A gold medal-winning wrestler is seeking approval to open what is believed to be the first sumo wrestling club in West Yorkshire.
Plans submitted to Bradford Council propose transforming a former coach depot on Ash Terrace in Bingley into a dedicated martial arts studio, according to Yahoo Sports.
The project is spearheaded by Alex Gent, who secured a gold medal in the men’s lightweight category at the 2025 British Sumo Federation Championships.
Gent, who has provided martial arts training across Bingley and Keighley since 2014, described the sport as the “next venture” for his business, Axivium.
The company, formerly known as the Martial Weapons Academy, aims to refurbish the dilapidated site to accommodate 10 students at a time.
Planning documents highlight that Gent’s business previously operated as The Keighley Aikido Club, noted the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
While the Covid pandemic forced the closure of previous training spaces, the organization continued teaching through online sessions and temporary venues.
The application emphasizes that the club now requires a permanent base to support its growth and increased volume of physical classes.
The applicant also argued that the proposed scheme would improve the building and its surroundings by bringing a long-term vacant site back into use.
Sumo, which originated in Japan and serves as the country’s national sport, involves two wrestlers attempting to force one another out of a circular ring.
Despite the sport’s visibility in popular culture, dedicated clubs remain rare across the north of England, per reporting from Yahoo Sports.
If the application is approved, the studio would operate between 10:00 and 22:00 on weekdays and from 08:00 to 20:00 on weekends.
A final decision from the council regarding the planning proposal is expected before the end of the year.
This development follows broader reports of a “boom in ‘massively misunderstood’ sumo wrestling” across the region.