Featured affiliated academy: Kyoujin Ballymoney, Northern Ireland BJJ

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Kyoujin Ballymoney, Northern Ireland BJJ

Where is the gym located?

We run out of two locations: Ballymoney and Ballycastle on the north coast of Ireland.

How many people train there?

Around 30 members.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?

We have been open for just over a year and grown slowly over that period. We have had some new members this year and have a great core group of guys and girls.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?

Our highest grade is blue belt. We learn from our black belt coach, Peter Lavery, in Belfast and bring techniques back to our own gym. We recently had some of our members promoted and now have seven blue belts training between Ballymoney and Ballycastle.

When did the gym open?

September 2016 in Ballycastle, January 2017 in Ballymoney.

Kyoujin Ballymoney, Northern Ireland BJJ

 

Some facts about you:

Name: David O’Neill

Age: 27

Belt: Blue
Profession: Caravan Park Warden
How many years in BJJ: 4
Other martial arts: None
Where do you live: Castlerock, Northern Ireland
Where are you originally from: Castlerock, Northern Ireland

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:

BJJ on the north coast of Ireland still has quite a small community – we were travelling for 1.5 hours to train with our head coach and he advised that we should open up our own gym under his instruction.

Kyoujin Ballymoney, Northern Ireland BJJ

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?

We have lots of different people training for different reasons – most of them enjoy competing but some just want to learn a new skill and keep fit.

Why do they train?

We like to keep training fun and have a really positive atmosphere in the gym. Most of our members love the social aspect of BJJ but mostly are training because they find it fun and a great form of exercise.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym?

We both have full time jobs as well as running the gym so squeezing everything in to one day can sometimes be a challenge depending on how hectic work has been! We have classes on six days a week and fitting this around an already busy work schedule can sometimes be tough.

Kyoujin Ballymoney, Northern Ireland BJJ

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?

Hopefully it will continue to grow – the Irish BJJ scene has developed a lot even in the past few years with more competitions available to us and Irish competitors achieving great things at international level. There will even be the first IBJJF tournament in Dublin at the end of this year!

What’s the best thing about your gym?

I think the best thing about the gym would have to be the balance between fun and serious training. Everyone is welcoming to new members and we have also welcomed a couple of Globetrotters from Germany and Texas who have taught us great techniques to add to our games.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?

We live in a very beautiful part of the world. Just about fifteen minutes away from Ballymoney you can visit the Giants Causeway and loads of the Game of Thrones locations around the coast as well. The weather may not be the best but there is still lots to do and see!

Thanks for sharing with us! If you would like to pay a visit to Kyoujin Ballymoney, Northern Ireland BJJ, you can find them here.

Changes to Covid-19 testing requirement for participation in BJJ Globetrotters camps

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In light of the development of the pandemic, we have decided to change the requirements for participating in a BJJ Globetrotters camp. So far, a test administered shortly before the camp was necessary, but we feel confident that we can expand this requirement with additional options, to make it more flexible and fair for our participants. Therefore, until further notice, one of the following is mandatory to present for participation in a camp:

  1. A certificate of vaccination
  2. A negative PCR/antigen test administered no more than 72 hours before arrival at camp
  3. A positive antibody test no more than 3 months old
  4. A positive PCR/antigen test no more than 3 months old, along with proof of recovery/release from quarantine from a doctor/health official.

We are constantly monitoring the situation and will be flexible to update these requirements, should it be possible or necessary. As researchers learn more about the effectiveness of antibodies, we will likely extend the period of acceptance for these.

As always, if you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us on [email protected].

We are looking forward to some great experiences with you in 2021.

Featured Traveller: Pablo Liguori BJJ Globetrotters

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Pablo Liguori BJJ Globetrotters

Let’s start out with some quick facts about you…

Name: Pablo Liguori – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 28

Belt: White

Profession: I just finished working on oil/gas drilling rigs. I’m moving to Whistler on a working holiday to work ski lifts.

