Archive for month: August, 2018
Fall Camp 2018: Houdinis magical escapes and counters for sidemount with Alexander Neufang
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Fall Camp 2018: Super Fundamental principles / White Belt Survival Course (for all belts) with Christian Graugart
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Fall Camp 2018: Crucifix – entry, three submission options, escape with Heather Raftery
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Fall Camp 2018: Yoga indoor with Jack Clover
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Fall Camp 2018: “He who dominates the angle dominates the fight” with Daniël Bertina
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Training report: BJJ Lab Zürich (Zürich, Switzerland)
After spending 6 months in Asia, I planned an impromptu trip to Zurich. To be honest, I barely knew anything about Switzerland before my visit. However, I quickly fell in love with the scenic Swiss Alps and its variety of cheese offerings. Over the course of my 3 separate visits, I ended up spending over a month in Switzerland. Whenever I visited the city, I was always welcomed by the BJJ Lab Zürich crew.
Please don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for recent updates: @jwwseo
City
Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland, is a global center for banking and finance institutions despite having a relatively small population. The city lies at the north end of Lake Zurich, and buildings reflect pre-medieval style architecture with modern influence. From Altstadt to Langstrasse, the city offers a variety of day and night activities. Also, incredible Swiss mountains and smaller cities are accessible from Zurich Hauptbahnhof (Main station) in less than an hour. It is definitely a city worth a visit, but note that it is one of the most expensive cities in the world.
Overview
BJJ Lab Zurich was founded in 2013 by JB who is a black belt in Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The gym is under the Caio Terra Association and a member of the BJJ Globetrotters. As the club is a non-profit oriented gym, the academy had an open and laid back vibe. With a big BJJ Globetrotters’ flag on the wall, the academy and instructors dedicate themselves to promoting a healthy and welcoming training environment to everyone and sharing the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu regardless of affiliation.
The academy is affiliated with the 12-time world champion Caio Terra, and the curriculum is focused on the association’s motto “Technique Conquers All”. The classes are focused on fundamentals, and the instructions are extremely detailed-oriented. Prior to every fundamental class, BJJ Lab offers an hour of an open mat to encourage students to drill and improve their technical details.
After continuing to grow as a successful Jiu-Jitsu academy in Zurich, BJJ Lab recently expanded to a new location with additional classes. If you are in Zurich either for business or leisure, I cannot recommend enough for you to visit BJJ Lab Zurich. Thank you to JB, Sevi, Joonas, Andrew, Eddy, and Laura for making my training in Zurich an unforgettable experience!
Location
The academy is located in between the Zurich Oerlikon and Zurich Seebach stations. Although it is not located in the city center, you can reach the gym easily via public transportation in less than 10 minutes from the city center. There are trains from the main station to Oerlikon every 10 minutes. (Google Map: Link)
Schedule
BJJ Lab Zürich’s most recent schedule is posted below:
Visitor Fee
BJJ Lab is one of the BJJ Globetrotters affiliated academies, and there is no charge for visitors. However, it is always courteous to reach out to the gym prior to your visit.
Miscellaneous
BJJ Lab has an English website that you might find helpful.
Tourist Attractions
- Uetliberg- The mountain, located on the north border of the city of Zurich, offers a panoramic view of Lake Zurich and the entire city. As this easy hike is only about an hour, it is a quick way to get away from the city to nature.
- Lake Zurich — Lake Zurich, a popular destination among locals and tourists alike, offers a variety of activities ranging from swimming and picnicking by the lake to sailing and a boat cruise. The lake itself is surrounded by cafes and restaurants that treat their guests to regional specialties while enjoying the beautiful view of the Lake.
- Ebenalp (Seealpsee/Saxer Lücke) —Ebenalp is the northernmost summit of the Appenzell Alps. Hiking trails near Seealpsee and Saxer Lücke are my absolute favorites. These trails are approximately two hours away from Zurich, but it is a must visit if you have time. Make sure you go up and enjoy your beer and lunch at Berggasthaus Aescher.
