[May newsletter] Featured Globetrotter // Te Manawa Jiu-Jitsu

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Subject: [May newsletter] Featured Globetrotter // Te Manawa Jiu-Jitsu

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BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // May 2021

Dear Globetrotters,

So here we are again, standing at the beginning of yet another challenging summer for our sport, traveling and events. However, we have not lost our enthusiasm, not a bit. While we know that some things will probably not work as initially planned, we are very confident that we can pull of many great experiences for our community in the coming months. A few highlights to look forward to in the very near future:

Our camp in Maine in one month is fully sold out with more than 190 participants. We had to skip last year, so we're very eager to go back and it will probably be the most ambitious schedule there we've ever done there.
Iceland has opened it's borders to tourists from all countries who are either vaccinated or have proof of recovery from prior infection. This has sparked a strong optimism in our camp there in July and it looks like we're running out of tickets soon.

I hope you're all doing well out there and can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Rest assured that BJJ Globetrotters and the camps will still be there when ever you're ready for it!

Have a fantastic day,

What you'll find in this month's newsletter:

Featured Globetrotter: Nick Daniel
Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Te Manawa Jiu-Jitsu

Iceland now open to all tourists with vaccine/antibodies!
Current ticket availability: LOW

Ever wrestled a Viking? Relaxed after a long day of rolling in an open air hot spring? Trained at the largest grappling and MMA gym in the world? Tick all these and more off your Jiu Jitsu bucket list in one of the most spectacularly scenic countries on Earth.

More information >>

The Gentle Art of Travel is following the BJJ Globetrotters camps behind the scenes over the course of one full year and 12 training camps around the world. Sign up now to receive an invitation for the free online premiere.

Click here to watch the trailer and sign up!

Featured Globetrotter: Nick Daniel

Age: 28

Belt: Purple

Profession: Personal trainer

How many years in BJJ: 6 years

Other martial arts: Nope

Where do you live: Currently living in Istanbul, Turkey

Where are you from: Gold Coast, Australia

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I once heel hooked a fully grown kangaroo

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?

The shortness of life, in a nutshell. Everything in life is temporary, and life itself is so damn short, so why the f*** not do everything you want right now? Granted that there can be some definite set-backs, but as humans, we always find a way to pull through when we find the courage to initiate action. Majority of people, including myself, find excuses not to do certain things because we are scared to let go of comfort. We worry about job security. We are worried about the future. Every year the same story. I have worked countless jobs through my lifetime and the majority of my colleagues would run the same story; “Oh I’m over this job...”, “I would love to travel but I just don’t have enough holidays...”, “I wish I could just quit!”. Man, I was so tired of hearing it, but it fuelled me to do something amazing with my life so one day I can look back and smile.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?

So, I am currently based in Istanbul, Turkey. This was a really random destination for me, because I just came to visit a friend that I met in London. My original plan was to come here for 3 days and then fly to Germany, but partly because of the pandemic and instant attraction to Turkish culture, I have been here for a little over 5 months now. In the time I’ve managed to find an amazing group of mates and awesome training partners at Corvos Combat with the main man Burak Biçer.

I’m just cruising right now, soaking up the summer vibes that are well on their way, and then after that I will head to Ibiza, Spain once again to train with some pals that I met last year.

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
The people. The freedom. The spontaneity. The growth. The experiences.

Diving into the unknown is f**king breathtaking. The positive changes that I’ve seen in myself definitely outweigh the temporary waves of fear from not knowing where you’ll end up next. The more you travel, the easier it gets. Man, it’s a rush!

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?

Man, the people! Hands down the people you meet are the best thing about travelling and training. Especially through these Globetrotters camps. I can safely say I am confident to travel to several places around the world solely because I know I will be looked after by the amazing people I meet on the mats. It’s crazy to think.

One dude I rolled with in London spends a fair bit of time in Ibiza, Spain. So after absolutely crushing this poor little white belt (ahah love you Paul), he actually invited me to go stay/train on the island with him and his team. The vibes were unreal!

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?

The most surprising experience is how friendly and accommodating strangers can actually be. I don’t know if it’s because we are Jiu-Jitsu folk or what, but man it’s made my travelling so cruisy.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?

Definitely! I think it’s all part of the travel and train lifestyle and it’s something that you should learn how to do. Just don’t buy unnecessary crap. It’s pretty simple.

Money comes and goes, and if you have a Stoic mentality, then those things won't worry you and it will all just work out. Create a plan, initiate action, buy only what you need, and don’t look back.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?

