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| | | | BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // June 2019 | | Dear Globetrotters,
I just did three camps in one month. That was a little wild and I'm mildly exhausted, but there's no time to rest as we still got four more to go in the next two months. So far, it's been an absolutely amazing experience and I've enjoyed every moment of it. The contrast between staying in a castle in Italy, then the capital of Estonia and finally in a forest in the U.S. has been mind-boggling.
After having done 45 camps, things are running really smooth behind the scenes. But that only results in us coming up with even more ideas and projects to stay busy during the week. The USA camp was a testament to this, as we added numerous new things to the experience, compared to last camp there. One of the bigger projects this year is of course the BJJ Globetrotters documentary we're shooting and spending a lot of time and effort on during the camps. We only have one chance to get it right and we're really excited about how it's turning out already.
I gotta get back to packing as I'm flying out for the next camp tomorrow. Looking forward to see a lot of you in the coming months in Portugal, Austria, Iceland and Germany!
Have a fantastic day, | | | |
What you'll find in this month's newsletter:
- Photos from Spring Camp Estonia
- Featured Traveller: Ed Calvert
- Photos from Castle Camp Italy
- Photos from USA Camp Maine
- Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Playa Venao BJJ
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| | | Less than 50 tickets remain |
| | We held our first-ever US camp way back in 2015, and it worked out so well that we’ve been going back every year since. All our camps so far have been in the northeast though (Maine and New Hampshire), and we know it can be hard for many people in the US to get there due to the distance and time needed off work.
There’s a huge Globetrotters community in the US, and we want to ensure that all of you have the opportunity to attend a camp someday. So here is one for you! It’s a bit different than usual (in that we don’t usually do city camps like this), but we are excited to see it act as a great gathering point for all of the Globetrotters in that part of the world.
Consider this your gateway to the Globetrotters camp experience!
* October 23rd to 27th in Tempe, Arizona *
* 15 minutes from Phoenix International Airport *
* Five days of training *
* Gi and no-gi classes all day long *
* Outdoor BBQ in gym’s back yard *
* Yoga classes *
* Extra mat space for all-day open mat / drilling *
* All experience levels and affiliations welcome! *
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| | | | Photos from Spring Camp Estonia |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Featured Traveller: Ed Calvert |
| | Let’s start out with some quick facts about you…
Age: 34 Belt: Purple Profession: Currently unemployed, previously involved in medical equipment sales. How many years in BJJ: Around 10 (slow learner) Other martial arts: None Where do you live: Edinburgh, Scotland Where are you originally from: Blackpool, England Other fun or curious information you'd like to share: (More on the curious side!) I have a fake ball due to having had testicular cancer back in 2012. I also have quite a good story about it that has been told many times along my travels. |
| | | Tell us what inspired you to travel and train? A combination of coming out of a divorce and getting the all-clear from the testicular cancer (an early midlife crisis?). I woke up one Sunday and felt the urge to take the chance and travel while I have the opportunity. I also attended my first BJJ Globetrotters camp in Heidelberg, and that confirmed it was a good idea!
Tell us about your most recent trip and your upcoming trips – where have you been and where are you going?
I quit my job with the intention of training BJJ in many different countries over the course of a year. I started off well, but have to admit the lure of beer and socialising has taken over at times! Initially I did a BJJ camp in Bali, and after this I trained in the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, Thailand, and Hawaii. Next, I’m off to Mexico as I make my way towards South America.
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| | What are the things you enjoy about traveling? Escaping from routine, not knowing who you will meet and whether or not they will have a big influence on your life, and experiencing all the different sensations and cultures around the world.
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
It's always good to put yourself out of your comfort zone, and not many things do this as well as travelling and training!
In Hiroshima, I attempted to take the bus to Fujita BJJ and got massively lost. I used Google Translate to communicate with the kind Japanese guy next to me, who ended up ordering me a taxi. Eventually I rocked up to the gym where no one could speak English. I went on to have an amazing night with some very technical grapplers, they allowed me to train for free (quite rare in Japan), ended up giving me their club patch (the Hiroshima Peace Crane), and one of the guys there even drove me home. After this I went to a local Izakaya, I was the only Western person in there, and they all looked at me weirdly (pretty sure they were slating me in Japanese). Anyway, by the end of the night I was getting drunk with them and they gave me 30% off my bill. I went back the next 3 nights in a row!
Hawaii also had a great BJJ scene. There's a cool store in a mall where they have an open mat on Sundays. I met a great guy there who picked me up from the airport and took me to Workshop Jiu Jitsu, where I got my mind blown by their instructor Larry! Well worth a visit if you're ever in Oahu.
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
The amount of people in dorms that snore like chainsaws! Invest in decent earplugs! Also, the cost of some gyms in Japan and the US took me by surprise.
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| | Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I have to confess I am terrible at budgeting. I’m mainly staying in hostels, and have done a little bit of couchsurfing - which has led to some interesting experiences!
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Book your trip and go. I was nervous about giving up my job and home life to do this trip, but as soon as I landed in Bali I knew I'd made the right decision. If you are considering doing it, then take action and before you know it you'll be on your way.
