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BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // January 2017
Dear Globetrotters,

Sorry for the delay in sending out this newsletter. This month have been hectic to say the least. Winter Camp in Austria was as always the most intense camp of the year but I really enjoyed it and I'm already wrapping up the details for next year's camp there. I did a podcast interview with Mat-tricks during the trip, so if you want to hear a bit more about it, check this link.

We've started a new year and I'm really excited to see what 2017 brings for BJJ Globetrotters. Last year was crazy, to say the least, and I'm grateful to know so many of you both on and off the mats. As I'm getting slowly settled in my new life here in Saint Barth, I'm finding more time to put into BJJ Globetrotters again and I have plenty of good ideas for the upcoming year.

Hope you'll enjoy the newsletter!

Have a fantastic day,

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

  • BJJ Globetrotters Awards 2016
  • Around the world with Anthony
  • Video and photos from the Winter Camp last week
  • Globetrotters Academy in focus: Doran Gym in Tehran, Iran
  • Free travel offers from Matsurfing.org
3x new female black belt instructors just confirmed for the Caribbean Island Camp in May!
BJJ Globetrotters Awards 2016
We decided to start a tradition of giving out annual BJJ Globetrotters awards to those in our community that did something extraordinary during the year. We haven't really decided exactly how it should work, but the most obvious award to give is to those we think have been on the most amazing Jiu Jitsu trip. So let's jump right into it! 
BJJ Globetrotter(s) of the year:
Jonathan & Daphne Cuniowski
When we looked through this, we realised just how many people have been doing some really impressive trips for Jiu Jitsu recently. It's fantastic to see the BJJ travel culture really taking off and we're proud to provide a community that can help people with making these things happen.

It was a hard decision, but ultimate we decided that Jonathan and Daphne should get the award. They've been traveling together as a couple since April last year and have visited a really impressive list of cities and academies around the world so far:
  • Oahu, Hawaii (trained at o2 Martial Arts, Team Carvalho, Gracie Technics and with Brian wong)
  • Hilo, Hawaii (trained at Roma BJJ)
  • Maui, Hawaii (trained at Maui Martial Arts)
  • San Francisco, USA (trained at Team Santos and Warrior BJJ)
  • Sacramento, USA (trained at South Sacramento BJJ academy)
  • Seattle, USA (trained at praxis BJJ and Mat Chess MMA)
  • Los Angeles, USA (trained at tsunami BJJ and Jiu Jitsu league)
  • Copenhagen, Denmark (trained at CSA and Arte Suave)
  • Malmo, Sweden (trained at Art of Roll)
  • Leuven, Belgium (Globetrotters Summer Camp)
  • Eidsvoll (just ouside Oslo), Norway (trained at Rambukk)
  • Stavanger, Norway (didn't train unfortunately... busy doing the amazing hikes!)
  • Bergen, Norway (trained at Bergen Grappling)
  • London, England (trained at wave BJJ and Carlson Gracie London)
  • Regensburg, Germany (trained at Fight Fusion)
  • Friedrichshafen, Germany (trained at Pankra gym and BJJ Lab in Zurich)
  • Mannheim, Germany (trained at Atos Mannheim)
  • Boppard, Germany (trained at Gym by GM)
  • Dusseldorf, Germany
  • Stockholm, Sweden (trained at Hilti Stockholm)
  • New York, USA 
  • New Haven, CT, USA (trained at Soulcraft)
  • Boston, USA
  • Portland, ME, USA (trained at Nostos MMA and Port City BJJ)
  • Montreal, Canada (trained at BTT West Island)
  • Toronto, Canada (trained at Greenwood BJJ)
  • Niagara, Canada (trained at Evolve MMA)
  • London, Canada (trained at Munda Jiu Jitsu, Rail City Combat Academy and Brasa)
  • Belfast, Northern Ireland (trained at SBG Belfast)
  • Dublin, Ireland (trained at Arena Fight Fitness)
  • London, England (trained at Wave BJJ)
  • Sydney, Australia (trained at our home gym Sinosic Perosh Martial Arts, and our friends' clubs Movement Martial Arts, SBG Australia and Sydney West Martial Arts)
  • Bath and Frome, England
  • Vienna, Austria (trained at Roger Gracie Vienna) 
  • Wagrain, Austria (BJJ Globetrotters Winter Camp)
We would do mentions of other travelers too, but there are too many and we're afraid we might have missed some :-) 

A huge congratulations to Jonathan and Daphne who wins new gis for their trip and tickets for any camp in 2017!

***

Other awards...