How many years in BJJ: 3-4 (on and off)

Other martial arts: Kickboxing, wrestling (MMA)

Where do you live: Adelaide (South Australia) but moving to Whistler, BC for approximately 2 years

Where are you originally from: I was born in Ramallo, Buenos Aires, Argentina. I moved to Australia with my family when I was 7 years old.

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I love music, food, wine, craft beers, snow boarding, surfing, hiking, anything outdoors.

Pablo Liguori – BJJ Globetrotters

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?

I have always moved around and travelled for work. I found that through training it was easy to meet like minded people, make friends, stay fit, keep my mind clear… I’d go crazy without Jiu Jitsu!

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?

I have recently moved back to Adelaide in the past 2 years. Prior to that I was living in Perth and training under Steve Kennedy at Kickass MMA. I am moving to Whistler, BC and looking forward to training there.

Pablo Liguori BJJ Globetrotters

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?

I love exploring with my girlfriend, meeting new people, trying new foods and soaking in other cultures.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?

I have always managed to meet new people and make friends wherever I’ve lived.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?

You can spot Australians anywhere in a crowd!

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?

This will be my first time travelling for an extended period of time, so it will be a learning experience.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?

Smile, meet new people, be flexible with your plans and open to new experiences.

Thanks to Pablo Liguori BJJ Globetrotters for doing this interview!

Featured Camp Instructor: Aaron Ross – BJJ Globetrotters

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Aaron Ross BJJ

Aaron Ross – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 42
Belt: Belt Black
Profession: International consultant
Started training (year): 2006
City/country: St. Petersburg, Florida USA/ Tokyo, Japan


Main achievements in BJJ:

I think the ups and downs of the whole journey is an achievement in and of itself but I think for me personally it was going from white to black belt in a foreign country/language. Additionally, being able to share my jiu-jitsu with thousands of people at the camps from around the world is a personal achievement that I hope to continue to add to.

Aaron Ross – BJJ Globetrotters Zen Camp

Which BJJ Globetrotters camps have you attended?

Attended over 20 camps to date, too many to list.

Which camp has been your favorite so far?

Difficult question being to so many but I truly love them all but every time different. Every new camp is a new favorite as corny as that sounds. Each one offers something special and when you add new faces the same camp its a unique experience.

Aaron Ross – BJJ Globetrotters Summer Camp

Favorite stories/moments from the camps?

Had 300 straight rolls at Heidelberg 2019, that was cool. Sang in a punk band once, hosted an impromptu bodybuilding contest in a German bar. Rode a bicycle down a giant staircase in Belgium drunk and my bike came apart and I crashed fracturing a bone in my hand 2 steps from the bottom. Went to a Polish disco in a farm warehouse in the middle of nowhere. Broke a record in an Austrian bar with a couple other guys for most Jaeger bombs drank, our photo is on the wall there. I can go on for days, this is tip of the iceberg, haha. Most of the good stories I shouldn’t tell on the internet :) Additionally, making new friends every camp I go to is a favorite moment that keeps perpetuating the more I attend.

Your favorite class/classes to teach at camp?

Don’t really have a favorite but I want everyone there to learn and really take something away from my classes. I’m really there to help everyone to the best of my ability without any bullshit. Everything I teach is stuff I actually use.

Anything else you want to add to your profile? 

If you see me scheduled for a camp, you better believe some shenanigans is in store so sign up, join the fun! If you have never been to a camp and are undecided, just do it. It will be more enjoyable than you anticipate. You will make friends, train and share a lot of laughs and memories.

Really grateful to all the people that have attended my classes and appreciated what I’ve had to offer. Thankful for all the friends I’ve made so far and looking forward to all the new adventures/friendships ahead. Appreciate Christian and the Globetrotters staff for all the work they do.

***

Aaron Ross – BJJ Globetrotters instructor

Featured affiliated academy: Congo Top Team, Congo BJJ

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Congo Top Team, Congo BJJ

Where is the gym located?

Pointe-Noire, Republic of the Congo.

How many people train there?

For BJJ, roughly 10 to 15 people. We have also 40 people for taekwondo, 10 for kickboxing, and about 25 in fitness & cross-training.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?