- Lindenhof — This Hill is a public square in the center of Zurich’s old town. Lindenhof is a popular viewpoint looking over the city of Zurich and the Limmat river.
- Bahnhofstrasse — The famous shopping boulevard stretches about 1.5km from the Zurich Main Station. The street is filled with luxury boutiques and department stores. It is a popular destination for both locals and tourists.
Hyperlinks
– Google Maps
– Website
Source
– Zurich Map
– Bahnhofstrasse
Thanks to everyone from BJJ Lab Zurich!
The first ever wedding at a BJJ Globetrotters camp
The BJJ Globetrotters camps have over the years become a vehicle for turning countless interesting ideas of all sizes into reality. When ever something fun pops up, we will often deploy staff from around the world on a very short notice to help execute the project.
This one was a little different.
When long-time camp participants Alexander and Katya announced their engagement online, I commented on their post (as a joke) that I could become a ordained online and marry them at a camp. Their immediate reply was “sounds awesome, let’s do it” and from there on, the snowball was rolling with no way of stopping it.
A group of wedding planners was quickly formed and we worked very hard for little under two weeks to set up a full scale outdoor wedding at the Fall Camp in Germany last week. I quickly became ordained through a few online churches, we had flowers, bridesmaids, best man w/ epic speech, home made wedding cake, posters, champagne, pizza, DJ (had to do that myself as the real one cancelled), 5-star hotel room and everything else you can imagine for what turned out to be a quite special day in the history of BJJ Globetrotters camps. The wedding party itself was a 4 hour long open mat with more than 200 people on the mats then followed by an all-nighter at the bar with other interesting events from our book of ideas, such as the inauguration of the Globetrotters Classic, an all-natural bodybuilding competition that involves a generous amount of Long Island Ice Teas.
And just like in IBJJF, in order to get their new rank as husband and wife officially recognized, they have to go make friends with someone else to get their forms signed.
A big congratulations to Alex and Katya!
(Thanks to Astrid Nörenberg and Martin Sittko for the wonderful photos)
Fortitude Martial Arts and Fitness (Singapore)
Singapore— After relishing scenic views of islands and volcanoes in Indonesia, my friend and I arrived in Singapore. Among backpackers, Singapore is commonly referred as “two-day stopover country.” Most backpackers stay in Singapore to take a breather from the natural wonders of Southeast Asia and enjoy the westernized city. Since I was visiting Derek who currently resides in Singapore, my exposure to the country was slightly different with local neighborhood and restaurants apart from high-end shopping malls and crowded tourist attractions. There I had an opportunity to train at Fortitude Martial Arts and Fitness.
Please don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for recent updates: @jwwseo
City
Singapore is a sovereign city-state in Southeast Asia. Despite being one of the smallest countries in Asia, Singapore has the 3rd highest GDP per capita, and it is a major center for business and finance in Asia. The unique and affluent city combines the skyscrapers with a medley of Chinese, Malay and Indian culture. In Southeast Asia, Singapore remains not only a transport hub for travelers but also a luxurious tourist destination with copious shopping malls and vibrant night-life scene.
Overview
Fortitude BJJ Academy is led by Vinc Tan who is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Luis Carlos “Manimal”. Despite being a late joiner in the BJJ world, he traveled to Brazil and the United States to find top academies to dedicate himself to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. With his devotion to BJJ, he received his black belt within 5 years of training. Since establishing Fortitude Academy in 2014, Vinc has brought his training experiences from all around the globe as a previous BJJ Globetrotter to Singapore.
As Singapore is home to many expats from all around the world, Fortitude academy was Globetrotters friendly. As soon as I walked into the academy, several students welcomed me and asked about my travels and training around the world. They are open to sharing not only Jiu-Jitsu techniques but also their experiences in Singapore. Everyone trains BJJ abroad for various reasons, but this is why I choose to train Jiu-Jitsu while on the road.