HONORARY TRAVEL AWARD
Ruadhán Mac Fadden

SNAPCHATTER(S) OF THE YEAR
Sean Hoyt, Nishan Khednah and Fezzy Azadi

BEST DRESSED ASSISTANT OF THE YEAR
Roger Huerta

CAMP DANCER OF THE YEAR
Bruno Matias

SECRET CAMPER OF THE YEAR
Don Gozinya

10 CAMP PIZZA ACHIEVER
Oliver Geddes
Super light ripstop jacket and pants
Improved cut with better fit
New structural reinforcements of weak areas
Redesign of all embroideries, woven patches and tape
From just 1.1 kg
Perfect to bring for traveling
Fast drying
Separate large BJJ Globetrotters patch
Comes with free watch and a pair of party sunglasses
Around the world with Anthony Tran...

"What I enjoy most about traveling
is meeting new people and getting lost. Yes, getting lost!
You’d be surprised what you can discover when you just wander around random streets."
Anthony Tran, jiu jitsu traveler

We recently talked to Anthony Tran who is quite the Jiu Jitsu traveler. His last trips took him to Japan and Singapore, but he's also traveled intensely in the US. Read the interview and learn more about the various gyms and destinations and his cool travel plans for 2017...
Age:28


Belt: Blue


Profession: Marketing


How many years in BJJ: 4 years


Other martial arts: Black Belt in Shotokan and Black Belt in Shorin Ryu


Where do you live: Los Angeles, CA


Other fun or curious information you would like to share: In addition to training BJJ, I also train and teach Shorin Ryu Karate to teens and adults. I also plan on opening a martial arts academy in the future after earning my Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Hi Anthony, it's always a pleasure to have new travelers here!

When asked about what got you started traveling, you mentioned something about Batman! What exactly is the connection between Batman and you traveling?
I’ve always wanted to travel to see the world since I love experiencing and learning about new cultures. After seeing videos online of other martial artists traveling and training (Christian Graugart was one of the first videos I saw), I was inspired to do the same.
But what about Batman???
Well, In addition, ever since I was a kid I was a huge Batman fan. The idea of Bruce Wayne traveling the world to learn and train always intrigued me. I guess you can say I’m living my childhood dream of globetrotting and training like the Dark Knight.

Haha, awesome! So you recently drove the bat mobile back...sorry, took the plane back home. Where have you been?
My most recent travel out of the country included Japan and Singapore. In Japan, I was able to sightsee in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Nara, and Okinawa. I was able to live like a local for a few weeks and I trained at Carpe Diem BJJ. In Singapore, I was able to train at Evolve MMA, home to many famous ONE Championship Fighters.
In the states, I traveled to New York to train at Marcelo Garcia’s Academy while being able to experience the holidays and the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I then took the train to visit New Jersey and Philadelphia where I trained at Hoboken BJJ and Root Athletics, respectively.

I was able to learn new techniques and details to add to my game from each of these locations and made many new friends. The experience at each location was amazing as I got to meet locals, sightsee, and talk shop with other martial artists.

As I understand it, you’re about to embark on a new travel – what are we looking at this time?
I have a couple trips coming up in the New Year for 2017. As always, I’m looking to learn more and to experience the culture of wherever I travel. New Orleans is coming up in February where I’ll be able to train and experience Mardi Gras at the same time.
What are the things you enjoy about traveling...what kind of experiences are you bringing home?
What I enjoy most about traveling is meeting new people and getting lost. Yes, getting lost. You’d be surprised what you can discover when you just wander around random streets.

One of the best experiences I had was training in Japan. The class was taught mainly in Japanese (which I can barely speak). Like everywhere else I’ve been, people here were also very kind and welcoming. Even though there was a language barrier, we were able to communicate through BJJ. The professor taught by showing me the motions of each technique. The students communicated with body language and smiles.

At first, I was nervous about training in a class where I thought communication was going to be an issue but it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had.

This has definitely made me more comfortable on deciding where to travel to next. Language isn’t a barrier unless you make it one. With BJJ, we are all family so I’m excited to travel to many other countries around the world to train.
What surprises me is how friendly people from other BJJ academies are. No matter where I’ve been, schools have welcomed me with open arms and are very kind. Aside from BJJ tips, they also give me tips about the area for best places to eat, see, and more!

Are you a budget traveler – and if so, how do you plan for a cheap trip?
When I travel I try to stay on a budget so that I can go on other trips afterwards. I usually find a cheap place to stay since I’m out most of the day. The only thing I spend money on is mainly food, mat fees, and any fees for major tourist spots such as entrance fees or transportation. For flights, I utilize many frequent flyer and rewards programs which covers many of my trips.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Keep track of where you go and what you did there. After traveling to so many places sometimes you forget what you did there. I keep a blog of my experiences so that I can reflect on them and share with others.
Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone. Like I said, my biggest worry when I first started traveling was language. You’d be surprised how well you can communicate with people even if you don’t speak their language. 

BJJ is everywhere and everyone has their own unique flavor so get out there to meet people, learn, and explore!
Thank you for your time and stories, Anthony, and good luck with your upcoming travels!
Video and photos from the Winter Camp this month
More than 50% of tickets sold for USA Camp 2017
BJJ Globetrotters affiliated Academy in Focus: Doran Gym in Tehran, Iran
Quick facts about the owner of the gym...

