Beloved Birmingham MMA Gym Saved After 17 Month Fight For Survival

Hey, did you hear about that MMA gym? It’s called Kombat Martial Arts. Some celebs like Goldie and UB40 members love it. It almost closed down, which would have been awful.

The gym helps kids, even those with disabilities, learn self-defense. Instructors teach them discipline, build confidence, and help with bullying issues at school. The kids also learn important life skills.

Birmingham City Council initially said no to the gym’s plans in 2023 because they wanted to change the unit’s use from industrial to leisure but the council rejected this request.

Kombat fought to stay open for over a year, with fans supporting them a lot. Finally, last month, they won, and the council changed their mind, meaning the gym can stay now.

Imran Majid, the instructor, was thrilled but said the council never really helped them. He felt relieved after the decision because parents had argued the closure would be a disaster.

One student, Jude Watson, said he needs the gym. UB40’s manager, Matt Campbell, said the band backs Kombat. Goldie also supported the gym a lot and said the earlier decision was “questionable.” He wished he had a gym like Kombat growing up, as it could have really helped him back then.