| | BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // September 2015 | | Dear Globetrotters,
It took me a while to get back from the real work and onto in the frequency of The Matrix (the computer simulated reality that we live in outside of the training camps). With two camps pretty much back to back, August was an overwhelming month for me, physically, mentally, socially and emotionally.
I always feel such a low when I'm home from these things. When I sit alone in front of my computer or TV, it's quiet and I realize I am not surrounded by a hundred or more of new friends to hang out with. The camps have become a complete drug for me and the depression when I can't get it is real.
Every camp I set up, I try to always have one "unknown" factor that makes me nervous. Do something I haven't done before that pushes the limits a bit. It's my way of making sure that I never just lean back and get lazy with my work. That I'm always sharp and constantly aiming to make the events as good and smooth as possible for the participants.
At the Summer Camp in Belgium, we invited more than 220 people, which is by far the most we've ever had at one camp. In the United States, it was the first time we ever did a camp there and we chose to do it in the middle of nowhere, far out in the New Hampshire nature. To say I was nervous about both of them is an understatement, but I'm very pleased to be able to look back at them now and conclude that we nailed it. I couldn't be more contempt with the way things went and I'm so full of love, happiness, friendships and great memories from these two trips that it will keep me smiling for years and years to come.
Now I have three months of heavy research work for next year's camps. I have some good ideas that I'm following up on and I can't wait to see where this will take us all. Hope to see you at one of them :-)
For any stories of people traveling to interesting places to train BJJ, send a mail to newsletter@bjjglobetrotters.com and we'll include it in the next newsletter!
Have a fantastic day, | | | | |
What you'll find in this month's newsletter:
- Congrats to everyone promoted at the camps this month!
- First USA Globetrotters Camp in the books! MJ de Vega tells us all about the experience
- Promotion in Belgium: Ingþór is now a black belt!
- "Post-Camp Blues": Maddi talks about the Summer Camp in Belgium
- Free travel offers from Matsurfing.org
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| | | Congratulations to everyone promoted at the camps this month! |
| | YELLOW Max Angelbeck, Germany
Bev Coker, UK Nikolaj Setz, Germany Benjamin Precht, Germany Patrick Foley, Canada Richard Martin, UK Andrew Ritchie, UK
Barbara Victoria, Norway
BROWN Eric Bydairk, United States
BLACK Ingthor Valdimarsson, Iceland Eivind Windsrygg, Norway |
| | | First USA Globetrotters Camp in the books! MJ de Vega tells us all about the experience |
| | When Christian told me that he was planning to do the first USA BJJ Globetrotters camp in New Hampshire, I thought “what the heck is in New Hampshire?! Moose?!”
I had been to some of the previous camps in Denmark and had met up with the Globetrotters in Lisbon for the Europeans, therefore I knew what to expect. It’s Europe after all. However, I didn’t really know what to expect from doing the camp in New Hampshire, away from the conveniences of civilization, away from the usual partying that we do after the camps which is easily made available by the abundance of nightlife in most European cities. Also, although the philosophy of the BJJ Globetrotters has begun to spread in the US, it’s still a concept relatively in its infancy for the American crowd so I was a bit nervous.
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| | When we arrived at Camp Winaukee, New Hampshire which is right on the edge of the beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee, I knew this camp was going to be unique. Our cabins were right on the beach and waking up to a gorgeous view of the sun setting on the lake was priceless. We were so far away from everything that it just didn’t make much sense to leave the camp. The nearest store was about a 30 minute drive. Consequently, we all ran into each other so frequently and got the chance to really get to know each other better. The WiFi was so poor that no one walked around with their phones to constantly check their newsfeeds and were actually socializing. Alcohol was not allowed due to the presence of other young campers, therefore we all depended on each other for entertainment rather than the usual beer and vodka.
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| | | Factoring out all the usual luxuries of our normal lives, we were able to enjoy things like kayaking, wake boarding, swimming to a beautiful view of the sun setting on the lake, and even hitching a ride on our one and only golf cart seemed like so much fun. The nightly bonfires, smores, and impromptu mini guitar concert from one talented camper were some of the highlights of each day. This was indeed the perfect place to do this camp. It was a very organic experience that came from the simplest things. |
| | Christian had asked me to assist him in running the camp and I couldn’t be in a much better position because I got to meet every single person who attended the camp since they had to check in with me. With every single person arriving at the camp, I could sense they were initially reserved, shy, nervous, unsure of what to expect, or maybe a combination of all of those. As the camp progressed, everyone began to open up and it was amazing to see how 100+ people are now suddenly becoming new friends, potential best friends and new training partners. By the end of the camp, all I could hear from everyone is how amazing the experience has been, how much knowledge they have gained from the non stop, high caliber training from every instructor, and how sad they are that the camp has now concluded!
