Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy opens new world-class combat sports facility

The Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy (NJA) has officially opened doors to its new, state-of-the-art training facility on the second floor of New Muthaiga Mall, Thigiri Ridge, Nairobi—standing proud as East Africa’s largest martial arts training ground.

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The new 650-square-meter facility features Kenya’s only octagon cage for MMA training, a fully equipped strength and conditioning area, four types of heavy bags for striking training, and a 150-square-meter open mat area with a variety of offerings designed for athlete comfort and convenience.

Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu welcomed an esteemed guest list for its grand opening, headlined by two MMA legends: Professor Ricardo Testai of Kings MMA in California (head coach of BJJ and grappling coach to UFC stars including Fabrício Werdum, Marvin Vettori, and Kelvin Gastelum) and Renato “Babalu” Sobral (former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight World Champion and UFC title challenger).

Both icons led workshops for children and adults at Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy, bringing elite-level insight directly to the mats.

Their presence underscored the international caliber of the academy’s Grand Opening Weekend. Sobral’s career spans top-tier competition and coaching, while Testai has worked with some of the world’s leading fighters, playing a key role in integrating high-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu into modern MMA.

The three-day grand opening celebrations that began on Friday, 27 February, and went into the weekend also brought together athletes from Kenya, Tanzania, and the DRC, alongside families, fans, media, and the wider martial arts community who attended a curated program that included MMA and BJJ seminars and an introduction to their strength and conditioning alongside a belt promotion ceremony—all these reflecting NJA’s commitment to excellence, accessibility, and community building.

Their opening marked a major milestone for martial arts development in Kenya and East Africa, positioning NJA as one of the region’s most comprehensively equipped combat sports facilities, offering Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) programs for children and adults (male and female), alongside Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) training for children and adults (both amateur and fighters).

The expansion represents NJA’s long-term vision: to develop disciplined athletes, empower our community, and contribute to the continued rise of Kenya and East Africa on the global combat sports stage. The opening of NJA’s new facility follows a year of strong competitive performances across Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, reinforcing the academy’s reputation as a leading force in African combat sports.

The expanded space allows NJA to meet growing demand from children, hobbyists, aspiring professionals, and competitive athletes alike, while maintaining high coaching standards and a safe, inclusive training environment.

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The expansion represents NJA’s long-term vision: to develop disciplined athletes, empower our community, and contribute to the continued rise of Kenya and East Africa on the global combat sports stage. The opening of NJA’s new facility follows a year of strong competitive performances across Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and MMA, reinforcing the academy’s reputation as a leading force in African combat sports.

The expanded space now includes a dedicated strength and conditioning section designed to support both competitive fighters and hobbyists in improving performance, resilience, and overall athleticism. NJA is also introducing structured strength & conditioning programs alongside a new MMA fitness program—a contactless MMA-based training option—allowing members to experience the intensity and conditioning benefits of MMA in a safe, accessible format.

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The additional space enables NJA to meet growing demand from children, hobbyists, aspiring professionals, and competitive athletes alike, while maintaining high coaching standards and a safe, inclusive training environment.