Archive for month: August, 2019

So there I was, staring at this picturesque lake with blue skies hidden like a pearl in the midst of the great Austrian alps. It just occurred to me that I was staring at it through my work computer- a post from the BJJ Globetrotters Facebook page that said “Summer Camp Wagrain”.  Looking out the window I was back to reality in the bustling Dhaka city.

As a family man, I have to admit I have a great deal of “camp envy” whenever I see social media updates from my BJJ Globetrotters friends I’ve met a couple years back in Leuven- friends that I’ve met once but  keep close to me to this day. My first camp hit me like a truck. It was a whirlwind of adventures and meeting friends and drinking and getting lost both in rolls as it is in conversations. But I also understood it was an experience that might not happen again. Between 2 dogs, a  cat, 2 daughters, a wife and a job, I can’t just pack up and go off to my “Big Boy Disneyland” every month or so. I came to terms with it early on. Leuven was a great memory and I am happy with it. I scrolled away and did my best to get back to my work emails. 

But just like a reoccurring dream it came  back on my feed a month later but this time I saw on the text that it was family friendly. My heart stopped. At this exact moment my wife Carlin was planning our family trip around Europe for the summer. Instantly I thought “Wagrain is in Austria, and Austria is in Europe….”.

I casually showed her the post and she said “Send me the link and I’ll take a look at it.”. The Globetrotters staff at this time has matured to a team of travel agent/marketing professionals. The photos were amazing and the write up was very detailed yet enticing which made it a lot easier for planning it into our itinerary. All questions we sent out were answered immediately with enthusiasm. My kids have been doing a fair bit of “Play-jitsu” with me at home but Carlin has only done 5 classes (at most) over the years so she couldn’t care less about the training. What attracted her was the things that surrounded it. There was going to be daily access to the waterpark next door! There were playgrounds and mountain biking and of course the natural beauty of the Austrian alps but most of all it fits in our budget as it covered our accommodation with food and beverages it was something we could not let pass. It presented an opportunity for us to take a trip to an unknown place which would satisfy our inner nomadic nature. She booked it right away. My web of deception is completed. We’re going to a Jiu Jitsu camp!

Fast forward to 4 months later the school bell rang and the kids  were off to summer holiday. We headed straight to the airport and then our adventure began. We went to London, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Denmark (places we’ve read about in Christian’s book) and then we were in Munich. We arrived a day early  so we rented a car and spent a night in Salzburg. We met up with a few globetrotters in town over dinner. There was Kelsey- a Canadian blue belt who couldn’t find a place to stay as every single accommodation in Salzburg was booked so she crashed our hotel and became our adopted daughter. There was Stephanie- a German/American who was a former kindergarten teacher  who later on we found out later on was the “Pablo Escobar” of jelly beans and gummy bears for kids in camp. We also met Austin, a Canadian MMA fighter and was an awesome companion and great with kids too. And then there was Ciaran who was…. Irish. After dinner we had beers and then more beers and then went on to submit statues in old town (as you do). Next day we were off to Wagrain, the real reason we  were in Austria. The drive was spectacular. The mountain passes with each bend reveals boondocks that pierce through the clouds was breathtaking. 

When we got to the camp we were too early for check in so we headed straight to the waterpark. As excited as I was and as well traveled as I am, being in a new place still gives me anxiety. Here we are in a place we never knew existed. We had no clue what Wagrain was all about let alone had an idea what the people there were like. All I know about Austria was that Hitler was born there. As a brown man (Filipino) I kept thinking “what if people here are racist? What if somebody just gives us weird looks or tells us to get out of the pool?”.

I’m an idiot. 

As we got set up at the waterpark with our picnic blanket and umbrella, random people walking past us smile and give us the “shaka” sign. “How do they know we do jiu jitsu? we weren’t wearing any bjj apparel.”. I guess people who train just know. All my anxiety just melted away. And a few moments later our friends we met in Salzburg were there along with other new friends including the British duo Rob and Daniel who would later on be good mates through the camp. However the whole bunch were single people from all over the world just hanging out waiting for the camp to start. Where are the other families at?. Shortly we met a beautiful Norwegian family with daughters right about our girls ages. It took the girls 10 seconds to get introduced and another 2 seconds to become new best friends. The girls wasted no time at all, they went through all the water slides and whirlpool having a blast in a beautiful summers day in the Austrian Alps. We have been to a lot of places in a lot of holidays as a family but this was the first time our girls were able to instantly have friends. At that moment it dawned on me that this might be the best holiday we have ever had… And the camp has not even started yet.

