I just returned to Denmark from our Caribbean Island camp in Saint Barthelemy. It's cold and rainy outside and it's a little hard to accept that I can't wear flip flops and shorts when I go out. It was my third year on the island but the first time we attempted an actual camp there and what an experience it turned out to be. A full week of amazing training, surfing, sunshine and party in one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. We are most definitely going back next year and I'm already working on announcing the dates.

Next stop, Winter Camp in Austria in a month!

Last month we featured a story about Victor and Dan who bought a boat to sail around the seven oceans and train BJJ. They set sail a month ago and have visited quit a few places so far. They are currently in Sweden and planning to raid Denmark on the 10th of December and Germany on the 16th. Keep up with their journey at http://www.bjjglobetrotters.com/boat/ and get in contact with them if you're interested in participating.

They are "hiring" crew and are always on the look out for gyms to train at along the way. Below are a few pictures from their Instragram page.

When did you first get the idea to start your own gym? Why did you pick your current location?
I always knew since starting out Jiu Jitsu that I would like to somehow make it my job. Being on the mats is the most fun I can imagine. So when I was traveling around I always had my eye open for someplace where I could open a gym someday. I had some things in mind that the place would need like, warm weather, a safe and friendly environment, good food, nice beaches, and pretty girls. I found them all when I got here and just had to figure out a way to make it work for me. Eventually, I met some awesome people along the way that helped so much in making my dream a reality.

What's the training like? Do you have specific philosophies regarding drilling or sparring?
The training will follow a certain position, technique, or concept for the week. I like to focus a lot on the details and principles of why something works rather than just how to do something. We do very little drilling against a compliant opponent unless the thing that I am teaching is completely new. I prefer to have the techniques performed against varying degrees of resistance. While sparring, we usually get in five sets of five minutes rounds per class, except for the essentials class that is geared more toward beginners. I think the guys train pretty hard here, however it’s a really safe and friendly environment. Everyone knows each other persons’ name. They shake hands when they come on the mat and we laugh and joke together a lot. I can honestly say that most of my best friends in the world train at my gyms.

and Sat/Sun 4pm-6pm. 

These classes are a mixture of gi/no gi/leg lock/wrestling/MMA classes. We do however train slightly more no gi at the gym, but there are plenty of gi classes too.

What are some interesting things to see in your area?
There's a lot of stuff to see around the area such as: temples, mountains, waterfalls, beaches, lakes, and parks.

Is anyone welcome to train with you?
Anyone who comes will be made to feel super welcome. We have had a lot of Globetrotters coming by our gym already from blackbelts to whitebelts, and they have all have had a fantastic time!

Anything you would like to add?
I am happy to give back to the BJJ Globetrotter community. I am lucky enough to count Christian Graugart amongst my best friends. Meeting him changed my outlook on what was possible with Jiu Jitsu and probably helped my life become what it has. So if I can influence anyone in any positive way like that, then I will feel like I've paid back that favor in some way.

I have been close to the ocean all of my life. Living in Puerto Escondido surfing is definitely the best thing to take up. I do find a lot of similarities with BJJ. When you are surfing every wave is different, since you don't have a track or a fixed path you really have to be always expecting the unexpected as the wave show's it self. Similar with rolling. While training you have to be expecting everything and it's always changing, so you have to keep adjusting to what the roll is at the moment.

The Caribbean Camp exceeded my expectation on all levels. The training was second to none, Experience of travel was awesome and most important is the friendships that you make. Really awesome people that hopefully I get to see and roll with some time soon. Im super glad I made the decision to write to Christian when I first started BJJ and had no training partners and only one empty mat.

I started BJJ in 2008 after being introduced to it by some mates at work and after my first grunting/sweaty roll I was hooked. I had been doing stand up stuff for a few years but needed something else as my knees didn't like all the kicking anymore and BJJ was and still is the answer.

Haven't done any matsurfing of my own but hopefully one day! I have rolled at Tri-star in Montreal which was a huge gym but not much else and on the Big Island of Hawaii, as well as at a couple of wonderful gyms in Kona which where very friendly and very hard!

I am counting down to my first ever BJJ Globetrotter camp in El Salvador, so looking forward to the heat,food and of course rolling with people from all over the world!

Love BJJ Globetrotters. !!! OSS. Mark.

At least once a week I try to join bjj class in Drammen Frontline: www.bjj.no. Occasionally I train also at Kongsberg Judo club: www.bkjudo.no/

Anything you wanna add? We live quite outside the town and the public transport is not so good. It would be most convenient if you have a car, although I can pick you up from the center if needed.