Featured affiliated academy: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Singapore

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Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Singapore

Where is Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Singapore located?
The gym is located in Singapore. The exact address is 326C King George’s Avenue, King George’s Building, 208567.

How many people train there?
Roughly, we have around 40-50 kids and 50-60 adults at the moment.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
It’s growing, slowly but surely. Our target is 150 members in total, around the same number of kids and adults. After that we will open a new branch or move to a bigger facility.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
Our lowest belt is white, of course, and the highest is brown.

When did the gym open?
The gym started in early 2016.

Some facts about you:

Name: Vladimir Popovic
Age: 30
Belt: Black
Gym: Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Singapore
Profession: BJJ coach and PE teacher
Years in BJJ: 10
Other martial arts: Black belt in judo
Currently living in: Singapore
Originally from: Serbia

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
One guy from Australia started the gym, in cooperation with Singaporean partners. After 3 years, he decided to go back home to Australia, and gave me the honor of continuing his legacy.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
Our gym has people from 4 to 70 years old. It is a very international community, with students from the US, Australia, Ireland, France, Russia, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines… Children are mostly local Singaporeans, while adults are more a mix of expats and locals.

Why do they train?
Our gym is recreationally oriented when it comes to adults, and most of them train because of quality socializing, health awareness, fitness development, fun, and self defense. Kids are a bit more competition-oriented, but fun and socialization are also their primary goals. And not to forget – character development (which is more my task as a coach).

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
I didn’t find any challenges so far, except this virus. This is deadly for us, absolutely the worst possible thing for a contact sport like ours. Other than that, nothing really. People are very nice and grateful, and it’s a pleasure working with them.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Singapore

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
I reckon that Jiu-Jitsu has great potential in Singapore. Martial arts here are very popular, especially BJJ and Muay Thai. OneFC has its headquarters in Singapore, so Singapore is like a centre of martial arts in Asia, I would say.

What’s the best thing about your gym?
Lovely people and friendly atmosphere.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Singapore is one of the most popular tourist places on the planet, so there are many things to see here. The famous Marina Bay Sands hotel, the gardens by the bay, the botanical garden, the airport of course (the best airport in the world), Orchard Road, Sentosa island, little India, Arab street, Chinatown, many nice parks, many temples and so on and so on.

Thanks for sharing with us! If you’d like to pay a visit to Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Singapore, you can find them here.

Featured Traveller: Daniël Bertina – BJJ Globetrotters

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Daniël Bertina BJJDaniël Bertina BJJ – Photo by Kevin Kwee

Age: 4 decades of excellence. I’m aging like fine wine (or vinager…)

Belt: Black belt 1st degree. COVID-19 undermined my promotion to 2nd degree. I blame the Chinese biolab. Let’s hope I don’t get demoted once this madness ends.

Profession: Writer, journalist, and critic working in art, culture, and media. Creative translator and language specialist for several voiceover studios that deliver content for streaming platforms (I try to turn funny US cartoons into funny Dutch cartoons). I am also working on a BA in primary education, because the youth need saving…

How many years in BJJ: 20 years and change.

Other martial arts: Judo and Japanese Jiu Jitsu. I started training around age 5 or 6. In the Netherlands, the judo federation (JBN) has a “fighting system” competition style of Jiu Jitsu, which kind of looks like a blend of karate and judo. I did that and got my black belt under the JBN at age 18 (if I recall correctly). Also trained Capoeira and Wing Chun a few years. And did a bit of Muay Thai – you kind of have to, if you’re from Holland.

By the way, if you are confused about the terms “Dutch”, “Holland”, and “the Netherlands”, this video will be insightful.

Where do you live: Culemborg, the Netherlands. A small 700-year-old town, south of Utrecht, roughly 1 hour from Amsterdam. Home of the guy (Jan van Riebeeck) who founded the Cape colony, which ensured the Dutch ruled the planet for a while. I’m sure there’s probably a statue of him being torn down somewhere as I write this. We live in a strange simulation.

Where are you originally from: Hamsterdam, formerly known as the city of sleaze, now the place of dwelling for hipster dorks, scumbag expats, Airbnb profiteers, people who like to pay a lot of money to live in a closet-sized “apartment”, and segway-riding tourists high on shrooms falling into the canals.

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I am a better cook than your mom. I was a long-time meditator, but I fell of the horse. I am a #hardcorekidtrainingbjj. I can eat an apple in 30 seconds. I like to drink kvass. I like gardening and growing plants.