- MJ de Vega |
| | | | | | | | | Next up: Caribbean Island Camp! |
| It has been a crazy summer with three big camps, but we're only taking a short break before we're at it again. Next camp is on the beautiful island of St. Barthelemy in the Caribbean, first week of December. Check out the video from our trip there last year: |
| | | “St. Barth’s is a vacationer’s dream anyway, but when you add one of Christian’s Jiu Jitsu camps into the mix it becomes the ultimate destination for any grappler. The island is probably best known via tabloid pictures of movie stars relaxing on its beaches, and it’s usually considered financially inaccessible for ‘normal folk,’ but as we all know, Jiu Jitsu tends to break down those barriers, and the local group of practitioners welcomed us with open arms and gave us the insider’s view of this very unique corner of the Caribbean.
Having seen St. Barth’s like this, I wouldn’t want to do it any other way. In addition to some great grappling on the mats (usually in the evening – when the air gets cooler), we hiked to hidden beaches, listened to a private concert underneath a fluorescently illuminated cliff-side, drove to local hangouts in a vintage Land Rover Defender, and literally sailed into the sunset on a catamaran. Even the night life there is unique – one venue we checked out was a permanent costume party, complete with a changing room in the back stocked with every outfit you could imagine. Definitely the best place to get your pirate on.
Of course, the main point of a Jiu Jitsu camp is the Jiu Jitsu, and I definitely wasn’t let down there. The local club is full of talent but also extremely welcoming to visitors because of their remote location. We rolled no-gi in informal open mat sessions in the morning, took the afternoon off to relax, and then reconvened in the evening for class from one or more of the several black belts we had at the camp. Christian ran the show most nights, focusing on the leg drag (entries, positions, finishes – you name it), ensuring we’d leave the camp with either a new, sharply honed tool in our grappling toolbox, or significant improvements to what he had before. I’ve done a few of these camps now, and I am always impressed with Christian’s instruction; he is a gifted teacher, and almost every single technique I’ve learned from him has become a major part of my grappling game.
When I first started training Jiu Jitsu I never imagined it would take me to places like this, but now, having done it, I can’t imagine my Jiu Jitsu life without the annual BJJ Globetrotters camp. They are the coolest experience in the sport, full of good vibes, great training partners, and unforgettable memories. Many of the people I’ve met at these camps have become what I am sure will be lifelong friends, and they’ve opened up all sorts of other informal Jiu Jitsu travel outside of the camps as well. If you haven’t checked out a Globetrotters camp yet, you should definitely get on it.”
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| | | | | Promotion in Belgium: Ingþór is now a black belt! |
| | Ingþór Örn Valdimarson is a familiar face to those who have attended the Globetrotter camps. Hailing from Iceland, Ingþór is a black belt in Judo, and now also a black belt in Jiu Jitsu! He is only the fifth Icelandic person to achieve this rank, as the sport is relatively new there. We talked to Ingþór about the camp in Belgium and competing at the highest level while still being in your prime. |
| | | Ingþór next to a statue of Jean Claude Van Damme |
| Hey Ingþór, thanks for talking to us and congrats on your black belt! You were at the summer camp in Leuven - what was that experience like?
It couldn’t have been better in any way! Leuven was spectacular, such a beautiful old town and the Summer Camp
You've been a coach at a few Globetrotter camps - how many have you done and do you have a favorite one so far?
I’ve done two so far; The Fallcamp with Keenan, and this Summercamp. Its really a split between them two. Experiencing teaching to so many people for the first time, and the vibe at the Globetrotters Camps, you really can’t explain it, you have to be there and feel it. It really showed be that Jiu Jitsu could be what it should be all about. Rolling with Keenan was pretty dope as well.
Then, in Leuven, with the total of 200+ people from all over the world, coming together in this amazing town, just to do pyjama fighting, was surreal!
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| | What's your favorite place that you have visited for BJJ?
I would have to say Leuven. The people who attended the camp were awesome, all the instructors cool as shit, the rolls, all the training sessions, the party, getting my black belt, just everything about that trip made up for a great memory. Just wish that more people from my club could have been there to share this awesome experience with me.
You got promoted to black belt at the Summer Camp. When you first started training, did you ever think you'd be a black belt one day?
At first, no. The scene here in Iceland 10 years ago was actually just couple of guys rolling in a boxing ring, learning from VHS tapes. Then it just kinda exploded, but when it did, I had moved across the country and had to start all over from scratches by myself.
But being the kind of guy that I am and with all the great people around me, we were able to build up a solid BJJ scene here in my 20.000 people town, and after I got my brown belt, it became a “real” possibility to be a black belt, with the connections I had made and how much BJJ had grown in Scandinavia.
