Underground Jiu-Jitsu to open Richardson academy in early September

Underground Jiu-Jitsu will open a Richardson academy in early September at 1356 E. Belt Line Road, adding a more than 2,000-square-foot training space aimed at children, adults and beginners looking for a neighborhood fitness option.

Construction is set to begin in about two weeks on the Plano-based academy’s new location. The site will include mat space, bathrooms with showers, a sauna, a work-and-play area for kids and adults and a pro shop for uniforms and apparel.

Owner Diego Santana said the goal is to create a welcoming place where students of all ages and experience levels can learn authentic Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu while building confidence, discipline and community. That mix is especially geared toward families: the kids’ classes emphasize self-defense, anti-bullying awareness, teamwork and confidence-building, while adults can choose from a beginner-friendly 12-week fundamentals program, advanced classes and women-only classes focused on self-defense and fitness.

The opening also carries a local connection that sets it apart from a typical chain expansion. Santana has lived in Richardson for eight years, and his wife, Sydney, is a lifelong Richardson resident. Underground Jiu-Jitsu first opened in Plano in October 2021, and Santana founded the business after beginning Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training in 2006 at age 17.

The new academy fits into a corridor the city has already identified for neighborhood-serving activity. Richardson’s Envision Richardson comprehensive plan, approved by City Council on Nov. 11, 2024, describes the Belt Line/Plano enhancement area as about 178 acres around Belt Line Road and Plano Road, envisioned as a mixed-use environment with retail, office and service uses. That framework makes a martial arts academy a natural fit for the area’s day-to-day mix of family errands, school routines and local services.

Public safety concerns may also make self-defense training resonate with nearby households. Richardson Police Department provides monthly crime statistics and a Community Crime Map, and its community-relations unit says it helps businesses strive to create a crime-free work environment. Police also reported an aggravated robbery investigation in the 1400 block of East Belt Line Road on May 4, underscoring that the corridor remains active and closely watched.

For Richardson families, the academy is positioned as more than a place to roll on mats. It is aiming to serve as an after-school option, a confidence builder for kids and an accessible entry point for adults who want practical self-defense in a setting rooted in the community.