Online booking for martial arts dojos
Help new students book a trial lesson and understand what to expect. Keep trial appointments separate from your regular class timetable.
A free trial class event type, capped at two or three per session so beginners get attention, with a form that asks about experience and offers the option to watch instead.
The enquiry you never hear about#
Someone finds your dojo, wants to try it, and cannot tell from the website whether they can just turn up, whether it costs anything, whether instruction is in Japanese, or whether they will be the only person there who has never done it. So they do nothing.
The opposite failure is worse: five beginners arrive at the same Tuesday class and the session becomes an introduction instead of training, which the paying members notice.
Suggested booking settings#
Members train on a fixed weekly timetable, but the booking that matters commercially is the free trial class that turns a visitor into a member.
| Duration | 90 minutes |
|---|---|
| Booking notice required | 4 hours |
| Max bookings per day | Trials a day, so beginners get attention |
| Location | In person |
| Payment | Trial free, then membership handled outside the booking system |
| Cancellation policy | Not applicable to a free trial |
Suggested booking questions: Any previous experience or grade? · Age · Would you rather watch first?
Foreign residents looking for karate, judo, aikido or kendo want to know whether instruction is in English and whether visitors may simply watch. Both belong in the description; both are the actual question behind the booking.
Business Box books one party per time slot, so several customers cannot sign up for the same class individually — the first booking takes the session. It fits private sessions, trials and one-to-one teaching today. See what that means for group classes. Group booking limitations
A trial class that answers the questions before they are asked#
One event type: Free trial class, ninety minutes, four hours’ notice. The description does the real work — say whether instruction is in English, what to wear, whether a gi is lent, and that watching is fine.
Max bookings per day spreads beginners across the week rather than landing five on one class. Note that each time slot accepts one booking, so a trial slot is one visitor rather than a place in a class of many. One booking, one slot
Ask the three things that matter#
Previous experience or grade, age, and whether they would rather watch first. Three questions on the booking form, and the instructor knows what is walking in.
Members do not need to book#
Do not put your whole timetable in. Members come to class; that is what membership is. Use the system for trials, gradings and private lessons — the things that genuinely need a slot.
Getting started#
- Sign in at app.marubox.jp with Google or Microsoft. There is no credit card required and no time limit on the free plan.
- Create an event type with the settings above. Event types explained
- Connect your calendar so the dojo never gets double booked. Google · Outlook
- Set your working hours, and close Japanese public holidays in one setting. Availability
- Put the link in your bio, or the widget on your site. Adding it to your website
Common questions
Should members book every class?
Usually not. Members turn up to a timetable, and asking them to book adds friction for no gain. Use booking for trials, private lessons and gradings.
How do I stop too many beginners arriving at once?
Set Max bookings per day on the trial event type. Bear in mind that each time slot accepts one booking, so each trial slot is one visitor rather than a place in a shared class.
Can the page be in Japanese as well as English?
Yes, and it should be. Write the class names and descriptions in both, and each visitor sees the language set in their browser.
Start taking bookings online
The Free plan includes booking pages, Google Calendar and Outlook connections, working hours, Japanese holiday settings and booking on your website. No credit card is required, and there is no time limit. The Paid plan is ¥1,200 per month including tax and adds online card payments, team bookings and LINE integration. Business Box charges no booking commission; Stripe processing fees apply separately.
Last reviewed 16 October 2026.