Recently, Fortitude BJJ relocated its facility to a new location near the City Square Mall with its increasing popularity. The new academy is 2.5 times bigger than the previous location, and I am hoping to visit Fortitude’s new facility in the near future! Fortitude BJJ offers various classes ranging from fundamental to sparring intensive classes. As classes are offered 3–4 times in the evening, there should be no excuse to skip your training in Singapore. Whether you are in Singapore for business or leisure, you should drop by Fortitude BJJ Academy for its high-quality training sessions.
Location
The public transportation in Singapore is well established, and the gym can be easily accessed via subway. The academy is an only 5-minute walk from the Farrer Park station on the North East line and less than a minute walk from the City Square Mall. (Google Map: Link)
Schedule
The academy’s most recent schedule is posted below:
Visitor Fee
The drop-in fee is S$40 (~$29 USD) per class.
<<Exchange Rate: S$10 =~$7 USD as of August 15th, 2018>>
Miscellaneous
Fortitude Martial Arts has an English website that you might find helpful.
Tourist Attractions
- Marina Bay — Marina Bay is the most iconic district in Singapore with its hotels, skyscrapers, and tourist attractions. Overlapping the Financial District and Clarke Quay, this district displays how Singapore has become one of the most luxurious travel destinations in the world.
- Clarke Quay —Located at the fringe of Singapore’s Central Business District, Clarke Quay is a historical landmark along the Singapore River. At present, the district has been refurbished into floating pubs and restaurants. River cruises and taxis can be also accessed from Clarke Quay.
- Fort Canning Hill — Formerly Bukit Larangan (Forbidden Hill in Malay), the park allows you to escape the busy city with its various walking trails and exotic plants. Fort Canning Hill has a long history intertwined with Singapore due to its strategic location, and it is now a popular venue for music concerts.
Hyperlinks
– Google Maps
– Website
Source
– Singapore Map
– Facility
Fall Camp 2018: Keep Calm and Pass Halfguard Or F it and go for a Leglock with Jeffrey Knight
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Fall Camp 2018: Foot Sweeps 2 with Gareth McNamara
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BJJ in Moldova
My Moldovan adventures have now come and gone, and I’m gearing up to take off back to the States, my home and my team. Greg and I wound up hitching a ride from Galati, Romania to Giurgiulesti, Moldova with some older dude with one of the most awesome cars I’ve ever ridden in. Greg was really set on having a sign written on cardboard, and low-and-behold it wound up working. We got to Giurgiulesti no problem, got ourselves on a bus with wifi, and got to Cahul with about an hour to spare before my first seminar.
The training studio in Cahul was constructed in something of an L shape which was a little awkward to work with, but I rolled with it. There were maybe 15 people all together for the seminar, around ⅓ of them being kids. I taught an evolving series, starting out with some very basic, self-defense-specific techniques that I don’t think anyone had really seen before. Then I showed how these self-defense positions evolved into some of the more sporty guards we see in BJJ competitions today. I had to make some modifications for the kids who weren’t quite able to invert in lasso guard.
At the end of the session, Sandu handed out some promotions. He’s officially a black belt now, which of course means that he can finally promote his own students. He first handed out some stripes, then a couple of his kids received their yellow belts. Finally, he was able to award his first blue belts to some of his sandbaggers. I had a tough time with his future blue belts during our rolls after class, so it was pretty obvious that the blue belt was very well-deserved for all of them.
That evening, we went back to Burlacu for the night. Deep down, this was the leg of the trip that I was looking forward to the most. Burlacu is the village where I lived for a little over two years as a Peace Corps volunteer over ten years ago, and I started the first BJJ in Moldova. Sandu was just some little annoying punk kid at the time, so it’s pretty obvious as to the progress he’s made over the years. But I was also pleasantly surprised to see that there had also been a number of positive developments in the village and in the lives of people I had known years ago. Of course there were some sad things that had happened as well, but I’m going to spare everyone these stories as they’re honestly probably not that interesting to the average BJJ fighter.