You’re born with nothing, and you die with nothing - everything else in between is borrowed. So go out and make some sh** happen!

We're returning to Arizona in November with a FULL WEEK camp!

* November 15th to 20th in Tempe, Arizona *
* 15 minutes from Phoenix International Airport *
* Now 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! *

More information >>

Bring your family for a beautiful BJJ summer holiday in the Alps!

* August 18-22 in Wagrain, Austria *
* One hour 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 *
* Garden party with BBQ & beer on last night *

More information >>

BJJ Globetrotters Academy in Focus:

Te Manawa Jiu-Jitsu

Where is the gym located?
Queenstown, New Zealand.

How many people train there?
Around 90 currently and growing.

Is the gym growing - if so by how many new members each month or year?
We opened recently, and are organically growing numbers to keep the good vibes we want to have on the mats.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
We have brand new white belts to a 5th degree black belt.

When did the gym open?
February 2021.

Some facts about you:

Name: Brent & Paula Te Kawa

Age: 51 & 50

Belt: Black and Brown

Profession: Jiu-Jitsu Academy Owners

Years in BJJ: 12 & 8

Other martial arts: Kickboxing

Currently living in: Queenstown, New Zealand

Originally from: Wellington, New Zealand

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence

We travelled extensively to train and compete prior to Covid, being lucky enough to train with some of the best in the world. Covid halted our travelling, so we had an idea we could bring a high-level instructor to our small town so that the community could get a chance to learn high-level, technique-based BJJ in a world-class environment if they wanted to. Turned out Rodrigo Teixeira was in a small country town in NZ, so we flew him down for some lunch and some rolls. Once we felt his technique and found that his values aligned with ours (and was such a nice guy) we knew we had the right person for the position.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?

We are around 50% kids and 50% adults currently, from 5 years old through to 56 years old, and all types of professions. One of the best stories we heard was from one of our older members that said when he was a farmer, a cow fell on him and while being trapped he thought to himself if only he knew Jiu-Jitsu he could have used leverage to get out from under this cow. He is no longer a farmer, but started his journey around 3 weeks ago. Lots of kids due to our coaches' great demenaour with them - lots of play and fun while learning.

Why do they train?
Some kids train because their parents want them to, while some definitely want to be there. We have a few that have already done their first competition, which has triggered an interest from a few more members to compete. Although competition is not our sole focus, our instructors have competed in most countries and done well in some of the larger tournaments. Some members are trying something completely new and out of their comfort zone, while some have been training for a few years and are liking our relaxed, concept-based approach to learning, and the opportunity to learn under a 5th-degree Black Belt with legitimate competition and training history.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
In our area specifically, Covid cleared a large number of our population out due to jobs being lost. There's also the “new kid on the block” sentiment that holds a few people back back from coming through the door. We're just focusing on what we can control and ensuring everyone is aware of our open door - no politics policy. Time will show that, first and foremost, we are here for the long haul to benefit the community through Jiu-Jitsu, and not here to purely run a money-making entity.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
We are a tourist destination (or at least we were prior to Covid) so specifically in our area it will be a challenge until the world gets back to normal, but it also benefits us in that it gives us time to build a solid foundation on which the club can grow. Queenstown has an international airport with flights coming in from Australia, which is only a 2.5 - 3 hr flight depending on the tail wind, so we plan to eventually host camps with guest instructors (many of whom we met while traveling and kept in touch with) As a small town we are at the bottom of the world and so far away from the Jiu-Jitsu scene, so there will always be a sense of "big fish, little pond" going on here unless practitioners take it upon themselves to explore what the big pond has to offer. We will be sending our scholarship athletes overseas to get a taste of overseas tournaments and training as well.

What’s the best thing about your gym?

Its hard to pick just one but, in Maori we have a saying that goes: "He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata". It is the people, the people, the people.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?

There is so much to see and do if you love the outdoors, from Fiordland, boating on the lake, or one of the many hikes, plus 3 ski fields in winter. We are also the best producing Pinot Noir region.

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Thanks for sharing! If you'd like to visit Te Manawa Jiu-Jitsu, you can find them here.

Make your custom gis, patches and rashguards at our dedicated BJJ Globetrotters factory

It can be a mess to try and find a manufacturer of BJJ gear that you can trust on quality, delivery and attention to detail.

You can burn a lot of money going through samples from the many thousands of factories in Asia, trying to find one that will provide you with the product as you’ve imagined it. We know, because we’ve been through it all, ourselves!

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Subject: [May newsletter] Featured Globetrotter // Te Manawa Jiu-Jitsu