Andy Devaney
Once the preserve of underground fight clubs and late-night grapplers, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has muscled its way into the mainstream. What was once a niche martial art is now one of the UK’s fastest-growing sports — with membership soaring from just 10,000 practitioners in 2016 to over 40,000 in 2025, according to the UK Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association (UKBJJA). In less than a decade, the number of clubs across the country has shot up by more than 200%.
So, what’s fuelling this national obsession with armbars and chokeholds? A perfect storm of wellness culture, celebrity endorsement, and a collective craving for real-world skills. As more people seek fitness that toughens both body and mind, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has become the thinking person’s combat sport — a mix of chess and combat, meditation and muscle.
Hollywood has helped, too. Tom Hardy’s tournament appearances have drawn mainstream attention, while Mark Zuckerberg’s training videos, and the sport’s famous fans — Henry Cavill, Demi Lovato, and Margot Robbie among them — have given it cultural clout. Suddenly, rolling on the mats isn’t niche — it’s aspirational.
“We’ve seen tremendous growth in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in the UK over the last ten years with participation now outstripping comparable martial arts,” says UKBJJA Founder and Honorary President Richard Martin. “In this time, we’ve contributed to the significant development of the sport from the grassroots to the elite.
It’s truly rewarding to see so many people discovering Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, whether for competition, fitness, or personal development, and for the sport not only to have achieved national sport recognition, but to be gaining such momentum in the public consciousness.”
The Rise of Women in BJJ
Long seen as a male stronghold, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has undergone a quiet revolution on its mats. Women now make up one of the fastest-growing groups in the sport, inspired by world champions like Ffion Davies, whose dominance on the global stage continues to reshape perceptions.
Her success has helped redefine BJJ as not just a combat discipline, but a symbol of empowerment — mental, physical, and social.
From Basement Studios to Boutique Dojos
With demand surging, practitioners aren’t content with sweat-stained mats and flickering strip lights anymore. A new generation of BJJ clubs is setting the bar higher — fusing martial arts mastery with recovery, community, and lifestyle.
One such space is ARMA, a newly opened, high-end Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wellness club in Clapham, London. Blending top-tier coaching (including sessions led by Ffion Davies herself) with spa-style recovery, ARMA feels more Soho House than Fight Club.
Facilities include purpose-built dojos, cold plunges, saunas, a full strength and conditioning gym, and coworking spaces — all aimed at modern professionals who want to train hard and live well.
“We’re seeing a real shift in what people want from their training,” says Jake Willis, co-founder of ARMA. “More people are looking for something that challenges them physically and mentally, and when they try BJJ, they quickly realise it’s not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle. And that’s exactly what ARMA was built around.”
The Future of BJJ in the UK
Ten years ago, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu was barely on the radar of British sport. Today, it’s a legitimate cultural movement — backed by institutions, embraced by celebrities, and sustained by communities from Aberdeen to Brighton.
And as ARMA and clubs like it reimagine what it means to train, BJJ is becoming something more than combat. It’s a way of life — disciplined, empowering, and unpretentious. From the first roll to the black belt, it’s less about fighting others and more about mastering yourself.
*Figures from the UK Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Association (UKBJJA), 2025.
*Based on UKBJJA club registry growth data between 2016–2025.
