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| | | | BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // December 2018 | | Dear Globetrotters,
It was a great pleasure to finally have guests here on Saint Barth again last week; it felt like forever since our last Caribbean Island Camp. Fifty participants spent the week surfing, rolling, sailing and exploring - it was none stop from morning until evening and I've gotten a lot of much needed sleep the last few nights :) Next up is our classic Winter Camp in Austria in four weeks, which just sold out today. Can't wait to go back there for the fifth time!
We have been clearing our warehouse stock at our recent sales ( still a few items left at half price) and are excited to announce the opening of our brand new logistics center located at our own factory. More about this soon!
Have a fantastic day, | | | |
What you'll find in this month's newsletter:
- Featured Traveller: Astrid Nörenberg
- Photos from Caribbean Island Camp in St. Barth last week
- Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Ronin Grappling, Glasgow
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| | Celebrating the 50th BJJ Globetrotters Camp! |
| | * From July 29th to August 3rd, 2019 *
* In Heidelberg, Germany *
* Our biggest camp of the year *
* One hour from Frankfurt am Main airport *
* Huge mat space in a beautiful old university town *
* Six-day training camp *
* Gi and no-gi classes all day long *
* Several daily mega open mats *
* Daily workshops and lectures *
* High-level international instructors *
* Yoga sessions every morning *
* Jiu Jitsu photography workshop *
* On-site accommodation available *
* Meal plan available *
* Free professional portrait service/photo booth *
* Free beer at final open mat *
* All experience levels and affiliations welcome! *
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| | | | Featured Traveller: Astrid Nörenberg |
| | Let’s start out with some quick facts about you…
Age: 33 Belt: Blue Profession: Scientist by training, currently working in sales and management. How many years in BJJ: Around 5 years. Other martial arts: Several years of kickboxing and muay thai. Where do you live: Mainly in a city close to Frankfurt, Germany, but also part-time in Hamburg as well as on the road. Where are you originally from: From a very small and beautiful town close to Frankfurt. Other fun or curious information you'd like to share: Ha! I think I’m fun to hang around with and probably a decent human being. I enjoy good company a lot. I love life. Summarizing me very briefly: motorcycles, BJJ, cake, photography, travel, books. |
| | | Tell us what inspired you to travel and train? I wouldn’t say that something “inspired” me per se. Due to my job I travel a lot, and I was always frustrated not being able to really train during those weeks on the road. I forced myself into a fitness gym occasionally but that’s not really fun - at least not for me. After my first BJJ Camp in the Caribbean in 2017 and an introduction to the whole Globetrotters community I just take my BJJ gear wherever I go - business trips or holidays.
Tell us about your most recent trip and your upcoming trips – where have you been and where are you going?
The most recent trip was for business. I was in the US and Canada for 3 weeks, and covered Victoria (BC), San Francisco, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Chicago, and NY.
There's already a lot planned for next year too. On the BJJ side of things I'll join the Winter Camp in Austria and the Spring Camp in Estonia. Other vacation ideas include Corsica and Sicily, as well as some weekend trips to different cities. On the business side it'll mainly be the US and some major European cities such as Copenhagen and London.
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| | What are the things you enjoy about traveling? A lot of things! First of all, I really enjoy discovering new places. This includes meeting and talking to different people, getting to know different cultures and traditions, as well as the place itself with its landscapes and architecture. Also I’m a big foodie - a very important task is always to find the best cake!
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
I loved the atmosphere at the Flow Academy in Marbella, Spain, which I visited with a friend. The training was great, the people were so friendly and welcoming, and afterwards we just sat and talked while enjoying some breakfast together. Another gym I really enjoy is Gracie Barra in North Babylon on Long Island (NY, USA). Every time I’m in Long Island I just stop by. Others definitely worth mentioning are Fierce Studio (Victoria, Canada), Team Octopus (Atlanta, USA) and of course my former fellows at Team Choco (Heidelberg, Germany).
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
I know it might sound lame and that I just repeat what others have already said, but definitely how friendly, welcoming, and open the BJJ community is.
Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I guess I fall somewhere in the middle there. I do look for cheap flights and good deals, and I use airBnB a lot, but I don’t enjoy hostels where I have to share my room with 10 people. Mostly booking ahead of time helps reduce the costs. I love planning out my trips way in advance.
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Be open-minded, be friendly, be humble, ask for help if needed, and don’t be scared to just walk into a gym and ask if you can join the class. I haven't experienced a single bad thing when it comes to BJJ and training. Everyone has been friendly, warm, and welcoming.
