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| | BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // July 2025 | | Dear Globetrotters,
What a month! Two massive camps, first in Maine and then in Iceland. After eight amazing years of doing camps in Iceland, we decided that this was the last one. I'm trying to slow down my life a bit and first step is to find some way of doing less than 14 camps a year 😄 I'll never say never—because I love visiting Iceland and have been coming there for 20 years—but for now, that camp is over.
Since it was the last camp, we thought we wanted to end it with a Grand Finale. So we spent most of the year working to get a permit for holding our annual "Vikings vs. Tourists" in the city center of Reykjavik. It wasn't easy but we managed to pull it off and it was an absolutely epic experience. On a beautiful sunny day in an iconic, historic place, around 40 campers squared off against the locals in the traditional, Icelandic wrestling art of GlÃma. Once again, the Vikings were victorious, but the tourists got a beautiful silver medal and a ticket to Valhalla!
More than 1,500 participants are already signed up for this year, but there’s still time to join us! Here’s the current ticket availability for our upcoming camps: Dates are also announced for a few camps next year and the ticket sales is planned to open in August: - Spring Camp Tallinn: April 13-18, 2026
- USA Camp Maine: June 1-7, 2026
- More to come soon!!
I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of you soon! Have a great day, | | | |
What you'll find in this month's newsletter: - Photos from USA Camp in Maine
- Featured Globetrotter: Rui Lin
- Photos from Iceland Camp
- Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Flamingo Jiu-Jitsu
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| | 20 tickets left for the final Beach Camp in Estonia! |
| | We’re once again heading off to this summer gem on the Baltic coast and 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 Iceland Camp last week |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | 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: Rui Lin |
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| | Age: 29
Belt: White
Profession: Taking time off (previously worked at a tech startup)
How many years in BJJ: Less than 1
Other martial arts: Boxing / Muay Thai
Where do you live: Denmark
Where are you from: I'm an Italian-born Chinese
Other fun or curious information you would like to share: People often get the wrong idea based on how I look. I usually introduce myself as Italian, but I look Asian, so people often get confused and I have to explain that I’m Italian-born Chinese. I’m also quite petite, so I don’t exactly fit the typical ‘metalhead’ stereotype but I love hanging out at the edge of the mosh pit with a beer in hand.
I've also had short hair for a while now, and when I visited a gym during my trip, the coach (hello, Kenn :D) was convinced I was a teenage boy based on my profile pic on Insta. It led to some hilarious misunderstandings when I showed up, but we all had a good laugh afterwards. |
| | What inspired you to travel and train? The urge to travel came first. I had just quit my job due to burnout and needed to feel alive again - meet people, try new things, and get out of my comfort zone. I didn’t even plan on training while traveling until a former colleague (tak Allan!) told me about BJJ Globetrotters. From there, I just started messaging gyms in every country I was headed to. That opened the door to one of the most welcoming communities I’ve ever encountered.
I remember being nervous before my first BJJ class in Taiwan, wondering if I’d be the only woman or the only beginner. But the coach greeted me, handed me a gi, and paired me with someone who looked after me. I felt seen and supported, which made me want to keep showing up. I felt seen, supported, and encouraged to have fun and grow at my own pace. That’s what made me want to keep showing up.
Tell us about your most recent trip and what's next – where have you been and where are you going?
After quitting my job, I booked a one-way ticket to Asia with a rough plan to avoid touristy spots and the incoming heat and rainy season. I started in Taiwan and ended up traveling to Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong - mostly just following where I felt like going. I’m currently back in Denmark for the summer, sorting out some logistics, but I’m thinking of returning to Asia in the fall. One plan is to bike across South Korea with a friend and attempt to complete the Korean bike passport.
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| | What do you enjoy most about travelling? I travel to reconnect with myself, find inspiration, and better understand the world. It places me into new environments where I meet people I never would’ve encountered back home. It gives me the freedom to explore, reinvent myself, and try things I wouldn’t otherwise.
But I especially love walking. It lets you feel and understand the rhythm of a place. You realize that while every place and environment is different, at the core, we’re all just human.
Any particularly memorable experiences that made it all worth it?
So many. From scuba diving for the first time with someone I just rolled with in the previous class, to training in an empty warehouse that looked like a kidnapping setup and smelled of stinky tofu, to sparring with a guy three times my size.
One unforgettable experience was training at a foundation center for kids in a slum in the Philippines. The gym was just a patchwork of cheap foam blocks, but their passion was truly touching. It reminded me how little it takes to create something meaningful.
And even though it's not related to BJJ, my favorite experience was biking and camping around Jeju island. It maybe reflects what I love about traveling. From throwing the idea out there to gathering a crew of oddballs (miss you Coupang gang <3) and making it happen together despite the challenges. We biked in the wind and rain, camped in questionable spots, and made a bonfire to BBQ sausages and s’mores from 7-Eleven on our last night. It was raw and authentic, filling my heart in a way I didn’t expect.
What has surprised you the most while travelling? How healing travelling can be. I left alone and went through a lot alone but I also discovered that I didn’t have to. Most times I put myself out there, someone showed up - whether to talk, travel, or train. People are busy with their life, but when they do pause to connect, there’s so much kindness and shared humanity. BJJ surprised me too. It became a shared language across cultures. It’s as if the moment you step on a mat, you’re no longer a stranger.
