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| | | | BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // August 2023 | | Dear Globetrotters,
Oh my, I feel like I am running fast these days with camps every second week 😄 It's hectic and busy, but at least we're only busy doing fun things!! We just hosted our biggest camp ever; the Beach Camp in Pärnu, Estonia. With 325 participants and no less than 1,400 m2 / 15,000 square feet mat space, it was absolutely crazy to see so many people on the mats. It was a week full of training, dinners, beer/wine tasting, walking tours, karaoke, parties and just all around great times with new and old friends. A big thanks to everyone who came out for that one!
Before the camp in Estonia, we hosted our second ever Faroe Islands Camp in what I think is one of the most beautiful and unique places I've ever visited. It's always a pleasure to go train and hang out with all the locals there.
I left the Summer Camp in Germany yesterday but I'll put the photos from that one in next month's newsletter instead; no more room in this one 😄
Looking forward to seeing many of you in Austria for our camp there next week. The last one to close off this crazy summer season! Keep an eye on this newsletter for new camp announcements...
Have a nice day,
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What you'll find in this month's newsletter: - Photos from Beach Camp Estonia last month
- Featured Globetrotter: Arlan Hall
- Photos from Faroe Islands Camp last month
- Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Team Shadow Dordogne
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| | | Last 10 tickets left for next Caribbean Island Camp! |
| | * December 4 – 10, 2023 in Saint Barthélemy *
* Easily reachable from United States and Europe *
* Seven-day Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training camp *
* Six nights central accommodation *
* An affordable chance to visit exclusive celebrity island *
* Dinners in local restaurants *
* Daily surf lessons and board rental *
* Catamaran boat trip *
* Fresh bread from local bakery every morning *
* Laundry service *
* Stay extra nights at affordable rate *
* Minivans and cars available for exploring the island *
* Some of the world’s best beaches *
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| | | | Photos from Beach Camp in Estonia last month |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Less than 20 tickets left for Zen Camp spring edition in April |
| | * Now a full week training camp *
* New spring edition *
* Monday, April 15th to Sunday, April 21st *
* In the middle of nowhere, Poland *
* Accommodation in traditional Japanese houses *
* Huge mat space *
* Gi laundry service *
* Free use of spa and sauna *
* All meals included *
* Bottled water, tea, and coffee included *
* Daily sauna therapy sessions *
* Board games *
* Daily workshops and lectures *
* Mushroom picking in the forest *
* Morning yoga classes *
* Everyone welcome, regardless of experience and affiliation *
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| | | | Featured Globetrotter: Arlan Hall |
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| | Age: 40 - AHHHH, first time I got to write that down!
Belt: Blue
Profession: Massage Therapist, homeschool mom, and chronic traveller
How many years in BJJ: 5
Other martial arts: Does kickboxing in college count?
Where do you live: Oceano, California, United States
Where are you from: The Yukon Territory in Canada
Other fun or curious information you would like to share: Oh my gosh, I would say the way I was raised is curious and strange. I grew up on 40 acres on a lake in the middle of nowhere. Our closest neighbour was 5 miles away. I did not have electricity or indoor plumbing. So outhouses, pumping water from the lake into the house, and heating our home (which was thrown together in 10 days) via a LOT of firewood was our average way of life. We had a garden, fished lake trout in the summer, and hunted moose in the fall to survive. It was wild and free. The Northern Lights in the winter were magical. The mosquitoes were so plentiful that I had chicken pox and we didn’t even know it until after. I hated it, loved it, and would never trade it. My parents still live up there and the peace of it feeds my soul. |
| | Tell us what inspired you to travel and train? I am a free spirit, and if I don’t have a trip planned - lets just say it isn’t pretty. When I started BJJ, at about 3 months I attended a belting ceremony. Our Brazilian professor gave a speech which I understood ZERO of… except the words “take your gi when you travel and train with other gyms”. A lightbulb went off inside me. I went on a girls' trip to Palm Springs and did just that. I was so nervous!! It was an incredible experience, the high was unbelievable, and I was addicted. It has only grown from there. What a perfect combination!
Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
My most recent travel that involved Jiu Jitsu was the Maine, USA camp. It was my second time there and I think this one was extra special. The weather was hot so we had huge floatie swim parties. I think my favourite part though, was the ambient sound around camp of everyone having a good time. The laughter, the connection. It will stay with me forever. After that I went to New Orleans to check out the city. I hit up a new city or two every year just for fun. I also travel to central Mexico a lot. If you have never been to San Miguel de Allende, it is a must!
This fall I plan on going to Denver or Philly, and then to the Arizona camp in Tempe. NEXT year (2024) will be big! I want to hit up the USA camp, Iceland, and Germany. That will be my 10th camp milestone! I also plan on going back to Spain and then England, Ireland, and Scotland for a girlfriend’s birthday.
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| | What are the things you enjoy about travelling? FOOD. I always plan trips around good places to eat. I also enjoy that only through physically being IN a place do you get to experience culture, the vibe, and random quirks. It is also an amazing way to learn history. Of course I love meeting new people too.
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
You have an instant community. When I go to central Mexico, I train there. My first time I was so scared. I didn’t understand the language - and I mean, I am a woman going to some obscure gym location to train. It was humbling (they roll hard and it’s hot) and I also made some amazing friends. The next time I went to visit they had a party for me afterwards. Aren’t Jiu Jitsu people the best??!! I am always so grateful when I travel and train because I get good local tips on places to go, and what to eat - but also just reminded how freaking cool this community is.
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
Oh gosh. How dirty and unsafe New Orleans was. That was a new one for me. How much cheaper tattoos are outside of the US. LOL! I don’t know if I can name one thing. I think it is just experiencing the different cultures. Horses in the back of pick up trucks in Mexico, kids out till midnight, the way life and family is celebrated with random parades and fireworks. In Spain, they have a siesta in the afternoon and everything closes. |
| | Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I think I am, until I get there and then it all goes out the window. I am very much a "life is short, money is just an energy, experiences are priceless" kinda person. Eat the $50 lobster roll. Find the hotel or Airbnb with the killer location. I think it is worth it in the end.
IF I am really on a budget though, I find ways to save via cooking my own food when I can, hole in the wall restaurants (tasty and cheap, especially in Mexico), travel with a buddy, and split the cost of accommodations.
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be? Lean into the fun. If an opportunity comes your way and it MIGHT not kill you… say yes! Fly that freak flag and embrace the adventure. Also, talk to strangers. People have cool stories.
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| | | | Photos from Faroe Islands Camp last month |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Our most classic camp is starting to fill up! 35 tickets left |
| | * January 2-7 in Wagrain, Austria *
* Five nights / six days training camp *
* 70 km from Salzburg airport *
* Beautiful location in the middle of the alps *
* Seven days of BJJ and skiing / snowboarding *
* Six nights accommodation *
* All meals included *
* Daily skiing and snowboarding lessons *
* Workshops, lectures and movie nights *
* 24 hr free fruit and non-alcoholic beverages *
* Extra mat space for all-day open mat / drilling *
* Free laundry service *
* Direct access to huge skiing area with 210+ km slopes *
* Free access to water park and sauna facilities next door *
* Afterski parties *
* All levels of BJJ and skiers welcome *
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| | | | BJJ Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Team Shadow Dordogne |
| | Where is the gym located?
Team Shadow Dordogne is located in France, in the small village of Biron, in Périgord. We are located 5 minutes from the magnificent “Château de Biron”.
How many people train there?
Not many people are training here. It’s a very small gym, a bit lost in the middle of the countryside.
We are two people living here and training on a permanent basis. We received visits from a few people for a drop in and we have welcomed locals who wanted to discover the discipline. To date, we have only one truly motivated student who comes to practise regularly.
Is the gym growing - if so by how many new members each month or year?
The gym is growing really slowly and organically because we don't advertise.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
The highest belt is the coach (purple belt), the lowest belt is white.
When did the gym open?
The gym opened in April 2022.