I will say though, that it was a little disappointing to see that there was no more BJJ in Burlacu. The original mats I had gotten as one of my Peace Corps projects were long gone, and there was unfortunately not much desire on anyone’s part to train jiu-jitsu. I suppose this is only natural though. A friend of mine and former PC volunteer estimated that maybe 1 in 100 programs in Moldova actually reach any level of sustainability, and this is probably fairly accurate. I suppose that I can consider myself pretty lucky to have had the success that I did have. Furthermore, it helped to solidify and reinforce my path as an instructor, and I’m very thankful for my time spent in Burlacu.
After one full day of “doing the village thing”, we got the early-morning public transport to Chisinau. It was standing room only for about a solid hour before enough people got off and we got our own seats. We met up with Sandu at the bus station, and spent the day walking around the city. Not much had changed since I last visited Chisinau over 4 years ago, and this was comforting for me somehow.
My next seminar was set to be held at Sandu’s new gym location in the Botanica section of Chisinau. This team consisted mostly of unsmiling, Moldovan MMA mutant fighters with shaved heads. I’m pretty sure that if you calculated the collective total mass of their cauliflower ears it would be equal to about half of my body weight. I had planned to show a series from the cross sleeve grip from half guard, but I was lucky if half of the guys at the gym had gis on. This factor along with the Eastern European tendency to want to see only the most awesome moves at an unorganized, rapid-fire pace, didn’t make for a satisfying teaching session. Hopefully they were able to get something out of it, but in the end I felt a little discouraged overall.
We got some rolls in afterwards, and again there were promotions. Most of the guys had strong wrestling and/or sambo backgrounds, so on top of being physical specimens all around, these guys were very tough to roll with. I don’t remember being able to tap anybody on the mats that night. Of course I rolled with Sandu and of course he made sure to kick my ass nice and good. Can’t let some punk brown belt beat the black belt instructor, you know.
Overall, the pace of sparring/rolling in every country and gym I’ve been to out here has been very intense. Probably the least-intense gym I rolled at was the Chisinau gym. At the camp in Bulgaria pretty much every single person I rolled with was absolutely trying to murder me; leg locks, cranks, even smother submissions were all good and all applied as if my opponents were in the finals of the IBJJF Mundials. This definitely isn’t the type of pace I try to keep at my gym, but I have no judgements against others who want to train this way. In my opinion, you become far more adept at developing technique and finding creative solutions to bad spots if you just try and change directions when you reach roadblocks instead of blasting through them. But, hey, that’s just my opinion I suppose.
We did some no-gi training the next day, and thankfully I wasn’t the guy in charge. We went over some super fancy ashi garami leg lock transitions, and I got some good, fast-paced rolls in with everyone. We did some dynamic stretching and went over to one of the guy’s house and had a barbecue… if that’s what you want to call it. In reality it was just a fire made with wood from some old furniture with a grill grate set up on some rebar set on some concrete rubble. Easily one of the more bootleg grilling experiences I’ve ever had, which is saying a lot.
We did some weight training the next morning and then we set out to the train station for our 5pm train to Bucharest. We rode all night in our mobile sauna and got into Bucharest at 6 in the morning. It was a little sad to see the train in such a bad state; despite the fact that it was the weekend, probably less than half the cabins even had people in them, and one car was void of people altogether, and unlike the little village buses there was no wifi at all. The train trip over the border is easily one of my fondest memories of traveling back and forth from Romania to Moldova, but I’m not sure how much longer that rickety thing is going to be around.
Our whirlwind trip is almost over. We’ve got to get Greg to the airport tonight, and then I leave out at about 8pm tomorrow night. It’s been really great to be out here again and this is an experience I’ll never forget. I’ll write more on how things turned out later, but the feeling for me now is that this trip is definitely winding down.
