Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy (NJA) has opened a new combat sports training facility at New Muthaiga Mall, Thigiri Ridge, Nairobi, with the academy saying the site is the largest martial arts training ground in East Africa. The academy announced the opening in a press release dated 3 March 2026, following a three-day launch programme that began on Friday, 27 February.

According to NJA, the new facility occupies 650 square metres on the mall’s second floor and includes what it described as Kenya’s only octagon cage for MMA training, a strength and conditioning area, four types of heavy bags for striking training and a 150-square-metre open mat area.

The opening drew a guest list that included two international MMA figures: Renato “Babalu” Sobral, a former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight World Champion and UFC title challenger, and Professor Ricardo Testai of Kings MMA in California, whom NJA identified as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) head coach and a grappling coach who has worked with UFC athletes including Fabrício Werdum, Marvin Vettori and Kelvin Gastelum.

“The Nairobi Jiu-Jitsu Academy (NJA) has officially opened doors to its new, state-of-the-art training facility on the second floor on New Muthaiga Mall, Thigiri Ridge, Nairobi,” the academy said in the statement.

NJA said both Sobral and Testai led workshops for children and adults during the opening weekend. The academy added that athletes from Kenya, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo attended, alongside families, fans and media, for programming that included MMA and BJJ seminars, an introduction to strength and conditioning, and a belt promotion ceremony.

For Kenya’s urban retail landscape, the opening is another example of malls attracting service-led tenants that rely on recurring subscriptions and community footfall rather than traditional retail sales. Westlands and its environs have increasingly positioned themselves as hubs for gyms, wellness operators and specialised sports training, catering to Nairobi’s growing middle-income consumer base and a more competitive fitness market.

NJA said it will offer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu programmes for children and adults, and MMA training for both amateur participants and fighters. The academy also said it is introducing structured Strength & Conditioning programmes and a new “MMA Fitness” programme, which it described as a contactless MMA-based training option.

“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 academy said.

The academy linked the decision to expand to what it called “growing demand from children, hobbyists, aspiring professionals and competitive athletes alike,” and said the additional space is intended to maintain coaching standards while providing a “safe, inclusive training environment.”

In the regional sports business context, investment in larger, specialised facilities could support the formalisation of combat sports through more structured training pipelines, higher-quality coaching and more consistent event preparation. If sustained, this can influence adjacent markets such as sportswear retail, physiotherapy and sports tourism linked to seminars and visiting coaches, particularly as Nairobi positions itself as a regional events and services hub.

NJA said it will continue rolling out its strength and conditioning offering alongside its martial arts programmes. The academy did not disclose capital expenditure or pricing details for the new facility.