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| BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // January 2024 | |
Dear Globetrotters,
This newsletter was a bit delayed because we started the year a little bit intense with the Winter Camp in Austria. It was our 10th Winter Camp and still as fun as ever. It's been a while since I've been in a mass snowball fight with adrenaline and all 😄 It's strange to think that we have really done ten Winter Camps already. We've come a long way from the first one that was a logistical train wreck and to this date, still the one camp that burned me out the most. And it was only three days long! haha
Next up is our second Caribbean Island Camp of the season in a few weeks and then a well deserved break for a few months with nothing on the calendar. Looking forward to both!
Have a nice day,
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What you'll find in this month's newsletter: - Photos from Caribbean Island Camp last month
- Featured Globetrotter: Melissa Franson
- Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Principle Jiu Jitsu
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Can you contribute with something to Camp 100? |
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Our 100th camp sold out in a few hours after being anonunced, but we have reserved some tickets for people who can contribute with different things to the event. Are you a DJ, comedian, entertainer or something like that? Then you can apply for a contribution ticket and still get in! |
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| Our biggest camp and biggest mat space of the year! |
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The first two Beach Camps in Pärnu were a tremendous success, so we’re once again heading off to this summer gem on the Baltic coast. A full week of sun, sea, sand, and all the Jiu Jitsu you can handle. Hope to see you there!
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| Photos from Caribbean Island Camp last month |
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Less than 20 tickets left for next USA Camp in Maine |
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For a full week, an enthusiastic community of Globetrotters will settle into the cabins and fully equipped sports hall of Camp Manitou, fueled by the crisp woodland air of Maine! Each morning we’ll hit the mats as the sun rises over the lake and keep going until the embers of the bonfire settle down for the night.
We take care of absolutely everything – food, accommodation, laundry, and Jiu Jitsu. All you need to do is show up, get in your gi or shorts, and get ready for the experience of a lifetime.
Hope to see you there! |
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| Featured Globetrotter: Melissa Franson |
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Age: 37
Belt: Blue
Profession: Pharmacist
How many years in BJJ: On and off for 6 or 7 years
Other martial arts: I started with aikido, then switched to judo and BJJ. We’ve started doing some boxing/combatives/MMA in the last couple years at our gym. I competed in Irish Collar and Elbow wrestling at the Faroe Islands camp.
Where do you live: Pittsville, WI, USA
Where are you from: Pittsville
Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I also enjoy going hunting. It’s nice knowing where my food comes from how it was handled through the whole process to get to the freezer. It also allows me to spend time outdoors. |
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Tell us what inspired you to travel and train? During most of the first year of COVID, I wasn't able to train much because of lockdown and then things being crazy with work. I don’t remember how I first found the BJJ Globetrotters website, but I kept looking at the camps and they looked so fun. Eventually I just signed up. I said not being able to travel or train for a year made me do something crazy and sign up for my first camp.
Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
I just got back from a short trip to Yellowknife, Canada. It took me three flights to get there and three flights back, with only two days in Yellowknife, but it was a great trip and definitely worth it. I got to go dog sledding and I met some amazing people. This was my first time trying out matsurfing.
The next trip I’m planning is to the spring Zen Camp. I plan to go a few days early and stay a few days after the camp so I can do some touristy stuff and see the area. Friends have given me some tips and suggestions, but I don’t have anything set yet.
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What are the things you enjoy about travelling? There are so many beautiful places around the world. I enjoy being able to see and experience those places. I’ve met some pretty cool people during my travels. And the food, trying different kinds of food... you can’t say you don’t like something if you’ve never tried it.
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
When I went to the Maine Camp, I walked into my cabin the first day and the first person I met lives two hours from me. We get together once in a while and have gone to other camps together since. It’s crazy to travel that far to meet someone from home.
