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| BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // March 2024 | |
Dear Globetrotters,
It's low season at the BJJ Globetrotters camp office with only two camps in four months. I'll be spending the time preparing for the big summer season and—of course—desperately try to come up with an April fool's joke that can top last year's 😂
I even managed to record a new podcast episode; it's becoming almost an annual thing now, but I kind of really like the slow pace of it. It'll be online on www.bjjglobetrotters.com/podcast, Apple Podcast and Spotify as usual.
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: J.P. Maechler
- Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Black Dog BJJ
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Last 10 tickets available for Camp 100 |
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* Jiu Jitsu classes and all day open mats *
* Daily yoga and meditation *
* Chillout/hangover lounges *
* Stage with professional sound system *
* All the lights and lasers that money can rent *
* Day 1: Pool party *
* Day 2: Costume party (bring your own / we provide) *
* Day 3: Glow in the dark party in 1300 year old private church *
* Day 4: White party w/ bouncy castle and foam cannons *
* Professional, Italian pizza bakers *
* All meals included *
* Fireworks *
* 100s of waterguns *
* Daily laundry service *
* All-day bar by the pool *
* Professional barista cart on-site *
* Shows and entertainment *
* Syncronised swimming competition *
* A vast amounts of decorations and lights *
* Hammocks, lounge chairs, sunbeds and fatboys *
* All the floaties we can fit in the pool *
* Photographers and photo booth *
* Wine tasting *
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| Photos from Caribbean Island Camp last month |
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Less than 15 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: J.P. Maechler |
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Age: 37
Belt: Purple for a long time :-)
Profession: Mechanical Engineer
How many years in BJJ: Around ten
Other martial arts: I did five years of Muay Thai before starting BJJ and two years of Judo when I was young. (Shouldn't have stopped Judo… would help me now for BJJ)
Where do you live: Zürich, Switzerland
Where are you from: Zürich
Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I look grumpy but if you get to know me I'm a nice person ;-) I also blog about my travels at www.bjjtravelblog.com |
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Tell us what inspired you to travel and train? I love to travel. In my early twenties I started to explore Europe, and soon I made it to the US. For me it was clear that I needed to see more of the world. So I told myself that I would take every opportunity to travel for as long as possible. Shortly after I started BJJ I went to a bachelor party in Vegas, and right afterwards I went to LA and Miami. A teammate told me I should train while I'm in the US, because especially those places are hosting some of the best in the world. For me it was the first time in another gym, since the club I trained in at that time didn't allow us to train in other gyms. From that time on it was clear that I would include training to my travels.
Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
I just came back from a 6.5-week trip through Southeast Asia. I visited Cambodia, Vietnam, and Thailand, and in total I managed to train in 12 academies during that time.
The next thing planned is a trip to Florida and the Bahamas.
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What are the things you enjoy about travelling? It's easier to get in touch with local people while training. I love to learn about new cultures, the history of the countries, and of course I always try local food.
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
At the end of 2022 I went to Central and South America. I planned my trip as far as Mexico, where I met a friend I made once at a BJJ camp, and during my time there (in Guadalajara) I planned how to continue.
I had the phone number of a black belt in Medellin from Christian, so I messaged him and told him I'll be there in around 2 weeks. He said that I was welcome to train when I'm there, and asked me where I will go before coming to Medellin. I told him Panama, and a second later I had the number of a black belt in Panama City. I then contacted that guy and went to PC for training.
While I was there he also asked me about my plans and I said maybe Bocas del Toro. “Amazing, a student of mine has a gym there and another one has a guest house!” He gave me the number and I was ready for Bocas. In Bocas the trainer gave me a number of a guy in Quito, and in Medellin I got another number for Riobamba. More or less my entire trip took form thanks to the BJJ community. Every place I went, I had someone I knew who showed me the local stuff.
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
In Manaus I trained at the gym of my friend's sister. Even though we couldn't really communicate they were super friendly, and after training they asked me to go for an açaí. We drove somewhere where I wouldn't go on my own. We stopped in front of a garage and I saw a sign I recognized from somewhere. We entered and it was her father. For me it was the first time in my life seeing a Coral Belt. We took some pictures and he invited me for wrestling training the day after. Then we all went for an açaí and the sister also invited me to a party the gym was throwing the next day. |
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Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I try to do something in between. I like to save money and find affordable accommodation, but I can't stay for too long in a shared dorm. Also I try to avoid long bus rides - for journeys like that I normally end up in an airplane.