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| | Many people talk about competing at black belt as almost starting over as a white belt. Do you look forward to competing at the highest level?
It has always been about being able to compete at the highest level when Im physically in my prime. Some people want to stay as long as possible at their belts, try to win as many titles or medals as possible, but Im not interested in minor league titles. The Black belt division is where its at!
What advice would you give those who have dreams of one day reaching the black belt level?
From white to black belt I never had a BJJ coach.
I took on the role of an teacher as a white belt so skillwise it can be done, through a lot of: a) trial and errors b) self-criticism c) competing and rolling.
It really depends on if you want to get there fast and enjoy your early years as a black belt, then the above recipe did it for me.
But if you just want to “get there” eventually, then just stick with it and have fun. It’s super important to have fun, nothing is worth doing unless its fun.
What are your plans for the near future?
Start competing as a black belt and putting the hurt on! And I also got plans to close the cycle and return to MMA soon. Most people don’t know this, but Christian (Graugart) is the “one” that got me seriously into BJJ, I competed in his first show; Adrenaline 1, and after that I took up BJJ and Judo 100% after that.
But as always, I take my coaching serious and my plan is to keep on creating beasts!
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| | Is there anything you would like to add?
My club Fenrir MMA in Akureyri welcomes everybody regardless of affiliation. You can find information about us on our website www.fenrirmma.is. We are listed on www.matsurfing.org, Now I wanna give a shoutout to my beautiful wife who has made all this possible and stood by my side, believing in my pyjama fighting skills, and to my partner in crime Jóhann who has been there with my from the beginning and is like a brother to me.
Also a big thanks go out to my boys; Robson (Barbosa) and Bruno (Matias), looking forward to everything to come, and last but not least Christian (Graugart), my favorite Dane and one of the cooler dudes around, thanks Chris for bringing me in on the Camps.
(p.s. a mini shotout to Rudy Silva at Victory MMA, he knows why)
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| | | | | | | "Post-Camp Blues": Maddi talks about the awesome camp in Belgium |
| | | It is a beautiful morning in Belgium, I’m looking out at all the old buildings over the balcony, my bag is packed and i’m ready to move on to Paris. I know I should be excited but I can’t shake this feeling that nothing will come close to the amazing week I’ve just experienced with old friends and new friends that I’ve made at the Globetrotters Summer Camp. The official term for this melancholy feeling is “Post Camp Blues” and if you’ve never been to one of the camps then it is impossible to understand what it is like but be warned that it’s felt by even the biggest, toughest guys on the mat and there is no escaping it. |
| | | Our week started on a sleepy Sunday in Leuven, most of the locals were inside as the shops are closed and 250 Globetrotters were making their way down the cobbled streets to hotels and hostels, everywhere you turned there was a cauliflower ear, a jiu jitsu t-shirt or a familiar face and you could sense the excitement for the madness that was about to unfold. Leuven was the perfect location for this camp, it’s a beautiful, quiet student town with well preserved historic charm, stunning architecture and over 3000 different beers to enjoy after training. The Sportoase sports centre was an easy bike ride from the town centre and following the Globetrotters signs lead you down to an industrial style basement with 450 square metres of high quality tatami mat space - which came to be affectionately known as “the sauna bunker”. When I arrived I jumped down the stairs to go and hug a friend I’d met at the last camp and instantly regretted my decision, as soon as I reached my arms out I found myself flying through the air, staring up at the ceiling of the sauna bunker and ended up in a scramble on the mat. |
| | | The social atmosphere at the camps is unbeatable, it’s the same relaxed, familiar feeling you’ll experience at your own gym but with hundreds of new people to roll with. Graugart kicked off the week with his usual ‘speed dating’ intro which involves running around the mat, speaking to someone new for a minute until the whistle blows and then grabbing someone else, all while desperately trying to remember everyone’s name. What I do remember from speed dating was the variety of the camp participants, people of all ages from all over the world, some coming from as far as Australia to experience the BJJ Globetrotters magic. With so many different shapes, sizes and levels on the mat there was always a good training partner in arm’s reach. We were lucky to have 16 instructors on the mat, several BJJ black belts, a UFC fighter, a national Judo champion, the world’s best wrestling coach* and a Luta Livre black belt. Having instructors from different styles gave the training exciting new dimensions and there was always someone to ask if you needed advice on your technique or had questions after the classes |
| | | Looking at the timetable was quite overwhelming, 34 individual classes with names ranging from ‘G-Spot guard passing’ to ‘Big pressure torture passing’ and 6 open mats, there are some super humans on the mat who challenge themselves to go to every class but choosing your own timetable from the classes on offer is the norm. After training we would use the Sportoase centre’s swimming pool and water slides (which are still fun) or discuss BJJ techniques in the sauna, it was the perfect way to unwind after a long day on the mat. Then as the sun started setting we would venture into Leuven in search of the best Belgian beers and waffles. Although everyone stayed in different accommodation we always managed to meet up with each other in town and figure out where everyone was going each night by checking the camp Facebook group. I’ve been to three Globetrotters camps on my own now and I have never felt isolated, everyone on the mat is so welcoming and friendly that it is almost impossible to feel alone so if you’re worried about travelling solo, please don’t let it hold you back from coming to one of the camps |
| | | We ended this intense week of training and socialising with a World Record attempt for the biggest open mat in history, 157 people on the mat at once, exhausted but still smiling. Anyone who didn’t attend can be forgiven for saving their energy for Graugart’s epic End of Camp Party where we took over an entire bar, celebrated another incredible week together and said very emotional goodbyes. Thank you to the Globetrotters team for pulling it off again, these camps take so much planning and coordination, the end product always feels effortless but there is a lot of work going behind the scenes. Thank you to our 16 awesome instructors who all brought their own unique style to the classes AND to the camp party, a welcome reminder that Black Belts are real people too. And thank you to all the amazing people who attended the camps, I had so much fun with you all and I always feel incredibly lucky to be a part of this community. I’m off to book my place on the next camp in an attempt to shake off my Post Camp Blues..
