Why grapplers are making the 10-minute drive down the A20 for world-class BJJ.
If you live in Swanley (BR8), you have a few options for keeping fit. You can hit the local leisure centre or join a generic fitness class. But if you are serious about learning a genuine martial art, you might feel like your options are limited. The good news is that elite-level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is just a short drive away.
Beyond the Leisure Centre
Swanley has some great community facilities for swimming and general cardio. However, when it comes to martial arts, many local options are generalist classes held once a week in a sports hall. While these are fantastic for breaking a sweat, they often lack the depth and aliveness required to truly master self-defence.
Checkmat Orpington is a dedicated, full-time grappling academy. We do not dabble in boxercise. We specialise deeply in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, offering a curriculum tested at the highest levels of international competition.
The A20 Advantage
The logistics of training dictate how consistent you will be. If getting to the gym is a nightmare, you will eventually stop going. For residents of Swanley and Hextable, the journey to Amigos Gym in St Mary Cray is incredibly straightforward. It is a direct 10-minute drive down the A20 or the B2173.
Even better, we eliminate the dreaded high street parking tax. Unlike town centre gyms where you have to fight for a pay-and-display ticket, we have free, unrestricted parking bays right outside our door. You spend your time and money on your training, not your car.
Join the Kent Grappling Hub
We already have a strong contingent of students making the short hop over from the BR8 area. They realise that driving an extra few miles is a small price to pay for the calibre of training partners and the Checkmat lineage. Grab a t-shirt, jump in the car, and come see why we are the premier destination for martial arts in North West Kent.