback.
What to Look For in a Belt Tracking App
When evaluating belt tracking software, prioritise these features:
- Custom belt structures — Can you define your own belt system? BJJ, Karate, and Taekwondo all have different structures.
- Stripe-level tracking — Does it track individual stripes, not just belt levels?
- Instructor feedback — Can coaches add notes and feedback to each promotion?
- Attendance integration — Can you see how many sessions a student attended since their last promotion?
- Student visibility — Can students see their own progression in a portal or app?
- Audit trail — Is there a history log of who awarded each promotion and when?
Spreadsheets vs. Dedicated Belt Tracking Software
Many club owners start with Google Sheets or Excel. While this works for small clubs, it breaks down quickly:
| Factor | Spreadsheets | Belt Tracking App |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Minutes | Minutes |
| Student visibility | ❌ None | ✅ Portal access |
| Scales past 50 students | ❌ Breaks down | ✅ Unlimited |
| Attendance link | ❌ Manual | ✅ Automatic |
| Backup/security | ⚠️ Manual | ✅ Automatic |
| Grading history | ⚠️ Basic | ✅ Full audit trail |
The Bottom Line
For UK-based martial arts clubs, ClubForge offers the best combination of belt tracking, payments, scheduling, and member management at a competitive price point. If you're running a BJJ academy, MMA gym, or multi-discipline martial arts school, having belt progression built into your management system (rather than tracked separately) saves time and eliminates errors.