World champion partners with Aston Villa star to launch state-of-the-art Jiu Jitsu academy in Warwick
By Nadia Sayed 19th Jun 2026
A multiple-time world medallist and British Champion is set to open a flagship Jiu Jitsu academy in Warwick.
Founded by Thomas Bracher, one of the UK's most accomplished Brazilian Jiu Jitsu athletes and coaches, ALBA Jiu Jitsu will launch its new flagship academy in Warwick, creating a unique health, fitness and community destination for the region.
The facility will feature 'a state-of-the-art Brazilian Jiu Jitsu academy,' an exclusive lifting club, a recovery centre, and a fitness kitchen and coffee café, providing a complete environment for training, recovery and wellbeing under one roof.
Behind the academy is Thomas Bracher, an IBJJF European Champion, IBJJF No-Gi World Silver Medallist, ADCC European Trials Bronze Medallist.
Brancher has accumulated 11 major medals throughout his career and coached and promoted some of the biggest names in combat sports, including UFC World Champion Leon Edwards.
Joining Bracher on the Warwick project is close friend and business partner Tyrone Mings, the England international and Aston Villa defender.
Mings shares the vision of creating a world-class facility centred around health, performance and community. Having trained Brazilian Jiu Jitsu with Bracher since moving to Birmingham, he has experienced first-hand the physical and mental benefits the sport can provide and is passionate about helping bring those opportunities to the Warwick community.
The academy will be based in a three-storey building on Welton Road in Warwick.
The first floor will be home to the jiu-jitsu academy, while the ground floor will feature a health café alongside a functional fitness gym.
In the basement, a physiotherapy clinic will operate, with one of the lead physiotherapists from Aston Villa Football Club also seeing private clients there.
The team's vision extends beyond simply providing training facilities.
"Our main motivation is to create a space that shows what Jiu Jitsu is all about,"
The academy will welcome people of all ages and abilities, from complete beginners to experienced practitioners.
Sharing advice for beginners in the sport, Bracher expressed: "I would just say give it a try!
"We offer taster classes and teach children from the age of three. Our oldest member is around 72, so there is no set age or fitness level you need to be at."
Bracher hopes the academy will help to dispel the common misconception that people need to get fit before starting Jiu Jitsu training.
"You can start on day one and get fitter and stronger through training itself.
"That's often a stumbling block for people – they think they need to do some pre-requisite work before they get involved. But I'd say just give it a go, put the gear on and try it out."
Bracher added: "With the coaches, staff and facilities we have, there's no better place to try it than here."
The gym and health facilities will be open to the wider public, allowing non-members to also make use of the fitness and wellbeing services available within the building.
"Warwick has welcomed us with open arms from day one. The support and excitement we've received from the local community has been incredible, and we're proud to be bringing the ALBA brand and everything it stands for to Warwick.
This will be much more than a martial arts academy. It will be a place where people can train, recover, connect and improve their lives. Our goal is to create something truly special that the community can be proud of for many years to come."
The new flagship venue is expected to become one of the region's premier training facilities, offering opportunities for children, adults, families and athletes of all levels to experience the benefits of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, strength training, recovery services and healthy living
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