Andy Devaney
There’s a new beast in town—and it doesn’t come wrapped in neon lights or protein-shake gimmicks. ARMA, a high-end Brazilian Jiu Jitsu club, has just opened its doors in Clapham Common, and it’s rewriting the rulebook on what a combat sports facility can and should be.
This isn’t your average roll on a dusty mat—it’s discipline, design and community fused into a full-blown lifestyle offering.
The brainchild of entrepreneurs Jake Willis and Louis Steyn, ARMA isn’t merely a gym. It’s a purpose-built arena where sweat meets intention, recovery meets routine, and where beginners train alongside world champions—sometimes literally.
“Our vision was to create a space where people of all levels could access the very best in coaching, world-class facilities, and community support,” says Willis, Co-Founder of ARMA. And they’ve done just that—no fluff, no gimmicks.
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Meets Boutique Wellness
Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, often referred to as “human chess,” has exploded in popularity over the past decade, pulling in everyone from Hollywood A-listers to elite athletes. Known for its emphasis on strategy, leverage, and technique rather than brute strength, the martial art demands both mental and physical sharpness.
And ARMA knows the game inside out.
Step inside and you’ll find competition-grade mats, a strength and conditioning facility that wouldn’t look out of place in a pro athlete’s training camp, and a recovery suite that could make a cryotherapy veteran weep with joy. Think Black Elk saunas, cold plunge baths, and more eucalyptus than a spa retreat in Melbourne.
Add to that a café and co-working space, and you’ve got yourself a modern dojo-meets-members’ club hybrid—an ecosystem where training, nutrition, focus and recovery all live under one roof.
“We don’t know anyone else offering what ARMA does, which is why we wanted to be the first to create a space that trains the body, sharpens the mind, and respects the craft in a premium setting,” adds Steyn, who, like Willis, brings a background in real estate, hospitality, and high-growth startups to the mat.
Ffion Davies Headlines an Elite Coaching Roster
At the heart of ARMA is none other than Ffion Davies, widely considered the best female grappler on the planet. As Head Coach, Davies brings a champion’s pedigree and a no-nonsense coaching style that raises the bar for every member—whether they’re a seasoned black belt or stepping onto the mats for the first time.
From group sessions and strength training to private coaching and children’s programmes like Little ARMAs, the club’s structure is built around progression, not posturing.
A-List Appeal, Local Grit
With celebrities like Tom Hardy, Keanu Reeves and Demi Lovato helping push BJJ into the mainstream, ARMA rides that wave—but without losing sight of its roots. It’s already attracted early interest from the likes of entrepreneur Spencer Matthews and straight-talking fitness coach James Smith.
Membership doesn’t come cheap—starting at £230 per month—but what you get isn’t just access to classes. It’s the whole package: unlimited training, recovery facilities, and workspace, plus the kind of community you don’t find in your average globo-gym.
Opening Details
ARMA opens August 1st in Clapham Common. Early founding memberships became available from June 16th and are still being snapped up. To join or learn more, visit the ARMA website.
In a landscape where wellness often gets watered down by marketing jargon and short-term fixes, ARMA offers something real: a place where you’ll be pushed, sharpened, and restored—in every sense of the word.
And if you’re looking for more than a gym, you’ve just found it.
For more information, visit www.armabjj.com and Instagram page @armabjj
