Martial arts clubs in the capital
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Compiled by Andrew Shields
Posted: Tue May 8 2007 -
Check out our top five martial arts clubs in the capital
Striking a pose: no-one argues with a man wearing pink shorts Bob Breen Academy
Jeet kune do (as popularised by Bruce Lee) and kick-boxing are the big hitters here. Beginners pay £125 for a month’s training, which includes classes twice a week plus bag gloves, T-shirt and hand wraps.
Bob Breen Academy, 16 Hoxton Square, N1 (020 7729 5789/ www.bobbreen.co.uk).
Budokwai
Founded in 1918 and the oldest Japanese martial arts club in Europe. Top coaches teach judo, karate, ju-jitsu and aikido to beginners and Olympians alike. Annual membership is £65-£80 plus class fees.
Budokwai, 4 Gilston Rd, SW10 (020 7370 1000/ www.budokwai.co.uk).Advertisement
London Shootfighters
This training group for mixed martial artists has evolved into regular classes producing some of the UK’s best fighters, though you can also train just for fitness. The style combines the groundwork of Brazilian ju-jitsu and submission wrestling, the takedowns of freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling and the striking of Muay Thai and boxing. Membership is from £35 per month.
London Shootfighters, 57 Bard Rd, W10 (07780 683 562/ www.londonshootfighters.com).
Shaolin Temple UK
Kung fu taught by a genuine 34th generation Shaolin fighting monk is the main attraction here. Annual membership is £100 plus £85 per month training fees, or you can try a class for £8.
Shaolin Temple UK, 207a Junction Rd, N19 (020 7687 8333/ www.shaolintempleuk.org).
Tokei Martial Arts Centre
Around 15 different styles are available each week in an atmosphere free of machismo and elitism. Membership is from £35 per month.
Tokei Martial Arts Centre, Lion Court, 28 Magdalen St, SE1 (020 7403 5979/ www.tokeicentre.org).- Add your comment to this feature
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17 comments
I go to Aikido of London (near Tottenham court road/Holborn) for Aikido and Iaido. It's in the crypt of St.George's church. Brilliant place for learning martial arts!
nice list... but also must check out Safari Muay Thai & Kickboxing, as they teach beginners to professional fighters and more importantly are one of the only martial arts centres to offer strict, Women's Only or Men's only classes!
Perfect environment for those really wanting to get fit and train!
For Tai Chi in the West End - try mayfairtaichi.com at The Healing Room. Beginners welcome.
I'm planning on hitting the London Fight factory as soon as I get back from holiday. Will also check out Tokei.
London Shootfighters seemed good except they moved to they relocated inconveniently to Park Royal and significantly increased their fees to £90 a month making them now a very expensive gym to train at on top of the awkward travel. I wish they'd at least have set up somewhere more central. It's probably only worth going to that gym if you intend to fight for a living. I think that's their intention. I already have a good job though! :-)
Kung Fu Fitness is a combination of different Kung Fu styles and Bando Kick boxing. Learn self-defence techniques, Tai Chi, Yoga, boost your self confidence, stress release, lose weight and improve your strength, flexibility and stamina.
They have classes on Mon and Wed for children and adults see postcode E14 3TH or call Sawbwa on 07595509116
I have been training there for over 6 months and absolutely love it!
How do I find out when the next big UFC or MMA fights are on in London.. any ideas guys?
The Shaolin Temple is renovating and looks superb. There are new teachers taking the preperation classes who are excellent, friendly and welcoming. they train you hard and you get great reward. no better full body, co-ordinatiion, balance and cardio work out around. The saunas are on their way.All this with a great culture and with the new facilited and cometititve pricing it is a must!
The London fight Factory is the best I've been to! I've trained at a few gyms and some of them are all talk, saying they're this and that and boasting a lot, but this gym is just the best at what it does. BJJ and MMA. Can't beat it. Speak to Luiz, Claudio or Abel down there and they will show you round, very friendly Brazilians who know their stuff. They have a laugh and train hard - and that's all you want!
Shaolin Temple UK is having a massive refrub, apparently saunas, steam rooms, the works. PLus they have reduced the prices, they've got a special offer of £365 for the whole year! thats a £1 a day! Its the ONLY official Shaolin Kung Fu School in the UK.
Try Kung Fu Fitness, learn practical self defence and get fit at the same time. Combat Bando is a specialized defensive and offensive tactics training that is specifically engineered for law enforcement, public safety, military special ops and special security forces.
Self-defence + Yoga = Kung Fu Fitness
www.kungfufitness.co.uk
Thanks Farrah, I will try out Tokei, had it on my list for a while. Changing jobs in 2 weeks time but after I settle in there I'll turn up at Tokei. London Bridge is quite convenient as a location and the membership seems reasonable. I wish the BJJ classes were included, that's where the real cost adds in I think with the extra membership and per class costs for those as they're affiliate classes.
Hari if you really want to get fit, condition your body try Tokei in London Bridge. For only £35 per month you can take part in many classes as well as the use of gym.
err... meant to say I *don't* care about the frills, I just want to get better.
The Shaolin Temple prices have also gone up to £168 membership + £75 per month. Pricey, who knew monks needed so much money...
I am currently looking to join a good gym. I went to London Shootfighters a couple times, really great, was intending to become regular there but then they suddenly moved to an inconvenient location at Park Royal and upped their membership from £35 + £3 per lesson to £55K per month + £4 per lesson making them quite pricey which combined with the location is totally not cool so I'm a bit gutted now. Shame, because their new gym is apparently nicer, but I care about the frills I just want to get better!
If anyone knows of any good clubs near Central London or South London or anything in between please let me know!
Looked at perhaps going to Titan or Diesel, Diesel is expensive at £80 per month and not that good for public transport folks like me. I would try Titan but it's so far North and there isn't even a tube to it and I live in South London as well.
Someone I know trains at and recommended Shaolin Temple, but I've already done Kung Fu for a few years and want to do MMA now.
If anyone has any recommendations please post them here!
What about London Fight Factory? It's the friendliest gym I've ever trained at and they have a great mix of classes and great instructors. Also went to a seminar with Wanderlei Silva there last week which was amazing.
www.londonfightfactory.com