Name: Amir Aligholizadeh

Age: 33

Belt: Blue

Profession: Mining Engineer

How many years in BJJ: 5 years

Other martial arts: Nope!

Where do you live: Tehran 

Where are you originally from: Tehran!
Tehran, the capital of Iran, is not a likely travel destination for many people, but as BJJ is spreading across the globe, eventually it has also found its way to the Persians. We thought it would be an obvious destination for the more adventurous BJJ Globetrotters, and so we took a brief talk with Amir from our local Globetrotters related gym in Tehran. And brief definitely was the key word here, as Amir gave his brief and factual answers to our questions

But, hey, so much more for you guys to go and find out for yourselves!!

Hi Amir, thanks for doing the interview. Let's have them numbers - how many people train at your gym?
About 15 - 18

I suspect not many of our readers have been to Iran, could you tell us a bit about it?
It's the safest country in the Middle East, we have great food, good people, a lot of historical places, and so many handicrafts like carpets.


How did this gym come in to existence, and what are the reasons people train jiu jitsu at your gym?
Well, it's a long story, but me and my friend loved jiu jitsu so we started this. 

People here train to be healthy and to be able to defend themselves when it's necessary. But most importantly jiu jitsu helps us keep bad stresses away and relax.



What are some of the challenges running a BJJ gym?
We don't have such things here.

I see, haha, well that makes life easier! So how do you see the future for BJJ in your area then?
Great!

Good to hear - what do you personally find to be the best thing about your gym?
We have a very very friendly environment. The guys love to practice here.
Any final comments to our readers out there?
Well, what we say about our country: You must see Iran :-)

Well, we'll pass on that call to action right here: If you want to take action on those words, you'll find Amir right here
 
 
 
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!

***
Allen, Texas, United States
Host: Mark Carroll
Contact email: mark@allenbjj.com
Can host: 1-2

The host: I am a part owner of the Allen JiuJitsu Club in Allen, TX (suburb of Dallas). We have a small gym, ~40 members, kids and adults. 1800 square foot facility, plenty of open mat time as well as daily classes.

The place: As a suburb of Dallas, we are close to Southfork Ranch, but are really just a typical American Suburb. Nothing spectacular, but glad to be part of your journey.

The training: Kids and Adults classes are every day, Open Mats are Saturday and Sunday also every week. We have the full range of belt colors and sizes from white belts to black belts, and from A0-A6.

The accommodation: Several of our members have spare bedrooms, including myself. I have two young Grey/White belts running around the house that would be more than happy to show off, so no partying in the house, but if you want to eat, sleep and jits a bit, hit me up. Glad to have people who are doing cross country treks stop in for a couple days, just let me know.

Buenos Aires, Argentina
Host: Pámela Bóveda Aguirre
Contact email: pamela.boveda@gmail.com
Can accommodate: 2

The host: Me, Pamela, brownbelt, 27, and Josue, my boyfriend, blue belt 24, we live in palermo very near our academy, Nova uniao Argentina. We will be happy to host bjj travelers!

The place: Around our neightbourhood we have the gym, the academy, lots of parks, Palermo is a very cool neighborhood

The training: morning, afternoon, and evening, all day u have different classes

The accommodation: i have a bed in the living room and extra metros. Hope to meet you guys soon!


Uppsala, Sweden
Host: Emmi Herterich
Contact email: emmi@herterich.se
Can accommodate: I own one big sofa, one small sofa, one mattress, one 180 bed, a lot of floor. You be the judge

The host: Whitebelt and physics student, been training BJJ since January and im in love. try to train 5 times/week (usually at the morning classes from 06.00 to 07.00), rest of my time i study. Depending on when you arrive i might have a lot of things to do in the university, but if i have time I gladly show you around. I just like having people in my apartment.

The place: Uppsala is a wonderful city very close to Stockholm, being swedens 4rd biggest city (okay 180 000 citizens). There is something for everyone here. Its a big student town, Uppsala University is swedens oldest university and very prestigious. North of the town you can find swedens oldest ancient remains from the norse religion. There are of course places to drink beer. I live in a part of Uppsala that was used to hospitalize mentally ill people (dont freak out), so even the surroundings around my house have interesting history. The medical history museeum is right across the street. Uppsala is a great choice because its close to Stockholm but is much less "touristy". Of course there is a nice welcoming BJJ club.

The training: Morning classes 0600 to 0700, advanced and beginners training on mondays and wednesdays. Open mat saturday. There is also thaiboxing and mma. No fees for visitors. website is http://www.hiltifightcenter.se/

The accommodation: 62 m^2 apartment in Ulleråker, one bedroom and one livingroom. A bit outside town unfortunatley but in a nice green area. Might be haunted though, lol. I have 2 birds (doves). they might be noisey at night.
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