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| | Some facts about you:
Name: Jeremy Age: 35 Belt: Purple Profession: Computer engineer Years in BJJ: 6 years and 9 months of training Other martial arts: Krav Maga for 4 years Currently living in: France, Dordogne. Originally from: France, Haute-Savoie. |
| | My coach Mohamed Taj visiting the gym. |
| Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence That’s a long story ^^ I started BJJ thanks to a black belt colleague in my previous job. In addition to his club, he was giving lessons on a voluntary basis in a sports association accessible to employees of our company and suggested that I come and try BJJ as I was doing some Krav Maga at the time and I liked the ground part. There was only one time slot per week - Tuesday during lunch break.
The first few times were quite difficult. I could not even hold 3-minute sparring rounds. I did not know how to breathe, move, survive...
During the first year, I even skipped some classes and it was a little hard to motivate myself to go, but I held on until the passion took hold of me.
The next year I focused a lot on BJJ, trying not to miss the only class I could have per week and I even started going to "unofficial class" on Friday with my colleague who was usually going alone for physical training. Very soon that wasn't enough for me and I started trying to find a club not far from where I was living. At this point I found Team Shadow Vitry with Azzedine and Mohamed Taj. Since that time I have never stopped and I was practising between 3 and 5 times per week (only at Team Shadow, since life events prevented us from fully continuing BJJ with my colleague).
I suffered a burnout in January 2021 and it triggered major changes in my life. I was lucky enough to be able to settle in the Dordogne, in the countryside, in a magnificent place. It was obvious to me that I was not going to stop practising BJJ, but there was no club nearby.
It turns out that the place that welcomed me was intended to welcome people in difficulty, depression, burnout, or with psychological weaknesses. We see the whole project as a unique intersection of physical activity, socio-cultural engagement, and mental well-being. By combining these different elements, we believe we can provide a holistic approach to wellness that is accessible, affordable, and effective. Our project interfaces with other related projects through its focus on health and wellness, and we see potential opportunities for collaboration and partnerships.
With these perspectives, it was obvious that I had to create a space to promote BJJ and allow everyone to enjoy this wonderful discipline.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they? Mainly locals interested in discovering the discipline and/or maintaining a good physical condition.
Why do they train? Discovering the discipline and/or maintaining a good physical condition. They practise for leisure, not for competition.
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically? Located in the countryside, there are not many regular practitioners. We do not advertise.
As a purple belt, I still have a lot to learn technically but I try to pass on my knowledge in an educational way.
Also, the courses are totally free and the non-profit organisation to support the activity is not yet registered.
It's not always easy to find schedules suitable for everyone and also an accessible technical program for someone new to the discipline, without boring more experienced members.
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| | How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
I think the club will continue to grow organically with the locals. I'm also hoping to welcome practitioners from all over the world who would like to organise seminars or simply continue their practice during their vacation in this magnificent region.
I'm not sure that many other clubs will appear in the area, and I therefore hope to be able to bring what it takes to allow the discipline to make itself known and to exist here.
What’s the best thing about your gym?The club is located in a unique location. We are very welcoming and eager to create an atmosphere conducive to good understanding, sharing, and mutual progress.
The dojo is in an old stone building which makes it special…
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym? With us you can also take part in Yoga classes. We have a music room, we like to play chess, and are open to discovering new activities that you would be willing to bring to us.
The Périgord is so rich and so dense that visits and walks are very numerous. Villages, castles, gardens, caves… but also the rivers, the forests and the panoramic sites - all can be discovered from near or far in Périgord.
A unique and unforgettable experience -> https://www.dordogne-perigord-tourisme.fr/
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Thanks for sharing! If you'd like to visit Team Shadow Dordogne, you can contact them here. |
| | | *January 29th – February 4th, 2024 in Saint Barthélemy * * Easily reachable from United States and Europe * * Seven-day Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training camp * * Six nights central accommodation * * An affordable chance to visit exclusive celebrity island * * Dinners in local restaurants * * Daily surf lessons and board rental * * Catamaran boat trip * * Fresh bread from local bakery every morning * * Laundry service * * Stay extra nights at affordable rate * * Minivans and cars available for exploring the island * * Some of the world’s best beaches * |
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