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| BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // March 2023 | |
Dear Globetrotters,
It was wonderful to have guests here on the island again for our second Caribbean Island Camp of the season. Now we are entering a strangely quiet period with only one single camp in four months (Spring Camp in Estonia), but it will honestly also be nice with a little break to recharge before the wild, wild summer with six camps in less than 3 months.
Most of our camps this summer are already sold out but there's still a bit of time if you want to join us in beautiful Faroe Islands or Estonia. Outside of that, your best bet is—as always—the waiting list.
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: MacKenzie King
- Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Open Grounds Jiu Jitsu Foundation
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Last chance to get the 20% off introductory offer for our new gis!
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Less than 40 tickets available for "Little Iceland Camp" 😄 |
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* From July 5th to 8th, 2023 *
* In Tórshavn, Faroe Islands *
* Four day training camp *
* Gi and no-gi classes all day long *
* Modern training facilities 3 min. drive from downtown Tórshavn *
* Direct flights from multiple European cities *
* Affordable accommodation option *
* High level international instructors *
* Everyone welcome, regardless of experience or affiliation *
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Photos from Caribbean Island Camp last month |
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Next Caribbean Island Camp is announced for December 4th to 10th and there are less than 20 tickets left. Booking and more information on https://www.bjjglobetrotters.com/caribbeanislandcampdecember2023 |
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| Less than 20 tickets left for next Caribbean Island Camp |
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Easily reachable from United States and Europe *
* Seven-day Brazilian Jiu Jitsu training camp *
* Six nights central accommodation *
* An affordable chance to visit exclusive celebrity island *
* Dinners in local restaurants *
* Daily surf lessons and board rental *
* Catamaran boat trip *
* Fresh bread from local bakery every morning *
* Laundry service *
* Stay extra nights at affordable rate *
* Minivans and cars available for exploring the island *
* Some of the world’s best beaches *
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| Less than 60 tickets left for next Arizona Camp |
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* November 13th to 18th in Tempe, Arizona * * 15 minutes from Phoenix International Airport * * Full week of training * * Gi and no-gi classes all day long * * Daily workshops and lectures * * Outdoor BBQ in gym’s back yard * * Yoga classes * * Extra mat space for all-day open mat / drilling * * Free professional portrait service/photo booth * * All experience levels and affiliations welcome! * |
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| Featured Globetrotter: MacKenzie King |
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Age: 27
Belt: Blue
Profession: It's complicated
How many years in BJJ: 2 years
Other martial arts: Kickboxing
Where do you live: Queen Creek, Arizona, United States
Where are you from: Mesa, Arizona
Other fun or curious information you would like to share: - I coach the little kiddos at my gym!
- I am starting a women’s athletic clothing line.
- I have crowd surfed at every camp that was not in my home state (3/3) and would like to keep that streak going *cough cough.*
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Tell us what inspired you to travel and train? I initially did the November 2021 Arizona Camp. I loved everything about the experience. At the March 2022 Arizona Camp I met this super cool guy named TJ who pushed me to go to Heidelberg Camp (thanks, TJ). Before that, I really didn’t think it was that feasible for me to travel overseas. But I did it - and now here I am 6 camps in, ready to hit 10 by year's end! It’s amazing to be able to get to train with so many new people that have so many unique styles.
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 the Caribbean February 2022 Camp. I can’t begin to explain how beautiful St Barths is. This camp is different from the training-packed camps I have attended. There was surfing, beach time, and a LOT of eating (okay, that last one was on me but if you follow my instagram you know I have an entire highlight reel devoted to #MacKsandHerSnacKs).
Upcoming I have Maine 2023, Beach Camp Estonia 2023, Summer Camp Heidelberg 2023, and, of course, Arizona Camp 2023. While in Europe for Estonia and Germany, I plan on staying there for 3+ weeks to attend both camps and visit people and places.
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What are the things you enjoy about travelling? The people, seeing new places, and even the challenges of getting around somewhere you may not be familiar with. The memories that can’t be bottled up are worth the headaches of planes, trains and automobiles (but also I have met really cool people on the plane rides, so bonus talk time).