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| | Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip? Yes, I travel frugally but comfortably. I always pack light to stay within the free luggage allowance and use old clothes I can drop along the way. I stay in hostel dorms, eat cheap or local food, and sometimes I volunteer for accommodation to cut costs. Walking around to get a feel for the local lifestyle is a big part of how I travel, so I tend to avoid touristy spots that overcharge.
I do a lot of prep: researching ATM fees, SIM options (Roamless eSIM), using travel-focused bank cards (Revolut), and comparing platforms for the best hostel deals (usually Agoda wins). Being flexible helps, as I can go wherever or whenever there is a cheap flight (Explore+Anywhere feature in Google Flights).
That said, I don’t compromise on safety or experiences. I’m happy to pay extra for a good hostel with a female-only dorm, and I always have a budget for experiences that matter to me.
Any advice for your fellow Globetrotters? - Take care of your body. Traveling can mess with your body’s rhythm, so keep an eye on your health. Also, treat wounds early, especially in hot, humid countries like in SEA where hygiene differs. I learned these the hard way: I got a skin rash my first week and later a small wound that became infected and kept me off the mat for a month. Ah, of course, get good travel insurance with coverage for medical bills.
- Contact gyms in advance. Message the gym and let them know you’re coming. Ask about class schedule, visitor fees, gear (like gis). Also, language barriers can cause confusion, so confirm everything clearly! It may save you some stress :)
- Learn local phrases. Even knowing a few words in the local language can make a huge difference. While people will usually try speaking English, they are not always comfortable with it.
- Re. BJJ gear. I traveled with two no-gi sets, which was enough for me to rotate and wash one while wearing the other. Some gyms have gis to rent, others don’t, so you may end up doing only no-gi classes. If you plan to train in the gi, consider travel gis.
- Be open. Different cultures approach BJJ in their own way. Some focus more on tradition and discipline, while others are more relaxed. It might feel uncomfortable at first, but be respectful and remember that you don’t have to stay if it’s not a good fit. I recommend paying for a single class to test the waters before committing to more. Also, stay open to where you train. Some gyms may not look like much, but they’re often the best they could put together. These places often have some of the most passionate communities.
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| | | Less than 35 tickets left for next Arizona Camp |
| | | | Photos from USA Camp Maine last month |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 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: Flamingo Jiu-Jitsu |
| | How many people train there? We have about 50 members training at the moment. On a busy day, we have about 20 folks training in a batch.
Is the gym growing - if so by how many new members each month or year? We have been running just over 2 years now. We are at an average monthly member base of 50. We have some beginner gains, and see about 3-4 new members every month.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training? The coach, Debo, is a purple belt 3 stripes and is the highest belt. We have about 10 blue belts, and the rest are all white belts. When did the gym open? Flamingo Jiu Jitsu started operations in October 2022.
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| | Some facts about you:
Name: Debo Age: 36 years Belt: Purple Profession: Mechanical engineer turned academy owner Years in BJJ: 11+ years Other martial arts: Karate (4 years) Currently living in: Bangalore, India Originally from: Assam, India |
| | Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence I was just out of a job in 2022 and was looking at ways to quickly get an income source. I was at that time training and competing. I took up this online name of ‘thejiujitsuoperator’, as I was connecting lot of folks who would enquire about Jiu Jitsu training in the city. I thought, why not start doing privates, and fortunately I got some clients quickly.
I was even going door to door with mats in my car to teach, which soon became unsustainable. But I knew that quite a few folks wanted to train. And during those privates I trained a wide variety of members - 40 year olds hobbyists to 15 year old school athletes. I started enjoying teaching, and finally had a deep conviction in my ability to add value through Jiu Jitsu. That's when Flamingo Jiu Jitsu was born.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they? Currently, our Jiu Jitsu program caters to adults. Early 20s to late 30s is the demographic of the members. Almost all of them are working corporate jobs and have moved to the city from different parts of the country.
Why do they train? The bulk of the member base are young professionals who are curious about Jiu Jitsu or MMA and are looking to take up a skill focussed session to stay fit. The community and learning aspect is a strong cultural alignment for these folks at Flamingo. |
| | What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically? Some key challenges are:
- Finding folks who are specifically looking for Jiu Jitsu. Most of them are looking for MMA and not really aware of Jiu Jitsu.
- Balancing the class curriculum between beginners and experienced members as we run a mixed level class.
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
There has been a rapid growth over the last 2-3 years in the specific area where Flamingo Jiu-Jitsu is. When we started there were 2 clubs teaching MMA or Jiu Jitsu. Currently there are about 10 clubs. So it's a positive sign and we are expecting this to continue to grow. What’s the best thing about your gym?The flock. The culture at Flamingo is warm and inviting. Personally I find it refreshing to teach and be around these guys.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym? The food scene in the area is great. If you have the time for a short drive, there are many treks and hiking spots around the city. ----
Thanks for sharing! If you'd like to visit Flamingo Jiu-Jitsu, you can contact them here. |
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