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| | | BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // August 2025 | | Dear Globetrotters,
Five camps down for the summer, two to go! I just returned home from Estonia, where we hosted our last Beach Camp in Pärnu. It has been four amazing years there, and I'm happy that we ended it on such a high; it was a 10/10 beach holiday with friends and Jiu Jitsu, and I couldn't have asked for more. Before that, we hosted our first Copenhagen Camp in many years and it was fantastic to be back.
While more than 500 participants took part in the two camps in July, next up is our biggest camp EVER as we venture to Heidelberg, Germany, for our annual Summer Camp there. With more than 330 participants, this is the mega-camp of all mega-camps. I'm going to have my hands full at the open mats 😄
The camps of the summer are coming to an end, and there are no tickets available anymore, but if you want to join us a bit later, you can still jump in for Arizona, Caribbean, or Winter Camps: Many dates are also announced for camps next year and the ticket sales is planned to open during August: - Spring Camp Tallinn: April 13-18
- USA Camp Maine: June 1-7
- A new camp: June
- Summer Camp Heidelberg: August 3-8
- Zen Camp Poland: October 5-11
- Copenhagen Camp: Dates TBA
I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of you in Germany in a few days!! Have a great day, | | | |
What you'll find in this month's newsletter: - Photos from Copenhagen Camp
- Featured Globetrotter: Giulio La Fauci
- Photos from Beach Camp Estonia
- Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Allsopp Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
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| | | Two Caribbean Island Camps this winter: December and February (February close to being sold out) |
| | | During this week on the tropical island headquarters of BJJ Globetrotters, you’ll get to experience multiple Jiu Jitsu classes each day, a sunset Open Mat overlooking the Caribbean Sea and complimentary surf lessons every morning on some of the world’s most stunning beaches.
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| | | Photos from Copenhagen Camp |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | TWO Winter Camps next year: One for families and one for adults! |
| | | Our Family friendly summer camp in Austria has been incredibly popular, so we decided to do another edition in the Winter! It will be directly followed by our usual adult Winter Camp. Join one or join both!
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| | | | | | Featured Globetrotter: Giulio La Fauci |
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| | Age: 26
Belt: Purple
Profession: S&C coach
How many years in BJJ: 10
Other martial arts: I used to do Karate and Kickboxing
Where do you live: Victoria, BC, Canada
Where are you from: Victoria, BC, Canada
Other fun or curious information you would like to share: 99% nogi, 1% yes gi, currently learning juggling and photography. You can follow me on IG here. |
| | What inspired you to travel and train? I’ve wanted to travel the world to train with the best grapplers and see more of the world for a long time. Until now, I’ve always been able to talk myself out of it and talk myself into the “smart” choice: go to college, get a job, build your career, etc. Unsatisfied with where I was in life, I hit a bit of a breaking point. A “now or never” moment. I figured leaving everything behind to pursue travel and Jiu-Jitsu would only get harder as I got older. Tell us about your most recent trip and what's next – where have you been and where are you going?
I've spent the last 2 and a half months in Rockville, Maryland training at Standard Jiu-Jitsu. Ecological Dynamics and the CLA (Constraints-Led Approach) has been a big interest of mine over the last year or so, and I wanted to learn more about it “from the source”. I’ve never been to the East Coast before, so it's been cool to explore Washington DC during my time off the mats!
I’m competing in the ADCC Open in Miami this July. So I'm looking forward to exploring Miami and Florida, as well as putting some of my new skills to the test.
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| | What do you enjoy most about travelling? I love the freedom of travelling alone. Being able to go anywhere and do anything at my own pace is a really fun experience. Travelling solo also makes it easier to meet new people, because you can't just hang out with the buddies you're travelling with.
Any particularly memorable experiences that made it all worth it?
Tough to choose just one. The level of training at Standard Jiu-Jitsu is obviously very high, and every day there makes the trip seem worth it.
What has surprised you the most while travelling? What has surprised me so far is how natural everything seems. Going to a new place alone seemed daunting, and the process of planning the trip was pretty stressful, but once I got on the road everything just started to fall into place |
| | | Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip? I would consider myself a frugal person. Having access to a decent kitchen is a must though. Even if your rent is a little higher, you’ll end up saving tons of money in the long run if you cook most of your own meals at home (especially as an athlete).
