Subject: [November newsletter] Photos from Zen and Castle Camps // Featured Globetrotter // Atlantic Jiu-Jitsu

View this email online if it doesn't display correctly
BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // November 2021
Dear Globetrotters,

Last month was that one time of the year where we are brave enough to do two camps back to back. It was exhausting but what an experience it was; especially because it was also two very unique—almost magical—locations. First 100 people in a Japanese village  in the middle of the forest in Poland then directly on to the beautiful countryside of Umbria in Italy for our classic Castle Camp with just 25 participants. Needless to say I had a fantastic time and equally needless to say, I needed a few days of sleep when I returned home!

Next stop is Arizona where I'm heading next week. It's the first time we attempt a full week training camp in the US and it seems like people are up for it since we're completely sold out at 170 participants.

Apart from the recent documentary we released, I have also been spending this year working on another big project. Ten years ago, I wrote a book about an around-the-world trip that would eventually lead to the creation of BJJ Globetrotters. It took me a lot of courage to open it again and read it out loud, but after ten months of work I managed to finish it in audiobook format. You can listen to it on www.bjjglobetrotteraudiobook.com. Use coupon code "LAUNCH" for 20% off if you'd like to buy it.

Have a fantastic day,

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

  • Photos from Zen Camp in Poland
  • Photos from Castle Camp in Italy
  • Featured Globetrotter: Vara Poorisrisak
  • Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Atlantic Jiu-Jitsu
Watch now: The BJJ Globetrotters documentary
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.
Use coupon "LAUNCH" for 20% off on "The BJJ Globetrotter" audiobook
10th anniversary special edition!
Join us for our return to beautiful Tallinn in the spring!
* From April 25th to 30th, 2022 *
* In Tallinn, Estonia *
* Less than 20 minutes from Tallinn airport *
* Huge mat space in a beautiful medieval town *
* Six-day training camp *
* Gi and no-gi classes all day long *
* High-level international instructors *
* Yoga every morning *
* All experience levels and affiliations welcome! *
Photos from Zen Camp in Poland last month
More than 25% of tickets already booked
* From June 13th to 18th, 2022 *
* In Reykjavík, Iceland *
* Six-day training camp in the largest grappling and MMA gym in the world *
* Classes all day long *
* Full use of all sauna, hot tub and weight-lifting facilities *
* 45 minutes from Keflavik international airport *
* Vikings vs. Intruders Icelandic wrestling competition *
* Optional half day Golden Circle sightseeing trip *
* Camp party in Viking bar *
* Everyone welcome, regardless of experience or affiliation *
Photos from Castle Camp in Italy last month
Our mega summer camp in Heidelberg is back!
* From July 25th to 30th, 2022 *
* In Heidelberg, Germany *
* Our biggest camp of the year *
* One hour from Frankfurt am Main airport *
* Huge mat space in a beautiful old university town *
* Six-day training camp *
* 15+ black belt instructors *
* 30+ gi and nogi classes *
* 20+ hours of open mats *
* 10+ hours of workshops and lectures *
* High-level international instructors *
* Yoga sessions every morning *
* On-site accommodation available *
* Free professional portrait service/photo booth *
* Free beer at final open mat *
* All experience levels and affiliations welcome! *
Featured Globetrotter: Vara Poorisrisak
Belt: Brown

Profession: I work for BJJ Globetrotters as Ask Vara!

How many years in BJJ: 8

Other martial arts: Karate

Where do you live: Right now I am in Thailand

Where are you from: Denmark

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I have been on two different national teams in two different sports.
Tell us what inspired you to travel and train? 
Originally it was my old BJJ coach, Christian, who encouraged us to go train with other people, as you will not only gain experience by training with other people whose game you are not used to, but your training partners back home would also benefit from it if you come back better than before.

Now I am more interested in finding unusual travel destinations that not many people go to. Right now I have two really cool places I want to go to on my travel list!

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
I went to an island called Koh Yao Yai for a 3-day New Years trip to get away from Bangkok, and I wanted to spend New Year's Eve all alone in my hotel room ordering their lobster soup and watching a movie. After the three days, I decided to just stay in Phuket because I know that the air pollution is really bad in Bangkok from January until around April. Then Bangkok had a really long lockdown with everything shutting down, including the gyms, so I had no rush going back really.

I originally came here for New Years for three days with a small backpack and three sets of clothes, but I am still here haha. I did have to order a gi and belt online so I can train. So I just see it as I am still on a long holiday / travelling. 
What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
Seeing my friends! Whenever I've been travelling for BJJ camps or I go to competitions alone, I always run into people I've met through the BJJ community. Some of the friends I always enjoy seeing are my BeHousing family (a reference to the place we always booked for the BJJ Globetrotters Summer Camps in Belgium). I've known these guys since the first camps we did in Copenhagen, so I've known them for many years now. I haven't seen them for a while but hopefully we can have a reunion next year! Let's make it happen guys!