Daniël Bertina BJJ

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
For a while, work allowed me to travel to strange places to do interviews. I always brought a gi along. That’s how I met The Great Blonde Dane (Graugart). He said he wasn’t feeling well, and that he still had a cold. When we rolled at his gym in Copenhagen, he proceeded to play possum at first, then suddenly he attacked me like I’d just ran over his mom. He likes to do that, I noticed. I got violently guillotined a few times. Somehow, we became friends after that. He invited me to teach at the first (or second?) BJJ Globetrotters Camp, and I’ve been on board ever since. Work also took me to Hungary, Russia, the UK, Germany, and some other places, and I always found a spot to train. Trying not to let strangers strangle you in a foreign country is the best way to experience it.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
I have two kids and I’m super busy now, so I don’t travel a lot. Hopefully I’ll teach at the next Estonia Camp. I was there last year and the place is glorious. I also taught two seminars at my friend Jorgen Matsi’s gym, Vôimla, in Tartu, which was excellent. Hope to get back. I love the countries of the former Eastern Bloc. Good folks, good food and drink, good stock.

Photo by @vins_jitsu

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
I hate it with a passion. It’s a stressful hassle, and I detest waiting in airports, surrounded by crowds of imbeciles sneezing into their hands. I just like hanging out with good folks, and I’ve met a bunch of them at the camps. I have to endure the travel nonsense so we can hang out properly.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
Once, I stood next to an obnoxious boomer at Heathrow Airport, waiting on our luggage. The same green suitcase did five laps past us. By lap six, he suddenly realized the suitcase was (in fact) his, then tried to grab it clumsily, but stumbled into another group of boomers and knocked them over like bowling pins. I was overwhelmed by emotions.

Also, my friend Alex picked me up from my Moscow hotel once and drove me far, far, far out into an extremely posh neighbourhood (“Putin has a house there…”), where we trained at a super high-end gym. After training he poured me a glass of kompot, and I ate the best borscht of all time.

Daniël Bertina BJJ

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
People that enjoy full contact martial arts are insane across the board.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Yes. I don’t like to waste money on nonsense. Don’t eat or buy anything at airports. Bring your own food. Ask the local BJJ geeks where you eat, and where you should go to get a true sense of the place. Stay clear of tourist traps and boomers on electric bikes. Also, travel light (carry-on only).

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Realize gym enforcers exist for a reason. Don’t start none, won’t be none.

A big thanks to Daniël Bertina BJJ.

Training Report: MK Team Paris (France)

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On a sunny Saturday morning, I hopped on a TGV from Luxembourg Gare Centrale around 5am heading to the city of love, Paris. Although it was an early morning, I have always fantasized about the city, and I could not wait to arrive and explore it myself. Knowing that the next couple of days would be filled with crème brûlée and macarons, my first stop before the pilgrimage to the French capital was MK Team Paris.

mk team paris

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

City
Paris, the capital city of France, is a global center for fashion, art and culture, which inspired countless artists and musicians throughout the centuries. Home to world famous attractions including Notre Dame, Arc De Triomphe, and the Eiffel Tower, Paris is a dream come true when it comes to art and architecture. With every corner of the city decorated with Parisian apartments surrounded by the charming French cafés, there are endless reasons to visit Paris again and again. From its world famous French cuisine to a wonderful insight into French culture, Paris deserves its place on everyone’s bucket list.

Overview
Established in April 2017, MK Team is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (JJB or Jiu-Jitsu Brésilien in French) academy headed by Olivier Michailesco who received his 3rd degree Black Belt in BJJ from Flavio Behring. The academy’s name was derived from Professor Michailesco’s nickname, Mako. The club initially started by renting a place at an MMA academy, but now it has established its position in the French BJJ community with over 350 students and 25 affiliated academies throughout France over the past few years. Although the academy has grown in size, the family-like atmosphere and spirit has been well-preserved in its culture.

When I reached out to the team via Facebook, one of the black belt coaches, Claire-France Thévenon, kindly invited me to the academy for a training session. On a sunny Saturday morning in Paris, I had the pleasure of training under the head coach, Professor Olivier Michailesco. As mentioned previously, with the MK Team’s rapid expansion, the mat space was completely full of eager students and their energy despite being an early morning class. Although I did not speak any French except “Je ne sais pas” which means “I don’t know” in a horrible French accent, fellow students and instructors were kind enough to provide me with a comfortable training atmosphere, and everyone was eager to help me understand the complex techniques of the day. I was surprised by the number of black belts present on the mat, and the level of training was self-explanatory.

