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| BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // September 2026 | |
Dear Globetrotters,
I just arrived home last night from our camp in the Austrian Alps. After the 340 people madness of Heidelberg a few weeks before, it was pretty cool to do such a small camp. Our next family-friendly camp there will be in January and include skiing and BJJ lessons for all ages!
Here is the updated ticket status for our upcoming camps: | |
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What you'll find in this month's newsletter: - Photos from Austria Family Camp
- Featured Globetrotter: Roger Karel
- Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Kampot Grappling & Fitness
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| Join our family friendly Jiu Jitsu and skiing camp in January |
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We’re introducing a special, separate Winter Camp with a family-friendly focus. In a hotel exclusively for us, there will be skiing, snowboarding, Jiu-Jitsu, schnitzel, sleigh rides, waterparks, and plenty of activities for children of all ages. If you’ve ever wanted to come to one of our camps, but weren’t sure how to balance it with keeping the kids entertained, this is the one for you!
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| Photos from Austria Family Camp |
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| Next year's Summer Camp already 35% booked |
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We’re back in Germany’s most beautiful city! Train in the same facilities as Olympic athletes, then unwind with a castle raid or enjoy a proper Weißbier in one of the historic squares while watching the world go by.
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| Featured Globetrotter: Roger Karel |
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Age: 50
Belt: Black
Profession: Head coach at Blue Dog Jiu-Jitsu
How many years in BJJ: 9.5
Other martial arts: Started with Kyokushin Karate in '86 and have since tried my hand at Muay Thai, Taekwondo, Kickboxing, Japanese Ju Jutsu, and MMA.
Where do you live: Yeovil in Somerset, southwest England.
Where are you from: Born in Heemskerk, the Netherlands.
Any fun facts you'd like to share: I used to be the frontman of a Grunge band in the 90s when I had hair. |
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What inspired you to travel and train? I originally found the BJJ Globetrotters In Action videos in 2018 and loved the whole concept. Due to parental and financial responsibilities (I have 4 kids!) I didn't get the opportunity to attend my first camp until 2023 and that was Heidelberg summer camp. I now try to attend two camps per year. Tell us about your most recent trip and what's next – where have you been and where are you going?
Most recent was my third trip to Heidelberg where it all began. I have two camps booked currently for 2027, and that's Tallinn and Finland camps and potentially another visit to Heidelberg. I cannot wait! |
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What do you enjoy most about travelling? I love the whole experience, even the airport! As soon as I step foot in the airport, the excitement hits me. What am I talking about—as soon as I start packing, the excitement hits me! The anticipation of meeting up with the friends I've made and the experiences we will have is really addictive, plus I might also learn some Jiu-Jitsu along the way. I'm hooked!
Any particularly memorable experiences that made it all worth it?
Receiving my black belt from Francesco Fonte and Priit Mihkelson at the last Summer Camp in Heidelberg is a pretty big one. It was completely unexpected and I think I was in shock for quite a while. It was made even more special by having my travel buddy James Stagg and a few of the Blue Dog team present. The overall camp experiences and great people is what makes it worthwhile though and keeps me wanting to go again and again.
What has surprised you the most while travelling? Just how easy it is to get around and do things. Everything now has an app. Regardless of where in Europe I am, there's no thinking or worrying required, which is great for me—stress free. |
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| Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip? Yes I am. I haven't gone over budget yet! If its not an all-inclusive camp, I try to travel with a few friends to reduce the cost of an Airbnb. Our first port of call is always the nearest supermarket to find affordable breakfast, lunch, and snacks for the week, so we can save our money for the nights out with the Globetrotters crew. Apps are again really useful to find affordable modes of transport, such as the Bolt electric scooters in Heidelberg (sober only, obviously).
Any advice for your fellow Globetrotters? Don't drink too much on night 0! Bring a good antifungal soap/body wash to keep the nasty things away so you can stay on the mat and keep training on your trip. Pack light, invest in a lightweight travel gi. I also pack a small bottle of antibacterial detergent just in case you have to hand wash any training gear. If you're traveling alone, don't worry, as you'll soon meet some great new friends and most of all just relax and enjoy the experience.
See you all soon. |
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| Our second camp in Finland is 60% booked |
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Welcome to the ultimate, all-inclusive Nordic summer camp experience! Step into a world of lakes, forests, and world-class sports facilities, and come join us for a few unforgettable days of Jiu Jitsu, nature, and Finnish magic under the midnight sun!
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| BJJ Globetrotters Academy in Focus: Kampot Grappling & Fitness |
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Where is the gym located?
In Kampot, Cambodia at the Olympic Stadium. We meet every Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at 6 pm.
How many people train there?
There is space for 16 people.
Is the gym growing - if so by how many new members each month or year?
Actually there are very few tourists coming to Kampot at the moment. High season is from November to March. My Telegram channel has 44 subscribers, but the majority never showed up.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training? The highest belt that trained here was a purple belt.
When did the gym open?
December 2025.
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Some facts about you:
Name: Stefan Age: 61 Belt: I trained mostly in no-gi, but I should be a blue belt. Profession: Waiting for retirement… Also developing some everlasting double-end punching bags for boxing. Years in BJJ: 8 to 10 over a span of 25 years. Many places where I lived had no BJJ. Other martial arts: Some boxing and kickboxing. Also karate and shoot boxing. Currently living in: Kampot, Cambodia Originally from: Germany |
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Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence Because there are no martial arts gyms here, and I missed rolling. Kampot has actually a history of martial arts gyms who never made it. There are tons of yoga studios, and I keep saying grappling is like yoga but with a partner.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they? Some locals and tourists. Most expats who live here are older, so it's hard to get them into grappling.
Why do they train? I guess they want to learn self defense, even though Kampot is a very peaceful place.
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What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically? There is very little interest in martial arts in Kampot and also the nightlife is very inexpensive. You can actually have a beer in a bar for 50 cents. Also tourists stay only a few days and then head to the islands. This town is perfect for budget travelers and getting the right visa is easy compared with neighboring countries. One word: Underrated!
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
It will depend on how tourism develops. It dropped dramatically this year. Also, I see Kampot as a good base camp for losing weight or learning martial arts. It is for sure very affordable, with monthly rentals starting from 50 dollars a month! Another positive thing is the climate. It's not as hot as other places in Southeast Asia and the air quality is way better than in the big cities.
What’s the best thing about your gym?It's free and there are no dickheads training here. The focus is on 50% rolls and having fun. To me a good indicator is being able to talk while rolling. If someone wants to go harder and his partner agrees, go for it.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym? Many things, starting from the mountains to nearby beaches and much more.
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Thanks for sharing! If you'd like to visit Kampot Fitness & Grappling, you can contact them here. |
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