Any advice for your fellow Globetrotters? Talk to strangers! Every friend you make along the way is a potential connection or open door to another new experience. If you get invited somewhere, go! Even if the event or activity isn’t really your thing, you never know where things will take you. I’ve been to a slacklining meetup, salsa dancing class, and even refereed a Jiu-Jitsu tournament. The more I travel, the more I realize almost every place is the same. What makes it different is the community of people you surround yourself with, so get out there and meet people! |
| | | | Less than 20 tickets left for next Arizona Camp |
| | | | | Photos from the last Beach Camp in Pärnu, Estonia |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Two Caribbean Island Camps this winter: December and February |
| | | During this week on the tropical island headquarters of BJJ Globetrotters, you’ll get to experience multiple Jiu Jitsu classes each day, a sunset Open Mat overlooking the Caribbean Sea and complimentary surf lessons every morning on some of the world’s most stunning beaches.
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| | | | BJJ Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Allsopp Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| | Where is the gym located?
Allsopp BJJ is in Wigan in the northwest of England, between major cities Manchester and Liverpool.
Our full address is:
First floor, 227 Ormskirk Road, Newton, Wigan, England, WN5 9DN
How many people train there?
Around 25-30 and growing steadily. We feel it’s a strong start for a gym that opened it doors less than a month ago, and are grateful for the amazing people we have coming through our doors.
Is the gym growing - if so by how many new members each month or year?
We are seeing new faces each week, and expect to welcome several new members a month as word spreads. We’re focusing on organic growth and fostering a community-first vibe.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training? From white belt beginners to purple belts. It’s a good mix that’s steadily growing in skill and keeps the mat culture balanced.
When did the gym open?
We officially opened our doors on 1st July 2025.
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| | Some facts about you:
Name: Ben & Tish Allsopp Age: 35/36 Belt: Purple (Ben) & White (Tish) Profession: IT&D Manager (Ben) & Sport & Exercise Specialist/TA (Tish) Years in BJJ: 7.4 years (Meticulously tracked, Ben) & 1 year (Tish) Other martial arts: Ben previously coached MMA; Tish enjoys Muay Thai Currently living in: Wigan, England Originally from: Lichfield, England |
| | Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence A few years ago, Tish casually made a comment that one day we could open our own BJJ gym. At the time, Ben was already coaching BJJ and MMA at another martial arts gym, and Tish’s dream began to take shape, becoming more and more likely that one day Allsopp BJJ would come to fruition.
After attending our first Globetrotters camp in Estonia in 2025, we realised that it wasn’t just Ben that loved BJJ, but Tish was fully fallen for the sport too; we both came back fired up. That’s when we knew it was time to take the leap.
We combined Ben's obsession with BJJ with Tish’s passion for youth development, especially cultivated after finishing her masters degree in sport and exercise psychology, to create a space that’s not just a gym, but a alternative provision for young people struggling with mainstream education; something that could have a massive impact on the community.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they? Everyone is welcome at Allsopp BJJ, and that inclusivity has fostered an atmosphere where families feel comfortable and safe to train. We are cultivating a community of people who just love to train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, meaning you’ll see a range of kids, competitors, young athletic 20-somethings, and of course the more mature folk who want to train smart and not be broken in the process. The goal is simple; safe, enjoyable training for all, no matter your age, gender, or background.
Why do they train?
People come for varied reasons, but we see that it's mainly to keep fit and healthy, to feel accomplished in something, and to be a part of a community of decent people.
Tish’s background in sport psychology helps us stay tuned into the social and emotional wellbeing of our members, not just their technique; so we are always vigilant of the dynamics of the members on and off the mat.
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| | What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
You never really switch off. You're always thinking of how you can be better and make things better for your members and visitors. The constant drive is a strength but comes at a cost. It can be exhausting.
In our area, we also have to balance affordability. The cost of living is making hobbies like BJJ harder to sustain for many people. We try to keep things accessible whilst not losing money running the gym.
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
The future is collaborative and we’re here for it. We really hope that with our ethos of collaborating with other gyms and people passionate about youth development, BJJ will become a go-to activity for families in and around Wigan.
What’s the best thing about your gym?The people. Always the people. It’s sounds rote but it truly is the members that come to share in our passion for BJJ.
We run our gym, literally, as a family and so everyone who walks through our doors becomes a part of that and you feel it the moment you walk through the door. The gym has a homely feel. It’s warm and inviting.
Our motto is Elegant - Fierce - Informed, and we aim to live up to it every day.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym? Catch a Rugby game (how can you not in Wigan?!), take a walk around Haigh Hall and woodland park, grab a pie from the local shops; the town centre has the classic northern no-nonsense charm. If you want to extend your trip, we’re spitting distance from both Liverpool and Manchester.
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Thanks for sharing! If you'd like to visit Allsopp Jiu-Jitsu, you can contact them here. |
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