Fitness

This Hong Kong Gym Takes a Holistic Approach to Kicking Butt

For fans of UFC-style fighting, Warrior Academy is a hit.

UFC-Style Warrior Academy Hits Hong Kong Fitness Scene

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By Jason Kelly

September 13, 2017 at 8:54 PM UTC

This article is part of the September 18, 2017 issue of businessweek.

It’s after work one muggy evening in Hong Kong, and I’m on the mat at Warrior Academy, the city’s Ultimate Fighting Championship-inspired gym. I’ve signed up for a one-on-one class in muay thai, but my punches are weak, my kicks weaker. Jet-lagged, sweaty, discouraged, and gasping for air, I quickly realize I’m a runner, not a fighter.

Tucked into the second floor of a nondescript building on the west end of Hong Kong Island, Warrior Academy is a 10-minute taxi ride from the city’s financial district. Since it opened in July 2016, the center has been gaining in popularity with the adventurous professional set eager for a one-stop shop that integrates a functional gym, a full-size ring for sparring, lots of space for mats, and an in-house kitchen.