Synergy Hardianism (Jakarta, Indonesia)
Jakarta, Indonesia — It might sound pretentious, but I may have gotten sick of white sand beaches and islands after spending a month in Bali and Lombok. To change things up, I relocated to another island in Indonesia, Java. There I had an opportunity to climb two active volcanoes. I arrived at Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, before flying to Singapore. In Jakarta, I reconnected with Jerome Paye, a current MMA fighter with Synergy Academy, who I met during the training in Bali. He invited me to train with him in Jakarta at another Synergy’s affiliated academy, Synergy Hardianism.
Please don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for recent updates: @jwwseo
Region
Java, located in between Bali and Sumatra, is an island in Indonesia that is home to more than half of the country’s population of 130 million people, which makes Java the most populated island in the world. While Java has populated and modernized cities like Jakarta and Surabaya, the island also houses natural wonders such as Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park as well as the cultural city of Yogyakarta adjacent to a magnificent temple of Borobudur.
Overview
As mentioned in the previous post about Synergy Academy, the original Synergy Academy was founded by Niko Han, a Rickson Gracie black belt. Synergy Hardianism is one of the 35 Synergy affiliates in Indonesia, and the academy is led by Professor Hardian Kristiady, a black belt under Niko Han.
Following Professor Han’s teaching philosophy, Synergy Hardianism was focused on all types of submission, especially specializing in leg locks. Personally not being familiar with leg attacks, training at Synergy academy has been an overwhelming influx of new techniques and movements. Further, training with active MMA fighters with elevated sparring intensity has provided me with a different perspective on my Jiu-Jitsu game.
Classes at Synergy Hardianism were taught in English, and it was not challenging to communicate with fellow students. Although I had a hard time locating the facility in WTC Mangga Dua, as soon as I walked into the door, everyone at the academy welcomed me into their Jakarta’s BJJ community and were open to sharing their knowledge and experience. The welcoming environment was quite memorable at Synergy Hardianism in Jakarta.
If you are traveling in South East Asia, there is a high probability that you will land in Jakarta as various flights will pass through the city. After climbing volcanoes and enjoying Indonesia’s Nasi Goreng, why not drop by another Synergy Academy and get heel hooked before you move to your next destination?
Location
Synergy Hardianism is taught in two separate locations depending on the day. Classes will be held at WTC Mangga Dua on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Impact MMA on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WTC Mangga Dua facility is rather difficult to locate as it is within the sports complex on top of the shopping mall. Both locations are in the heart of Jakarta. (Google Map: WTC Mangga Dua & Impact MMA)
Schedule
The academy’s most recent schedule is posted below:
- Tuesday / Thursday (WTC Mangga Dua) — 19:30–21:00
- Monday/Wednesday/Friday (Impact MMA) — 19:00- 20:30
Visitor Fee
The drop-in fee is Rp 250,000 (~$17 USD) per class.
<<Exchange Rate: Rp 100,000 =~$6.8 USD as of August 14th, 2018>>
Miscellaneous
Synergy Academy has an English website that you might find helpful.
Tourist Attractions
- Jakarta — Indonesia’s capital is a melting pot of Javanese, European, Malay, Chinese, and Indian culture. Jakarta also is known for its modern buildings and shopping areas, which could provide comfort after spending time in the nature in Indonesia.
- Kawah Ijen — Located in East Java, Kawah Ijen is known for its blue flames due to volcano’s heavy sulfur deposits. Also, its crater lake is green because of the hydrochloric acid in the water. In order to see the sunrise and the blue flames of the volcano, you will need to start hiking around midnight, but the view from the top was one of the most memorable images during my trip.
- Gunung Bromo — This active volcano is one of the most iconic and hiked mountains in Indonesia. The mountain itself is surrounded by a vast plain called “Laut Pasir (Sea of Sand)” of volcanic sand, and walking up to the crater itself was an unforgettable experience.
- Yogyakarta — The city is commonly referred as Jogja. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to visit the city, but it was highly recommended to me for the city’s rich Javanese culture and heritage.
Hyperlinks
– Google Map: WTC Mangga Dua & Impact MMA
– Website (English)
Source
– Indonesian Map
– Yogyakarta
– Jakarta
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