The Camp opens and we tried to meet as many people as we could through the speed dating. I was amazed at how vast the range of ages of people were there from toddlers to…. The young at heart. We also met a Danish family Simon and Laura with more kids. I knew at that time that this is going to be a unique camp. It was followed by an open mat of course. No better way to break the ice than to choke each other out straight away. 

It was a relatively small camp (80-90 participants). In the evening (and all the other evenings) we hung out by the patio over beers. Max and Aaron stood out with their “shit” stories that were inappropriately funny. At one point The Danes, the Canadians, the Brits, the Americans and the Austrians got into a heated debate on which bacon was the best. It seemed like a very important discussion. There was also the Russian brothers (whose names I can’t recall) who told stories about the “real” Russia. They were great story tellers. (It was also cool because they had thick Russian accent).

The days went on and as a family we had organically made our own routine which also turned out to be the routine of most families. Morning schedule was breakfast followed by yoga then the kids class. The first kids class  was led by Steven Antoniou or better known to the children as “Super Steve”. The following days classes were led by Nelson Puentes and Hilary Witt. If you are looking into running a kids class in your own gym in the future you have to see them at work. It’s incredible how they were able to hold the kids attention and make it fun.

The waterpark was the go to place of most families, it was also the the go to spot for the younger lads to cure their hangovers under a tree. This was morning for the “holiday” mode groups while the mat rats indulged themselves in a day long of world class level of instruction of bjj. The conference room sessions I found to be something that I enjoyed too. It satisfied a lot of my curiosities about jiu jitsu and life in general coming from people who lived the life I often wondered about. 

We went down to the lake called Jägersee along with another family. And there we were standing at the same spot as the Summer camp poster. We all sat in silence at one point and absorbed the experience. I started to contemplate how lucky I am to be there at that exact moment. As a Filipino growing up nobody really plans on going on holidays to places such as these. With obstacles like getting a visa and socio- economic reasons it’s not common for us to a place called “Wagrain” . In most cases the only way you’re going to another country and leave the islands is for work and I can’t thank the universe enough that I was there with the people I cared about the most. Life is perfect.

The place was so beautiful I went back the next day along with my friends from camp. The day was hot but the water was ice cold. We went for a natural “ice bath” and it was exactly what we needed after a series of classes and open mats.  

Before we knew it, it was the final open mat. One last chance to roll with old and new friends. The atmosphere was filled with music and steam from a tribe of people rolling. 

As the sun went down the beers flowed, the Jagermeister shots dropped and the BBQ grill lit up. David Bruun- a soft spoken Canadian and a butcher by profession started grilling up steaks from grass fed cows in the Alps and hundreds of sausages. David was a god. He worked the grill like a machine making sure all meat served was cooked to perfection. It felt like a family barbecue on a weekend. Kids running around lost in their own world hunting for insects and bouncing on the trampoline. The younger crowd were crushing beers and Jager bombs, parents sharing life experiences and raising kids. The board game geeks were just a mix of everybody. 

At one point I saw my daughter Nico (7 years old) at the dining area sitting alone with a smile on her face. I sat across the table and decided to have this moment with her. She was drinking a mix of juices and soda she concocted from the beverage dispenser and I had a beer. I asked her what she was thinking and she said “today I learned a new technique in jiu jitsu…”. I smiled and said “I like it too when I learn new techniques”. Then we went on to close our eyes and tried to remember everything that happened in the camp from the time we got to the camp, from when we got out of the car and to that very moment in the mess hall. We tried to remember in our minds how beautiful the lake was. We tried to describe it as we remembered it. Mario overheard us and joined in a bit and shared how his experience on the lake was. Later on I told her that this is one memory I’d like to keep forever. And she said “me too”. 

My older daughter was with her own gang of girls exchanging contacts with promises to see each other in the next camps until they get older. 

The morning came and it’s been a quiet one. From the people in the dining hall to the people hanging out in the patio to the kids sitting quietly on the bench silence was broken from the occasional logistical statements like “what time is your flight?” or “Do you want to share a cab?”. It was a feeling I’ve had before. The post camp blues have begun. The realization that this will soon be over. Then it was time to go. We said our goodbyes like a million times before we actually got in the car and took off.

Disneyland is overrated. 

Training report from Hilti BJJ in Berlin, Germany 

Before I started working in Frankfurt, my German road trip continued. As Paris is for France and London is for England, Berlin comes first to everyone’s mind while thinking of Germany. From the Berlin Wall to the Brandenburg Gate, Berlin was the city I had always dreamed of visiting since I was a kid. After fulfilling my childhood fantasy, I had the opportunity to train at Hilti BJJ in Berlin.

