A Nottingham-based gym is at the forefront of developing one of the UK’s most unusual combat sports.
Based on an unassuming industrial estate in the city, Nottingham’s Armoured Martial Arts gym is run by Daniel Winter and Jenny Häbury – two of the sport’s most prominent figures.
Daniel is the UK National Captain and has won countless competitions, while Jenny, originally from Germany, is a three-time world champion and undefeated in one-to-one competition.
Armoured martial arts is a full-contact sport in which competitors fight wearing steel armour and using blunt weapons.
While the sport remains relatively unknown to the wider public, Daniel says it has evolved significantly over the last decade.
“When I started in 2014, it was very grassroots,” he said. “Tournaments were kind of like, what piece of field can we rent from?”
In the early years, fighters often had to make their own armour, with limited understanding of safety standards. Daniel admitted the risks were underestimated.
“We didn’t have proper spine protection or neck protection,” he said. “We are very lucky that we haven’t had more serious accidents.”
Over the past decade, the sport has evolved into a far more regulated and professional set-up. Armour is now produced by specialist manufacturers and designed specifically for combat, while international governing bodies oversee safety regulations.
“Now we have full protection,” Daniel said. “We’re very aware of what we need to be protected.”
According to Daniel, injury rates are now comparable with other contact sports.
“Nowadays, the injury rate’s about the same as rugby”
Daniel Winter, owner of Armoured Martial Arts, Nottingham
Jenny was introduced to armoured martial arts through meeting Daniel, but waited several years until she moved to the UK before committing fully. She believes joining later helped her development as an athlete.
“When I entered six years ago, this world was just on a completely different level already,” she said. “It was way more competitive with way higher standards.”
Both now train and coach fighters at the Nottingham gym, while also holding leadership roles within the sport nationally and internationally. Daniel said leadership comes with responsibility.
“We have to lead by example,” he said. “Respect is not given, it is earned.”
Despite the sport’s aggressive appearance, both are keen to challenge perceptions that it is driven by anger.
“You go full-on,” Jenny said. “And then we leave it again.”
Daniel added: “You see people shouting and fighting each other, then you see people laughing and drinking together.”
Away from the armour, the pair lead surprisingly ordinary lives. Alongside operating the gym, they also run an organic home delivery service from the same Nottingham site.
“So we both daytime run organic home delivery service,” Jenny said. “And in the evening, we literally just teach and run classes. We are so full on with the delivery service and the gym we don’t go to any other class or anything. We do everything in our own time and our own facilities.”
Daniel began delivering vegetables long before he discovered armoured martial arts. Jenny, who has a degree in logistics, later joined the business and helped develop it further.
She said: “It kind of links together. We love eating well, we love competing and we love looking after our bodies.”
Looking ahead, the pair hope to host more fight nights in Nottingham to further grow the sport and give local fighters the opportunity to compete for fun without travelling abroad.
“More opportunities for our students is a big one,” Jenny said.
They also hope that greater exposure will help people understand the sport beyond the violent appearance.
Jenny offered advice to those intrigued and apprehensive of starting: “Try it out before you get your opinion. It’s very different when you do it and when you see it.”
For a sport that appears rooted in the distant past, armoured martial arts in Nottingham is very much moving forward. Driven by discipline, structure, community and two people balancing elite sport with everyday graft.
For more information, visit: www.armouredmartialartsnottingham.com