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| | | | * From July 15th to 20th, 2019 * * In Reykjavík, Iceland * * Six-day training camp in the largest grappling and MMA gym in the world * * Classes all day long * * Full use of all sauna, hot tub and weight-lifting facilities * * 45 minutes from Keflavik international airport * * Vikings vs. Intruders Icelandic wrestling competition * * Free coffee all day * * Camp party in Viking bar * * Everyone welcome, regardless of experience or affiliation *
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| | | | Photos from Caribbean Island Camp in St. Barth last week |
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | * June 28th to July 2nd in Wagrain, Austria *
* 70 km from Salzburg airport *
* Beautiful location in the middle of the Alps *
* Five days of training *
* Four nights accommodation *
* Families welcome *
* Daily class and open mat for kids *
* Yoga classes *
* All meals included *
* Daily 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 for training gear *
* Free access to water park next door *
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| | | | BJJ Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Ronin Grappling, Glasgow |
| | Where is the gym located?
I currently rent mat space at two different strength and conditioning gyms in the southside of Glasgow, Scotland.
How many people train there?
About 15 or so folk at the moment, though some prefer the morning classes and others the evening classes - I only started running classes a month ago, so it's very early days!
Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
As mentioned above, the club has only been running for about a month. Week on week though, numbers have been increasing by about 1-2 new members a week.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
We've predominantly got white belts training, with a couple of blue belts, and a couple of purple belts dropping in for classes/open mats from other gyms.
When did the gym open?
Ronin Grappling launched in October this year.
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| | Some facts about you:
Name: Giles Garcia Age: 32 Belt: Brown Profession: IT Manager Years in BJJ: 11 Other martial arts: 12 years of Shotokan Karate (black belt), 1 and a half misguided years of Ninjutsu (green belt), seven or so years of Muay Thai, Jeet Kune Do, and Balintawak Currently living in: Sunny Glasgow, in Scotland Originally from: Santa Cruz, Tenerife and Glasgow, Scotland |
| Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
My old instructor and I had a difference of principle on several important matters, and after a few very stressful weeks I decided to leave.
I have so many gripes about BJJ and BJJ clubs in general. Too many clubs didn’t try to welcome people from different gyms and affiliations. Some clubs made the mistake of focusing all of their efforts on new students, forgetting about their long-serving experienced practitioners. On top of all this, BJJ still has a major problem of being male-dominated and full of macho nonsense, which I can’t abide by; from the harassment of female students to homophobic or transphobic environments. I wanted a place where anyone would truly feel welcome
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| | Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
I have a mix of students - some brand new and some who moved from other gyms or resumed training when I opened after taking some time off. I want classes to be accessible to everyone, including the infrequent hobbyist, so I offer a pay-as-you-go option to ensure no one gets priced out of training. I find this is especially important for shift workers who might make it 4 times one week and none the next depending on their shifts.
Why do they train? The main reason seems to be because they enjoy learning. I am adamant that students need to understand techniques and why they work, but I try to do that without boring the absolute life out of them. I also throw in some flashy techniques every so often, and people seem to like that!
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
Generally speaking, administrative tasks such as answering queries, tracking costs and profits, and keeping relevant financial/legal/tax paperwork in order can be difficult at times. I still work full-time, so the admin side of running the team takes its toll.
One of my greatest challenges is also developing class plans that are effective at helping me teach students, regardless of their capabilities. I ultimately want my students to understand the principles of grappling, and give them the ability to solve problems - so I work hard to ensure I teach effectively. I really enjoy this aspect of teaching though, so unlike the admin side I don’t find it draining.
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| | How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
There are a good few clubs in Glasgow, some more established than others, with a good spread between competitive and more self-defence-focused clubs. As BJJ continues to become more recognised in popular culture I’m sure the scene will continue to grow, as it has done for the past 15+ years!
What’s the best thing about your gym?
The relaxed atmosphere. I am not a fan of the ultra-traditional style of teaching, nor of being put on a pedestal. I want all my students to know there is a flat hierarchy at the gym, and I encourage questions, comments, and suggestions. I want people to feel like they can speak up any time.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?Glasgow is absolutely full of culture to see and experience - from the Gallery of Modern Art to the Burrell Collection to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, you will not run out of things to see! The city is also home to many excellent restaurants, serving everything from high cuisine to robust and traditional Scottish cooking to fusion cuisine. You're never far from a great meal in Glasgow!
Thanks for sharing with us! If you'd like to pay a visit to Ronin Grappling, you can find them here. |
| | | | | * From May 6th – 11th 2019 *
* In Tallinn, Estonia *
* Less than 30 minutes from Tallinn airport *
* Huge mat space in a beautiful medieval town *
* Six-day training camp *
* Gi and no-gi classes all day long *
* High-level international instructors *
* Yoga every morning *
* All experience levels and affiliations welcome! *
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