Please don’t forget to follow me on Instagram for recent updates: @jwwseo

City
Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. Although severely damaged during World War II and broken apart during the Cold War, Berlin has reconstructed itself to boast everything from leading fashion to vibrant nightlife, but that’s not to say that the city has forgotten its dark past: landmarks like the Checkpoint Charlie and Berlin Wall are evidence of the city’s rich history. Its unique, quirky culture and history are arguably the top reasons to discover this incredible city.

Overview
Hilti BJJ, a part of IMAG Berlin eV, is headed by Frank Burczynski who is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Pedro Duarte. Professor Frank is a well-known and respected black belt in the German BJJ community. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend his class, but I had an amazing time training at his academy. I would like to highlight that Hilti BJJ is one of the most traveler-friendly academies. As an avid participant of the Matsurfing program, Hilti BJJ in Berlin hosts countless travelers who are visiting the city to crash and train at the gym. Matsurfing opens up such a unique experience of traveling with the perk of connecting with other local BJJ practitioners. I would highly recommend the program if you have the chance to participate.

After a long day of being a busy tourist in Berlin, I arrived at Hilti BJJ. Once I set foot in the gym, it was hard to miss the vast blue training mat. Hilti BJJ might be one of the largest facilities I have visited, with countless martial artists training at the academy. The class I participated in had approximately 40 students, but, even with an ongoing MMA class next to us, there was enough space for everyone. However, the size of the academy was not the only notable feature at Hilti BJJ in Berlin. The training session led by Dennis was full of eager and friendly students, and his instructions were well-structured and highly informative. One of the Hilti BJJ students, Ugi, and Dennis paid attention to my drills during the sessions creating a friendly training environment. I felt welcomed to the Hilti BJJ community by everyone around me even though I was a visitor. I still keep in touch with Ugi who extended his hospitality to host me when I am back in Berlin, and I am hoping to visit him again one day.

Hilti BJJ is one of the most well-respected academies in Berlin. Combined with high-level instructors and students, it is worth the visit if you ever find yourself in Berlin. Dropping by Hilti BJJ for a couple of training sessions might just help you cancel out your beer consumption while staying in Berlin. Thank you, everyone, at Hilti BJJ. I hope to come back and train again in the future!

Location & Facility
Hilti BJJ is located in Northwest of the city near Berlin Tegel Airport. Via Berlin’s well-established network of public transportation, you can easily reach the academy. The nearest stations are Osram-Höfe (Tram) and Seestraße (U-Bahn), and the location is about 20 minutes away from the Berlin City Center. Hilti BJJ has two spacious sections of open mat space with heavy bags. The academy also includes weight training equipment on the side of the training area and large locker rooms with showers. (Google Map: Link)

Schedule
Hilti BJJ offers 2–3 BJJ classes during the weekdays and a 2-hour open mat on Saturday. The academy’s most recent schedule is posted below:

Visitor Pass
Hilti BJJ did not charge for the training. However, it is always courteous to reach out to the academy before your visit.

Miscellaneous
— Hilti BJJ’s Website

Things to do

• The Brandenburg Gate — The Gate is Berlin’s most iconic historic landmark. More than just Berlin’s only surviving historic city gate, the monument has transitioned from a symbol of division to a symbol of unity after the reunification of Germany. The sandstone structure architecturally represents one of the earliest and most attractive examples of neo-classical buildings in Germany.

• Berlin Wall — Originated in 1961 when East Germany sealed off the city to prevent citizens from fleeing to West Germany, the Berlin Wall is an important piece of German history. After it was torn down in 1989, only small stretches of graffiti-covered parts remain, but it serves as a chilling reminder of the separation and remains a defining feature of Berlin.

• The Reichstag — Previously served as the home of the German Empires, the Reichstag became the home of the German Parliament after the reunification of Germany. With its historical significance, it is one of the most famous landmarks in Berlin. The highlight of this magnificent structure is the dome, the Kuppel, which is made of glass offering superb views of Berlin. Due to its high demand, the tickets must be reserved in advance.

• Nightlife — As a European clubbing capital, Berlin is infamous for its nightlife scene with countless clubs and bars that last well into the morning with legendary venues including one of the most iconic clubs of all: the notorious Berghain. Berlin has earned a reputation for its party scene with no last calls. If you are in Berlin, it would be a waste not to have at least night out in the city.