# Barnet Combat Academy > London, United Kingdom ## Overview **Name:** Barnet Combat Academy **Description:** Barnet Combat Academy is a well-established martial arts gym in North London, founded in 2012 and proudly sponsored by FightShop Direct. With over 140 five-star Google reviews and a rating of 4.9 stars, BCA has built a reputation for technical excellence and a welcoming family atmosphere. The gym offers comprehensive training in Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (both Gi and No-Gi), MMA, Boxing, and Strength & Conditioning programs for juniors, adults, and beginners through to seasoned fighters. The gym's philosophy centers on two key principles: exceptional attention to technical detail in beginner classes, and maintaining a fun, friendly atmosphere where training is both serious and enjoyable. BCA boasts a fully equipped, refurbished facility containing a boxing ring, punch bags, kettlebells, and a complete array of training equipment. The club operates with a flexible, competitive pricing structure with no fixed terms, tie-ins, or hidden fees - members can attend any class in any discipline and can stop, start, pause, or switch payment methods whenever they wish. The coaching team is led by Head Coach Shahab "Shabba" Uddin, who brings over two decades of Muay Thai experience and has trained extensively in Thailand at renowned camps including WMC Samui and Bang Tao Phuket. The BJJ program is headed by Black Belt Ricardo "Ricky" Cidra, a British NoGi champion and active competitor who holds multiple medals in Gi competition. Additional instructors include MMA coaches Elias "Juice Boy" Abreu and Andrew "Manchild" Herrmann (both active fighters), Darren "Daz" Jones (founder of Force MMA with over a decade of coaching experience), Muay Thai coaches Lee "Right Hand" Wrighton and Eric "Backstreet" Goudie, and Strength & Conditioning specialist Tanya "Killer" Kailides (BSc Honours in Human Biology from Loughborough, professional S&C coach and weightlifting competitor). All kids class instructors hold Enhanced DBS certificates, ensuring a safe training environment for young students. **Status:** Active ## Contact Information **Address:** 125 East Barnet Road London EN4 8RF, United Kingdom **Phone:** +44 7985 137948 **Email:** barnetcombat@gmail.com **Website:** https://www.barnetcombat.com **Social Media:** - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barnetcombat/?hl=en - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarnetCombatAcademy ## Instructors ### Ricardo Cidra - Black **Role:** Head Instructor **Bio:** Ricardo is a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and head BJJ coach at BCA. He is an active competitor as well as a coach, holding the British NoGi title as well as multiple medals in the Gi. A bona fide Brazilian bringing 100% authenticity to all his teaching. ### Shahab Uddin **Role:** Head Instructor **Bio:** Shahab has been training Muay Thai for over two decades and teaching for more than 10 years. Described by his peers as one of the most technical practitioners of Muay Thai in the sport. He has spent considerable time training in Thailand at the world renowned WMC camp in Samui and Bang Tao gym in Phuket. In the UK, he trained and fought under Heavyweight European and UK Muay Thai and K1 champ, Christian Knowles at the Minotaur Gym. ### Andrew Herrmann **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Andrew is an active MMA fighter with several wins under his belt in Muay Thai, BJJ and MMA bouts. His attention to detail when it comes to technique makes him a great teacher and practitioner. ### Darren Jones **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Darren is the founder of Force MMA and head MMA coach at the Barnet Combat Academy. He has taught MMA for over a decade and his highest coaching accolade is his student Jamie Richardson, an active professional MMA fighter who recently fought for the Cage Warriors World title. His attention to detail and no-nonsense attitude is what separates him from the rest and is a big hit with beginners looking to take up the sport. ### Elias Abreu **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Elias is a currently active MMA fighter who's already beaten some big names in his stand up K-1 and Muay Thai bouts. An all-round practitioner with a penchant for stand up fighting. His unorthodox style makes him a very tricky competitor and he's happy to teach all of the considerable skills he's amassed to date. ### Eric Goudie **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Eric has been a student of BCA for many years, starting as a complete novice and progressing to become one of the most experienced and talented fighters - competing for the gym numerous times at various levels. Now a coach, he delivers high level technique and attention to detail in all his classes. ### Lee Wrighton **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** Lee joined BCA from a Kickboxing background and took to Muay Thai like a duck to water. Having fought successfully for the gym numerous times, he brings as much fun to his classes as he does hard work. ### Tanya Kailides **Role:** Instructor **Bio:** After earning a BSc (Hons) in Human Biology from Loughborough, Tanya has been a full-time Strength & Conditioning coach and personal trainer for over a decade. She actively competes in weightlifting competitions around the country and is a very proficient Muay Thai Boxing practitioner. Her sessions complement the fight sports practiced at BCA, providing a whole-body workout. ## Programs ### Kids Brazilian Jiu Jitsu **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** kids **Gi Requirement:** Gi required **Description:** BJJ program for children ages 6-13, focusing on discipline, anti-bullying, fitness, self-defence, and self-confidence. **Classes:** ### Kids Muay Thai **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** kids **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Muay Thai Boxing for children ages 6-13, building discipline, fitness, and self-defence skills in a fun environment. **Classes:** ### Teens Muay Thai **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** kids **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Muay Thai Boxing program for teenagers ages 14-15, all levels welcome. **Classes:** ### Adult Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - Gi **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** Gi required **Description:** Traditional BJJ program training in the gi, covering technique instruction, drills, and sparring for beginner through intermediate levels. **Classes:** ### Adult Brazilian Jiu Jitsu - No-Gi **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** No-Gi grappling program focusing on submission wrestling and modern BJJ techniques without the traditional gi. **Classes:** ### Muay Thai Boxing **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Comprehensive Muay Thai program including pad work, drills, and sparring. Classes cater to all levels from beginner to advanced. **Classes:** ### Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Complete MMA training combining striking and grappling techniques from Muay Thai, Wrestling, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. **Classes:** ### Boxing **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** adults **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Traditional boxing training focusing on footwork, punching technique, and ring craft. **Classes:** ### Strength & Conditioning **Skill Level:** All Levels **Age Group:** all_ages **Gi Requirement:** No-Gi **Description:** Dynamic workouts that build strength, increase endurance, and improve overall fitness through weight training, high-intensity conditioning, and mobility exercises. **Classes:** --- **Last Updated:** March 02, 2026 **Data Source:** BJJ.Space (https://bjj.space/gyms/united-kingdom/england/london/barnet-combat-academy)