With its family-like training environment and top-notch Jiu-Jitsu training partners, visiting MK Team Paris was one of the highlights of my weekend trip (besides all of the French pastries). Paris is a beautiful city with no time to waste in sightseeing and shopping. However, I will assure you that your visit will not be a waste. Thank you, Professor Michailesco, Professor Thévenon, and the rest of the team for welcoming me to Paris and the MK family. Until next time!

Location & Facility
The gym is located on the east side of Paris. With its well-established public transportation, you can easily reach the academy from anywhere in Paris. However, I would recommend you plan ahead given the massive size of the city. The facility includes a clean blue mat space for training and locker rooms for men and women. (Google Map: Link)

Schedule

MK Team Paris offers classes everyday in the mornings and evenings. The academy’s most recent schedule is posted below:

  • Cours de base — Basic Class
  • Tous niveaux — All Levels
  • Cours avancé — Advanced Class

Visitor Pass
A one day pass is €20, but the passes are also available for longer terms (€60/week and €120/month)

Website — Click here

Tourist Attractions

  • Eiffel Tower — Without a doubt, the Eiffel tower (La Tour Eiffel) is one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. With its breathtaking architecture, the Eiffel Tower leaves you speechless. Although it was originally designed as the centerpiece for the World’s Fair in Paris in 1889, the tower remains as a symbol of Paris to this day. A visit to Paris would not be complete without seeing the iconic Eiffel tower.
  • Notre-Dame Cathedral — Located next to the picturesque Seine river, the Notre-Dame Cathedral is considered a Parisian icon. Although it remains closed until further notice due to the unfortunate fire in early 2019, Notre Dame carries the title of most visited monument in Europe as one of the oldest cathedrals in the world. With its stunning stained glass windows and structures, Notre Dame is often regarded as one of the greatest Gothic cathedrals. Let’s hope to see this beautiful cathedral back soon!
  • The Louvre — As the most-visited and the largest museum in the world with nearly 10 million visitors per year, the Louvre is another historical monument in Paris. The building was once home to French Kings, but the Louvre was converted to a museum during the French Revolution. With its sheer size and vast collections, you can literally spend days in the museum.
  • Shopping — Undeniably considered as the Fashion Capital of the world, Paris definitely has its own style. From Chanel to Louis Vuitton, the city is home to the most influential fashion designers. If you are into shopping and have some $$$ to spare, the shopping experience in luxury shops and also adorable local boutiques is without comparison.

I would like to thank Professor Michailesco, Professor Thévenon , and the rest of the MK Team Paris for their hospitality!

Featured affiliated academy: Pui O’hana Grappling, Hong Kong BJJ

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Pui O'hana Grappling, Hong Kong BJJ

Where is the gym located?
The gym is in Lo Wai Tsuen, which is a village in Pui O on Lantau Island, Hong Kong. If you remember that movie Contagion where the local Hong Kong guy kidnaps Marion Cotillard and takes her to a village. It’s near there.

So it’s not your typical idea of Hong Kong. We are a 5 minute walk to the beach, surrounded by hikes, paragliding and little surf shops/beach bars.

How many people train there?
We were getting close to about 20 regulars split between the kids and adults. This was before the whole Covid-19 thing started. The gym has quite a few expats so at any session we would have people from all over the world training, different languages and cultures just meshing together. It’s quite a sight to see.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
We were. And we hope to be soon. Right now the government has shut down all the academies to help prevent the spread of Covid-19. When this is all over we really hope to have a lot of new members. Our goal is to get the kids in the village to train and create a nice Jiu Jitsu community here in Pui O.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
Highest rank is brown, lowest is brand new no stripe sub-human white belt :)

When did the gym open?
We opened last November. It was the perfect time to open a gym, right before a huge pandemic broke out 500 miles away and the government shut down all the gyms…<🤦🏻facepalm🤦🏻>

Some facts about you:

Name: Alika Wong
Age: 38
Belt: Brown
Academy: Pui O’hana Grappling, Hong Kong BJJ
Profession: Airplane pilot
Years in BJJ: 10+
Other martial arts: MMA, judo, some wrestling
Currently living in: Pui O, Hong Kong
Originally from: Wahiawa, Hawaii, United States

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
We opened the gym as a way to give back to the kids in the community here on South Lantau Island. The cost of living, and the cost of gym membership, is so high here. We noticed that kids don’t get into Jiu Jitsu because it’s just too expensive. So we started a donation only gym. Now if anyone says they want to learn Jiu Jitsu they can’t use cost as an excuse. You just lazy!