Hopefully I’ll see you there ;)
- Maddi Astell |
| | | | | | | Only few spots left for the Beach Camp in El Salvador! |
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| | Free travel offers from Matsurfing.org |
| | | Every month in this newsletter, we'll be bringing a few of the interesting travel destinations offered by Matsurfing.org. The rest will be published seperately in the monthly Matsurfing email. If you are interested in opening up your own home and/or academy to BJJ travelers, sign up on www.matsurfing.org!
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| Phnom Penh, Cambodia Host: Alexander Beetz
Contact email: alexander.beetz@gmail.com
Can host: 2
The host:I'm a German Blue Belt, 36 years old, love to roll. Working in Cambodia from 2013 to 2017. The place: Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. Nice place. BJJ/MMA club three minutes from the apartment: www.prokout.com
The accommodation: I have a guest bed room in my appartment in
Phnom Penh with one dubble bed. I'm an easy going guy, like to roll.
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| | Seaford, South Australia, Australia
Host: Phil Gartlan
Contact email: philgartlan@adam.com.au
Can accommodate: 2
The host: I am a 42 year old male blue belt. I play in a punk rock band (checkout http://aloosetrust.bandcamp.com), skate and surf. I like to live cleanly except weekends when I like a few beers/wines/whiskys :)The place: Unfortunately I cannot offer the place I train at for free. Its ISO Health http://isohealth.com.au - I suggest contacting the head coach Mat Jones - maybe he will let you? I am always happy to roll and I have a few mats at my place The training: I have a couple of single beds or comfy camp mattresses in a town house.
The accommodation: I have kids half the time but any time they are not here, you are welcome - just contact me for availability. |
| | Suzhou, China
Host: Robert Wuman
Contact email: rob@risesz.cn
Can accommodate: 1-2
The host: I am an ambitious person with exceptional skills in many different aspects. I have the ability to execute any complex situation and at the same time I show quality to backup my work. I have extreme communication skills especially with children and can get through to them no matter how difficult the situation. i am the childrens BJJ instructor at Trinity Combat Sports in Suzhou.
I train at least 3 times a week no-gi/gi and have been working on BJJ after i stopped wrestling and runnning track.
The place: Suzhou is a major city on the lower Yangtze known for its canals, bridges, pagodas, and beautiful gardens. These gardens were built and owned by wealthy families and emperors hundreds of years ago and make for a pleasant place to wander during nice weather. Suzhou is also a major
center for silk production and manufacturing, and a tour of a silk factory here
provides an interesting and educational glimpse of this Chinese textile industry.
Suzhou is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. A short distance from Nanjing, Shanghai, WUXI, Hangzhou, Changzhou, Xuzhou, Yangzhou.
The training: There are two gyms owned by Trinity Combat Sports in Suzhou one in SIP location and another in SND location. The schedule is as follows: Strength and conditioning everyday 10-12 Monday 6;30-7;30 boxing followed by judo 7:30-9 Wednesday martial fitness training 8-9:30 Tuesday and Thursday 7:30-9:15 GII class followed by open mat Saturday 1-4pm night time kids bjj 6:30-7:30 Sunday- off
The accommodation: 1 bedroom. f the traveler or travelers don't mind sharing a bed then I can host 2. Its in the city center, good condition apartment 2 floors with kitchen 2 bathrooms and a big living room good location for stretching. |
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