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
If you know me, you know I love making friends. Everywhere I go, I collect new stories and new experiences through my interactions. I love meeting fellow Globetrotters (you guys are like really, really cool) and it’s amazing to see my friendships in the community grow and change. I also love meeting the locals and random strangers while I’m out and about. This last camp, I met a man named Paulo, who spoke almost no English. His native tongue was Portuguese. I speak a decent amount of Spanish, but it wasn’t entirely helpful (he understood my Spanish more than I his Portuguese). But between a glass of wine, wild hand gestures and lots of laughs, an entire hour had passed before I knew it. I honestly can’t remember what we even talked about other than him visiting his family the next day, but it puts a smile on my face. This recent trip also landed me on a beach around two in the morning at a techno concert surrounded by locals. My legs were scratched up and almost everything hurt the next morning, but the crowd surfing (apparently I give off a “carry me over the crowd” vibe that I am perfectly happy with) made it all worth it.
Seeing new places is kind of a “well, duh”/given when travelling, but I can’t begin to explain the tranquillity you feel while looking at the clear blue waters of the Caribbean with the ocean mist splashing in your face and the sounds of laughter in your ears when your surrounded by like-minded people as you attempt to surf for the first time; or the smell of hops in a German bar with your shoes sticking to the ground from the (sadly) spilled beer as the music plays too loud for you to hear those around you but the slurring smiles let you know everyone is having the best time; or the moments when you’re alone staring at parts of a once-whole castle wondering what it looked like in its prime while the sun beats down a little warm but not uncomfortably so and you find the perfect tree to sit in contentedly while others move about and you write in your journal. It’s something you can’t replicate. But these images and feelings and sounds are burned into my brain.
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
How willing people are to help. I cannot tell you how many times I have looked like a silly tourist having to ask directions because I am too stubborn to turn on my data and pay the $10 (?!) a day. I have only been met with smiles or, if there is a language barrier, confusion but still a willingness to help as I type out the name of where I am trying to go in my notes app or point to my desired destination on an insane map of 40 different colored bus lines that were faded by the sun and nearly impossible to distinguish. People want to help. I do not enjoy feeling like a silly tourist. But in order to get past it, I have to be willing to ask and learn, or really push through the discomfort. Why not both? |
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Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I am not but I need to be. Oh well. Always time to make more money. Never time to make more time.
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be? Talk. Talk to people while you’re visiting places. I have never run into a time that I was wanting to make conversation and someone outright turned me down. The laughs and occasional confusion are worth it.
Stop. Stop and take the time to soak in everything around you. Even if it is just ten seconds of standing off to the side and watching people smiling and laughing or dancing to the music off beat. These ten second bits are what my brain holds on to.
Be silly. Be silly and do what you want. Life is too short to worry about what everyone else is thinking. I know it’s cliché, but it also holds true. We are often far too serious because we assume people will think we are weird. Let them. Be weird. Do fun stuff. Live a silly life.
I love you guys. Thank you for accepting me and all my weirdness and loudness and everything else-ness that has made me feel like I am “too much.” I love my silly life and I love that you’re in it.
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Less than 80 tickets left for our mega-camp in Estonia this summer! |
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* From July 17th to 22nd, 2023 *
* In Pärnu, Estonia *
* Easy bus connection from Tallinn and Riga *
* Direct flights from Helsinki and Stockholm *
* Huge mat space in a beautiful beach town *
* Six-day training camp *
* 20+ black belt instructors *
* 45+ gi and nogi classes *
* 25+ hours of open mats *
* High-level international instructors *
* Yoga every morning *
* All experience levels and affiliations welcome! *
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| BJJ Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Open Grounds Jiu-Jitsu Foundation |
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Where is the gym located?
Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines
How many people train there?
15-25
Is the gym growing - if so by how many new members each month or year?
Yes, an average of 1 to 2 new members every month.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
White belt to purple belt.
When did the gym open?
January 2023
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Some facts about you:
Name: Randy B. Gubguban Age: 43 Belt: 4-stripe white Profession: Sales Engineer Years in BJJ: 3 years Other martial arts: Filipino Martial Arts, Boxing Currently living in: Angeles City, Philippines Originally from: Ilagan, Isabela, Philippines |
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Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence It's a foundation formed with many friends in the BJJ community, having the goal of spreading and sharing the art for free. Especially for kids and women who are not financially able, but are committed and willing to learn.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they? The coaches are from different teams or affiliations, so we've known each other for quite a long time. The students are mainly local young people.
Why do they train? To learn together and share the art for many.
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically? BJJ is not well known in our community - that's why we formed the foundation to reach as many people as we can.
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How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
As long as people have the opportunity to try it, BJJ will surely grow here.
What’s the best thing about your gym?It's free!
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym? The place, the food, and the people.
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Thanks for sharing! If you'd like to visit Open Grounds Jiu Jitsu Foundation, you can contact them here. |
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SUPER LIGHT TRAVEL GIS- ALL MODELS IN STOCK! |
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