West Yorkshire’s first sumo wrestling club could soon open in a former coach depot in Bingley.
Gold medal-winning sumo champion Alex Gent is behind the plans for the new studio on Ash Terrace and says sumo is the “next venture” for his martial arts company, Axivium.
A planning application recently submitted to Bradford Council would see the dilapidated former coach depot on Ash Terrace refurbished and extended to create a martial arts studio for up to ten students at a time.
Sumo is a centuries-old sport that originates in Japan and is considered the country’s national sport.
It involves two wrestlers attempting to force each other out of a ring.
Mr Gent won a gold medal in the men’s lightweight event at the British Sumo Federation Championships in 2025.
Although the sport is familiar to many through popular culture, there are few sumo clubs in the North of England.
The planning application says: “Axivium, previously known as Martial Weapons Academy, have provided martial arts in West Yorkshire since 2014 across various venues in both Bingley and Keighley.
“Prior to this it operated as The Keighley Aikido Club and was based out of a dedicated training space in the town for decades.
“Sadly, the covid-19 pandemic caused the dojo to close its doors permanently but the community, syllabus and core lineage did not disappear – it evolved.
“Teaching moved online during lockdown and then different physical locations when permitted.
“Aikido is currently taught from the studio of TSX Bingley along with Jujutsu (the art of the staff) that is also taught outside in Myrtle Park as well as online via youtube.
“As the club continues to grow and host more physical classes it now requires its own dedicated space, hence the purchasing of this property.
“The next venture for the business is sumo wrestling.
“Owner Alexander Gent has recently gained qualifications in teaching both Sumo wrestling and functional fitness, competed nationally in several tournaments and won gold medals.
“This would be the first sumo club in West Yorkshire.
“For focused teaching, all classes will remain as small groups with a maximum of ten pupils at any time or be one-to-one private training sessions.
“We believe the proposals create subtle, contextual improvements to the existing property and site.
“The ground floor will finally have a use after being empty for a long time.
“The dwelling will have better access and a more open feel from the new balcony.
“The site itself will be much tidier when it is no longer a storage yard. The new use will provide a quieter neighbour than the general industrial use class currently permitted and the additional parking spaces will create less need for on street parking than existing.”
If approved, the studio would open between 10am and 10pm on weekdays and 8am to 8pm at weekends.
A decision on the application is expected before the end of the year.
