Your martial arts school's website is probably one of your most important marketing tools, but we see way too many schools shooting themselves in the foot with easily fixable mistakes. These errors are costing you new students every single day.
We've helped plenty of martial arts schools improve their online presence, and we keep seeing the same problems pop up over and over. The good news? Most of these fixes are straightforward once you know what to look for.
Let's dive into the seven biggest mistakes we see and how you can fix them right now.
Mistake #1: Using Generic Stock Photos Instead of Real Student Images
This is probably the biggest mistake we see. You land on a martial arts website and immediately spot those same cheesy stock photos that every other school uses. You know the ones - the perfectly posed models in pristine uniforms who clearly have never thrown a real punch.
Here's the thing - potential students can spot fake images from a mile away. When they see stock photos, they start wondering what you're trying to hide. Are your real students not good enough to show? Is your dojo actually a mess?
The Fix: Get out there with a decent camera (even your phone works) and capture real moments. Show your actual students learning, laughing, sweating, and having fun. Capture the energy of your classes. Show kids getting excited about earning their next belt. Show adults working through challenging techniques.
These authentic images build trust immediately. When prospects see real people who look like them enjoying your classes, they can picture themselves there too. If you have to choose, low-quality but authentic images are a better choice than professional stock photos.
Mistake #2: Your Website Looks Terrible on Mobile
Most people are searching for martial arts classes on their phones while they're out and about. If your website looks broken or is impossible to navigate on mobile, you're losing students before they even know what you offer.
We see websites with tiny text, buttons you can't tap, and images that don't load properly on phones. It's frustrating for visitors and makes your school look unprofessional.
The Fix: Test your website on multiple devices right now. Pull out your phone and try to navigate your site. Can you easily find your class schedule? Can you tap the phone number to call? Is everything readable without zooming in?
If your site isn't mobile-friendly, it's time for an update. Most modern website builders automatically make mobile-responsive sites, so there's really no excuse for this anymore. If you want even more motivation, know that Google penalizes the search rank for websites that aren't mobile-friendly.
Mistake #3: Hiding Your Contact Information
This one drives us crazy. You visit a martial arts website and have to hunt around for basic contact info, like it's a treasure hunt. Phone numbers buried in tiny footer text, no address listed, or contact forms that don't work.
If someone wants to call you about classes and can't easily find your number, they'll move on to the next school. It's that simple.
The Fix: Put your phone number and address at the top of every single page. Make it big enough to read and clickable on mobile so people can call with one tap.
Add your contact info to the footer too. Consider putting a "Contact Us" button in your navigation menu that stays visible as people scroll through your site. Make it easy for people to take the actions you want them to take.
Mistake #4: No FAQ Section (Or Terrible FAQs)
Either schools completely skip FAQs, or they create generic ones that don't help anyone. We've seen FAQs with questions like "Is martial arts good for kids?" - well, of course you think it is, or you wouldn't be teaching it.
Good FAQs answer the real questions prospects have about your specific programs. Things like pricing, what to wear to the first class, how long it takes to earn belts, age requirements, and what makes your school different.
The Fix: Think about the actual questions people ask when they call or visit. Write those down and answer them honestly on your website. You've probably answered these questions dozens of times.
Create separate FAQ sections for different programs if needed. Kids' classes have different questions than adult self-defense courses. Be specific about your policies, pricing structure, and what students can expect.
Mistake #5: No Clear Next Steps for Visitors
People land on your website, browse around, and then... what? If you don't tell visitors what to do next, most of them will just leave. They're not going to figure out on their own how to sign up for a trial class.
We see websites with no clear calls-to-action or buttons that just say generic things like "Learn More." That doesn't tell someone how to actually get started with your school.
The Fix: Add clear, specific buttons throughout your site that tell people exactly what to do. Use language like "Book Your Free Trial Class," "Schedule a Visit," or "Call Now to Get Started."
Make these buttons stand out visually - use contrasting colors and place them where people naturally look. Put them at the end of your program descriptions and on your homepage.
Mistake #6: Ignoring Video Content
Martial arts is visual and dynamic, but many school websites are just walls of text. Reading about martial arts is nothing like experiencing it. Video shows the energy, the movement, and the fun that happens in your classes.
Static websites feel outdated and boring compared to schools that showcase their programs with engaging video content.
The Fix: Start simple with short videos shot on your phone. Show brief clips of classes in action, instructor demonstrations, or quick student testimonials. You don't need Hollywood production quality - authentic content works better anyway.
Post a welcome video from the head instructor explaining what makes your school special. Show different age groups training so parents can see what their kids would be doing.
Mistake #7: Making Promises You Can't Keep
We see schools claiming they'll turn students into "deadly weapons" or guarantee black belts in unrealistic timeframes. Others promise their programs will solve every problem a kid might have, from bullying to low self-esteem to poor grades.
When students don't see these exaggerated results, they get disappointed and leave. Worse, they might leave negative reviews that hurt your reputation.
The Fix: Be honest about what your programs actually deliver. Instead of vague promises about "transforming lives," explain the specific skills students will learn and realistic timeframes for progress.
Say things like "Students typically earn their first belt in 3-4 months with regular attendance" or "Our anti-bullying program teaches kids confidence and de-escalation techniques." These concrete statements set proper expectations and build trust.
Bonus Tip: Keep Your Information Updated
Nothing says "unprofessional" like outdated class schedules, old pricing, or announcements for events that happened six months ago. If your website shows last year's holiday schedule or references programs you no longer offer, visitors will wonder if your school is even still open.
Set a reminder to review and update your website monthly. Check that all schedules, pricing, and program information are current.
Getting Started with These Fixes
Don't try to fix everything at once - that's overwhelming, and you'll probably end up not doing anything. Pick the mistake that's easiest for you to fix right now and start there.
Maybe that's updating your contact information to make it more prominent. Or taking some authentic photos of your next class. Small improvements add up quickly and will start bringing in more students.
Your website should make it easy for prospects to understand what you offer, feel confident about your school, and know exactly how to get started. When you fix these common mistakes, you'll see more people actually showing up for trial classes instead of just browsing and leaving.
At whistlekick, we've seen these simple changes make a huge difference for martial arts schools. Your website is working 24/7 to bring in new students - make sure it's doing its job effectively.
Ready to dive deeper into growing your martial arts school? Check out more of our resources and tips on our blog to keep improving your school's success.