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training? 
I had a very rewarding experience the last time I travelled to Sangkhlaburi to visit a project that the Danish ladies in Bangkok support. The project helps out kids along the border with Myanmar. I asked my teammate and One Championship fighter Detchadin Sornsirisuphathin from Bangkok Fight Lab to come and teach the kids some Muay Thai.

The kids tried Muay Thai for the first time and they all amazed us with their athleticism and power. They all had so much fun and also picked up the techniques impressively fast. We had three training sessions in three days, and on the last day Detch made a small competition for the kids. The competition for the bigger kids was to kick as many times as possible in 30 sec and the winner kicked 50 times in 30 sec - pretty good for a first-timer! Detch also donated some pads, shin guards, and gloves to the children so they can continue training.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
I went to this beautiful country called Bhutan. Not many people know about Bhutan, but it's a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, known for its monasteries, fortresses (or dzongs) and dramatic landscapes that range from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys.

The people there and the country is the most awesome place - along with Japan - that I've been to so far. I loved everything about Bhutan and I even got to do my first judo class and had the pleasure to teach some BJJ techniques there. They don’t have any BJJ gyms in Bhutan, but they do have judo :)
Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip? 
I think I'm in between. I'm not a super budget traveller and I am not a high-end traveller either. I try to find cheaper but still nice accommodation, as I prefer to spend money on experiences while I am travelling but I still like a nice place where I can relax after a long day going sightseeing, trying food etc.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be? 
Please be open-minded and learn from other cultures while travelling. Please don’t be judgemental or think you are entitled just because you do it differently in your own country which you think is much better. Maybe you can appreciate something they do differently or in a better way that you can reflect over and maybe incorporate in your daily life.

Sometimes a simpler way is a happier way!
A full week of surfing, sun, beaches, sailing, hiking and Jiu Jitsu!
*January 31 to February 5, 2022 in Saint Barthélemy *
* 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 *
BJJ Globetrotters Academy in Focus: 
Atlantic Jiu-Jitsu
Where is the gym located?
Akureyri, North Iceland. A small town with a population of 18,000 people.

How many people train there?
About 50 people, both adults and teenagers. We have adult classes and special kids classes for 10-15 years old.

Is the gym growing - if so by how many new members each month or year?
Growing steadily, about 5 people each month.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
White belt to black belt.

When did the gym open?
Prime COVID time! 20th May 2020.
Some facts about you:

Name: Thomas Palsson
Age: 35
Belt: Black belt
Profession: Certified personal trainer - level 4 from European Personal Training Institute (EPTI), working as a full-time personal trainer and BJJ instructor
Years in BJJ: 7 years
Other martial arts: No
Currently living in: Akureyri, Iceland
Originally from: Born in Akureyri but raised in Switzerland from 3 -16 years old
Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence
Well, my original gym closed, and because of that there was no BJJ academy in Akureyri. I decided to take the step and open my own gym so all of us could keep training. Me and my girlfriend, who also trains BJJ, rented a space inside a fitness gym, ordered some Fuji mats and it was game on! Atlantic Jiu Jitsu became a reality and since then I have been in a full-time job as a personal trainer and BJJ instructor.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
There is an amazing group of people that train in our gym - all kinds of people, gender and age, with BJJ experience and beginners. It’s a great atmosphere in the gym thanks to all of them! It’s a big BJJ family vibe and we welcome everybody! Feel free to visit us any time.

Why do they train?
I think most of us train BJJ because there are so many positive benefits in the sport. It has physical, mental, and social effects for every human being! Gives you strength, confidence, and really good friends!

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
I think generally there are always some challenges to run a business. You have a special product and you need to sell it to people. For a BJJ gym, and in my case the main challenge, is probably to introduce BJJ to as many people as you can and have them show up in your gym. As soon as they have courage to try out BJJ, many of them stay and start to train regularly.
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
I think the future is bright regarding Brazilian Jiu Jitsu here in Akureyri. Our academy is still “new” and it’s the only BJJ academy in the area. The majority of the people in our town are still getting to know us, so we have a lot of potential to grow a large BJJ community in Akureyri.

What’s the best thing about your gym?
The people!!! Without them we wouldn’t be able to train.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
There are so many beautiful places to see when you visit the north of Iceland. I would definitely recommend to book a spa day in a beer spa (Bjórböðin) 15 minutes from Akureyri. There you can bathe yourself in a hot-tub full of warm beer while drinking a cold one! I also would recommend to see Lake Mývatn and go to their nature baths - it’s amazing. If you travel here in the winter time, it’s also fun to book a snowmobile tour in the mountains and go skiing.

----

Thanks for sharing! If you'd like to visit Atlantic 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!
You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.

Powered by:
GetResponse

    This is an online snapshot of a newsletter created by the owner of BJJ Globetrotters (BJJ Globetrotters, Quartier du Roy, 97133 Anse des Cayes, Saint Barthélemy) and sent via GetResponse on 2021-11-04. Report abuse