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be? Always check if you need a visa with your passport, or if there are any other restrictions for entering a country. More than once I had trouble entering. Look in advance for places to train and ask the community for information. Be open-minded and good things will happen.
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| Less than half of tickets left for our mega-camp this summer |
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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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| BJJ Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Black Dog BJJ |
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Where is the gym located?
Wigan, UK
How many people train there?
Currently 12
Is the gym growing - if so by how many new members each month or year?
Slowly but surely yes! We only opened in November in a new town with zero students!
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training? Highest is purple, lowest is a fresh white belt.
When did the gym open?
Mid November '23.
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Some facts about you:
Name: Alex Riley Age: 34 Belt: Purple Profession: Human Factors Engineer Years in BJJ: 6 Other martial arts: I’ve dabbled for years in Japanese Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, and a little Catch Wrestling prior to BJJ Currently living in: Standish, UK Originally from: Atherton, UK |
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Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence Myself and my friend (and coach at Black Dog) Oly were both members of another large affiliation gym in another town. I coached and Oly was a friend and student. I was moving to another town, I also have a daughter on the way so I wanted to train closer home. There were a number of issues with the old gym (Jiu Jitsu politics and other issues) that personally clashed with my beliefs (that I share with BJJ Globetrotters) and also were making me not enjoy my Jiu Jitsu (to the point I almost quit).
So myself and Oly decided to set up a small club so we could continue to train and teach in an open and inclusive community with zero politics and most importantly ENJOY JIU JITSU AGAIN!
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they? We only have a small membership so far but already have a great mix of people! Ages range from 19-54. We have members who are young lads who look like they could be great competitors if they choose to go that route, and others just enjoy learning, rolling, and meeting new people through jiu jitsu! We’re proud that almost all of our students are completely new to Jiu Jitsu, with no previous experience. They’re learning quickly and we’ve had the chance to bring them into the world of BJJ Globetrotters straight away! A few have already enquired about coming on camps with myself and Oly this year.
Why do they train? Some have jobs that require physical contact so they initially came to us with self defence in mind, but now have fallen in love with the enjoyment of the sport! Others have come to us wanting to know the “secrets’ or “invisible jiu jitsu” but again once they start training and rolling they learn to enjoy the process rather than just the destination!
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically? There are definitely a lot of challenges! As a new gym, it’s really just getting the word out there! We don’t have the finances of bigger affiliate gyms to advertise to everyone. Plus myself and Oly both have day jobs so managing that and trying to run a gym can be exhausting but fun.
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How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
There are some very good gyms in the surrounding areas, plus we have a very strong Catch Wrestling pedigree in Wigan so in my opinion the future is bright. Plus with the success of our local UFC champion Tom Aspinall, Jiu Jitsu is in the spotlight. I’m hoping more people are inspired by him and come and give Jiu Jitsu a try, whether that be at Black Dog or anywhere else. It would just be great if more people got into Jiu Jitsu!
What’s the best thing about your gym?We have a lot of fun, don’t take ourselves too seriously (as anyone who's met us at camps know!), and we’re approachable and have a friendly atmosphere, so anyone can walk in and train.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym? Some people in the BJJ Globetrotters Facebook group may have seen my sarcastic recommendations before! But there are some great areas of natural beauty to go on hikes all around Wigan. The club itself is nestled in the Haigh Estate (a woodland estate near Haigh Hall, originally dating back before the 12th century).
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Thanks for sharing! If you'd like to visit Black Dog BJJ, you can contact them here. |
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| Next Arizona Camp already 40% booked |
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Our week long camp in Arizona has quickly become a staple for the BJJ Globetrotters community in the United States. Come enjoy the desert air, BBQ, and some proper frontier rolls with us!
There’s a huge Globetrotters community in North America, and this is really turning out to be an ideal gathering point for them. If you’ve ever been eager to try one of our camps, but haven’t been able to due to the time or distance involved, this could be the one for you. Consider it your gateway to the Globetrotters camp experience!
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