The first time I met Alan Titone was at the Arizona camp. He did a class on setting goals and then taking steps to actually accomplish those goals. One of my goals was to go to Sweden and to find relatives that are still living in Sweden. So when I went to the first Faroe Islands camp last year, I decided to take an extra week since I was already in Europe to go to Sweden to visit the country (or one of the countries) my family came from. I was able to meet some distant cousins and even stayed with them for a couple days while I was there.
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
How easy it is to travel between countries in Europe. |
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Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Sometimes, though not quite as much as I used to when I was a poor college student. When I look at plane tickets, I’ll look at different airports and different days to see where I can find a good deal, but sometimes it's worth paying a little more for a direct flight. I’ve stayed in hostels instead of a hotel so that I can spend a little more on experiences.
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be? I like to look up things to do, but only book one or two things ahead of time. Then when I get wherever I’m going, I ask locals what they recommend doing or seeing. They can tell you if the things you find online are worth doing/seeing or if there’s something else that’s better/less crowded.
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| 2 tickets left for the Caribbean Island Camp in January/February |
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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: Principle Jiu Jitsu |
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Where is the gym located?
We are located in Cardiff, South Wales. We operate out of one of the largest gyms in Cardiff and it's called Ufit.
How many people train there?
We are still a new club but currently we have 9 regular members who are mostly new beginners.
Is the gym growing - if so by how many new members each month or year?
We have only been open for a few months but the future is bright. Ufit is a training ground for fitness competitors in Powerlifting, Crossfit, and other disciplines.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training? Highest is 4 stripe brown belt and lowest are brand new white belts.
When did the gym open?
At the start of October 2023.
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Some facts about you:
Name: Jason Yean Age: 39 Belt: Brown Profession: Sports Masseuse and Rehabilitation Years in BJJ: 12 Other martial arts: Tae Kwon Do, Ninjitsu Currently living in: Barry, South Wales Originally from: Born in South Wales but grew up in Malaysia. |
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Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence I have been looking to start my own gym for a couple of years. It was difficult finding a location, but I was determined to find the right one instead of just teaching for the sake of it. My patience paid off and the location that I'm in at the moment couldn't be better. We are centrally located in Cardiff and we have natural footfall from experienced competitors in other sports and disciplines.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they? The people who train are people who have been going to the gym their whole lives. They were looking for another challenge to complement their training, and they could not have picked a better martial art. We do also get the odd boxer coming through. We get people from other clubs coming to train with us as well. We welcome everyone to train.
Why do they train? They train to challenge themselves. They don't realise it yet but they've been bitten by the BJJ bug.
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically? The main challenges for me personally are trying to feed my students information in a timely fashion. They are all mostly brand new starters, so I'm taking my time working through the fundamentals so that they can start with good habits.
The financial side is not a concern, as I charge the gym an hourly fee to teach there. This is an avenue I would suggest to anyone wanting to start a new academy.
The other challenge is managing different personalities and egos. It is imperative to keep the vibe positive and friendly, so working through those issues at all times is so important.
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How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
I see it to be a bright one. There are not that many academies in our area and we are a city. I have plans to grow it and make it the best that it can be.
What’s the best thing about your gym?We leave our egos at the door and we keep it about Jiu Jitsu
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym? Wales is an absolutely beautiful part of the world. We are surrounded by the coast, mountains, and beautiful valleys. Cardiff has got a fantastic night scene and it's very easy to get around. The Brecon Beacons is a magical trek and insight into the nature that Wales is capable of. We have massive waterfalls and great beaches as well. I am happy to direct any earnest traveller - just get in touch with me.
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Thanks for sharing! If you'd like to visit Principle Jiu Jitsu, you can contact them here. |
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| Only a handful of tickets left for Austria Camp in the summer |
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A familiar setting, but at a new time of year and with an entirely fresh set of possibilities! For this summer camp, we’re heading back to Wagrain for five days of training among the rolling hillsides that are now brilliantly green and ready for you to explore.
It is our only family-friendly camp of the year and we will have lots of Jiu Jitsu and activities for all ages!
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