We have kids and adult classes now. Our coaching staff consist of two former Division I athletes, a Pro Muay Thai and up and coming MMA fighter, and me – the guy who can catch Pokémon with both hands simultaneously.

Tell us about the people that train in Pui O’hana Grappling, Hong Kong BJJ – who are they?
We have a pretty diverse group of people at the gym. Being in Hong Kong, it’s a huge melting pot of cultures. We have Hong Kongers, Americans, Canadians, Filipino, French, Irish, Russian, Aussies, Pakistani, I’m sure I’m missing some. It’s really cool to see how everyone interacts with each other with Jiu Jitsu being the common language.

Why do they train?
Some have aspirations to fight/compete professionally. Some come to work out and learn a new skill. But the one group of people that have a really special place in my heart are the parents who put their kids in Jiu Jitsu then decided they also wanted to learn. They had no interest to learn Jiu Jitsu at all, but when they saw their kids getting into it they wanted to share that experience with them.

As a parent myself, this is the one piece of advice I wish I could tell new parents. Whatever your kids get into, do it with them. It gives you a common ground to talk to them. When they grow up you will always have that bond. And it’s really fun choking your kids!

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
Right now it’s the Covid-19 and government shutdowns. But that’s hopefully a short term problem.

In general in Hong Kong, I think it’s that Jiu Jitsu is just not a known thing. A lot of people here know about traditional martial arts and Muay Thai/boxing. But Brazilian Jiu Jitsu isn’t very well known. It’s very different for me because I grew up in Hawaii where we had Relson Gracie spreading Jiu Jitsu in the early 90s. Everyone in Hawaii knows what Jiu Jitsu is and knows someone that trains. I have found myself explaining what Jiu Jitsu is a lot more than I expected.

I am hoping to help change this though. Jiu Jitsu is really exploding here, and I can see some high-level competitors coming out of Hong Kong in the near future.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
Hong Kong is at a very pivotal time right now when it comes to Jiu Jitsu. Let me explain. Back, back, back when Jiu Jitsu was first starting to grow, it was dominated by Brazilians. I think one of the major factors was the language barrier. A native Portuguese speaker wasn’t able to communicate the intricacies of techniques to a non-Portuguese speaker. So an English speaking/non-Portuguese speaking student wasn’t able to understand as well as them and didn’t learn as fast.

I remember the first instructionals I had from Brazilians were just English dubs, “push here, pull, grab, see, tap.” Like yeah ok, then me and my simple-minded, single-language-speaking friends would get together and try to figure it out.

Remember the first time you saw that Robert Drysdale DVD?

Or Ryan Hall.

That was a game changer. I understood those techniques before I even drilled them.

Having an instructor that speaks your language just elevates the game so quickly. When the US got our first wave of American black belts is when we finally had instructors that could teach us in our own language. There was no lost in translation. The students of these black belts are the killers of today.

That’s what’s happening in Hong Kong right now. There are local black belts who are able to explain Jiu Jitsu to Hong Kongers. And these students are going to be the most competitive Jiu Jitsu athletes Hong Kong has ever seen. It’s a very exciting time for Jiu Jitsu in Hong Kong.

What’s the best thing about Pui O’hana Grappling, Hong Kong BJJ?
Standard answer, but it’s gotta be the people. The people make the gym. We have some hilariously outspoken kids and some very shy ones. But they all help each other. We have serious competitors and complete novices. People from all over the world. We still BBQ in front of the gym, watch UFC together, and just all get along great. I’ve learned a ton about the world just from talking with the people here. And I’ve got to share my favorite American holiday, Thanksgiving, with a few locals. For those that don’t know, it’s eat, sleep, tell stories, eat more, drink, eat, eat dessert all day.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
There is so much history here it’s a great place for tourists. Check out Kowloon, see the Bruce Lee museum, ride the Star Ferry, tram up the Peak. Eat some street food, check out the night markets, hit up LKF. Ride a ferry to Lamma Island, Cheung Chau or Peng Chau. We are on Lantau Island, so you can take the gondola up Ngong Ping, see the Big Buddha, and check out Tai O village.

We have a bunk bed in the gym, so if anyone wants to check us out just let me know. You can spend a night or two and we can show you around our village, take you surfing, go on some hikes.

Thanks for having us in the newsletter! It’s an honor. BJJ Globetrotters till the wheels fall off!

Thanks for sharing with us! If you’d like to pay a visit to Pui O’hana Grappling, Hong Kong BJJ you can find them here.