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| | | New 2019 competition & travel gis now available! |
| | | | | Photos from Castle Camp Italy |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Next Caribbean Island Camp in Saint Barthélemy announced for February |
| | Come run away from the cold winter together with us! The tiny island of Saint Barthélemy in the Caribbean used to be a hideout for pirates before Sweden and France invaded. Today it is usually off limit for anyone but Hollywood celebrities and the super rich, anchoring the world’s biggest yachts and staying in ultra expensive luxury hotels.
Working closely with the local St. Barth Jiu Jitsu club, we’ve managed to book a newly built accommodation facility there and will be hosting yet another Brazilian Jiu Jitsu camp on the island! A full week of training, surfing, exploring, beaches and sailing that you don’t wanna miss.
* February 3-9, 2020 in Saint Barthélemy * * Easily reachable from United States and Europe * * Seven days Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training camp * * Six nights central accommodation * * An affordable chance to visit exclusive celebrity island * * Dinner in new local restaurant every evening * * Daily surf lessons and board rental * * Catamaran boat trip * * Fresh bread from local bakery every morning * * Laundry service * * Stay extra nights at affordable rate * * Mini vans and cars available for exploring the island * * Some of the world’s best beaches *
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| | | | Photos from USA Camp Maine |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | 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. We’ll probably still manage to fit in the odd après-ski party though…
* 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: Playa Venao Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu |
| | Where is the gym located?
We're located in Playa Venao, Panama, which is on the Azuero peninsula on the country’s Southwest Pacific coast. Playa Venao is known as one of Panama’s best and most consistent beach breaks. The gym is physically located at Beach Break Surf Camp (www.beachbreaksurfcamp.com), a beachfront hotel steps from the waves.
How many people train there?
We have a kids program of local and expat kids from ages 3-16+ yrs old, and around 10 adults in BJJ. We also do Muay Thai and conditioning classes with around another 10 or so people.
Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
Playa Venao is a small community, but it's definitely growing and developing. With the expansion, there are more families, service industry workers, and others that could potentially start training. I just need to show them the light (BJJ :)). For now, our numbers remain more or less consistent.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
We have the whitest of white belts in for their first classes, 1 blue belt, 2 purple belts, a brown belt, a black belt, and many visitors from the whole spectrum of belts.
When did the gym open?
2017. |
| | Some facts about you:
Name: John Boyle Age: 34 Belt: Black Profession: Surf Camp Hotel Manager & BJJ Academy Owner Years in BJJ: 12 Other martial arts: Muay Thai Currently living in: Playa Venao Originally from: South Jersey / Colorado, USA |
| Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
I moved to Panama in 2013 in need of adventure and change. In the first year, my friend and I founded AlleyCat Fitness Foundation (another Globetrotters-affiliated school). After 4 of the best years of my life operating this non-profit academy which provided free martial arts and fitness classes to impoverished communities, I again needed change. I meditated, focused, and pondered on what my wife and I’s perfect life would look like. The picture I came up with was living at the beach, surfing, training, and sharing Jiu-Jitsu with people from all over the world.
In 2017, we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to use a small space at the back of Beach Break Surf Camp for BJJ classes for the community. My wife got a job at the hotel, and I was making ends meet with teaching classes. A year and a half into our lives at the beach, and another opportunity presented itself - to become the manager of the hotel and expand the BJJ gym into the amazing new facility it is today, with 80m2 of brand new Fuji mats just steps away from the surf break.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
We're lucky enough to have people from all over the world that train here. Some of the countries represented are: Panama, United States, Australia, Belgium, Israel, Colombia, Argentina, Venezuela, and Uruguay, plus visitors from all over the rest of the world. Many of our full-time members are local expats who have different jobs in the area or are self-employed.
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| | Why do they train?
Many of our students started their Jiu Jitsu journey here. Some have moved here and continued their practice. I believe everyone has their own reasons for training that are personal to them, but speaking for myself I love the health and physical benefits, as well as the amazing community of people it brings together and the friendships I’ve made on the mats.
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
Work can always become work, even if it is your dream life/ job. So I try and remind myself not to get stressed about the normal business stuff. Other challenges include: deciding whether to surf before or after training, having so much fun you forget to take a nap, and going out with friends visiting on vacation and turning their vacation into my own...
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| | How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
I see the future generations wondering why the hell there are so many killers coming from Playa Venao that can speak three languages, surf amazingly well, and strangle 99% of the untrained population.
What’s the best thing about your gym?
For sure the people that fill its mats…. But the world class waves out front aren’t so bad either.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?The inside of some barrels.
Thanks for sharing with us! If you'd like to pay a visit to Playa Venao BJJ, you can find them here. |
| | | | | Year six and still going strong! We’re kicking 2020 off in proper style, as we head back up to the towering white heights of the Austrian alps for our annual Winter Camp. Four days of skiing, snowboarding, and Jiu Jitsu, nights full of beer, schnitzel, and impromptu pole-dance lessons, and a hotel full of fellow Globetrotters to share it all with.
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