The gym showed really good growth from 2011 to 2016, but unfortunately there’s been a big economic crisis in Congo since 2015. This led to fewer people staying in the country, and the number of members has now stabilized.

But we always get a fresh influx of new members in September (when the new academic year begins), and often in January too.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?

Our highest grade is purple belt (myself). We also have a few blue belts and white belts.

When did the gym open?

The gym opened in 2011, and we had our first BJJ class in October 2013.

Some facts about you:

Name: Lucas Di Gleria
Academy: Congo Top Team, Congo BJJ
Age: 32
Belt: Purple
Profession: I work for a French fitness brand
Years in BJJ: 4.5 years
Other martial arts: Taekwondo, Kickboxing
Currently living in: Bordeaux, France
Originally from: Sainte-Adresse, France

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:

I grew up in Congo with my parents (from 1987 – 2003) and then left to go to high school in France. I came back to Congo in 2010 to work for a French TV channel.

In Congo at that point, there were some karaté, aikido, and taekwondo gyms, and some western boxing too. Myself and some friends organised a place to train (about 50m2) and, since we were already taekwondo black belts, in September 2011 we started giving taekwondo classes. In 2012, we started teaching fitness & cross-training classes after becoming IKFF (International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation) certified trainers. In January 2013, we met an amazing Congolese kickboxing coach and launched a kickboxing class with him and his top students.

In October 2013, a friend of mine, Ronny Kunta Roc, came back to Congo as well, and we decided to start training together as two white belts in BJJ. And we decided to open the “class” to anyone else who was interested. We named the team “Black Rock BJJ”, operating out of Congo Top Team.

After two years of training BJJ, I travelled to Thailand to train under Professor Olavo Abreu, a 4th-degree black belt under Carlson Gracie Jr, and I got my blue belt. I came back to Congo and continued to train with the team. In April 2016, I set out on a BJJ tour that lasted 1.5 years, during which I competed (mainly around Southeast Asia) and trained extensively under Luc “Doberman” Rousseau, an ADCC Europe Silver Medallist who specialises in leglocks, and is an amazing coach on top of it. I trained in San Diego, Poland, and France, and, in August 2017, I got my purple belt under Redouane Ait Said (Boxing Squad, 2nd-degree black belt).

After that, I came back to Congo to train with the guys, and awarded some of the first blue belts in the country to some of them, since we are the first BJJ team and gym in Congo. The team is currently being run by a blue belt.

Congo Top Team, Congo BJJ

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?

They are amazing people – they love BJJ !

We have people from all kinds of backgrounds here: Africans, Europeans, Asians, girls, guys, people from high social classes, and people from more modest backgrounds. We try to offer low prices so that everyone is able to train with us. For some Congolese students who are really in love with BJJ, we sometimes offer training for free, because sometimes they have no money and they have to travel for more than an hour each way to come to training…

Why do they train?

I think they train because they love this martial art, which is new in Congo, and because they feel the efficiency of Jiu Jitsu. Some are black belts in other styles like taekwondo, karate, and judo, and they come with an open mind to learn something new.

Some girls train for self-defence, and fall in love with the spirit and practice of Jiu Jitsu.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym?

  • Retaining members and keeping people motivated. Jiu Jitsu is a gentle sport, but also a tough sport. You need mental strength, consistency, courage, and humility. And belts are not easy to get, the path is long, so sometimes people lose motivation.
  • Attracting girls to the gym. Because it’s a such a close-contact sport, we sweat a lot on each other during training, and some girls and even some guys don’t like that kind of contact. But once you’re hooked on Jiu Jitsu, you forget all about that and you can just love it.
  • For us in Congo, one challenge is to get enough money to bring a black belt over for a seminar. Because it’s not a traditional tourist destination (even though it’s safe and we have nice beaches to surf – maybe Christian should come haha), and it’s tough for students to gather enough money to bring an expert in.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?

I hope BJJ will continue to grow in Congo. An important next step would be to establish a BJJ federation, but getting the local authorities to cooperate is proving a bit difficult.

We need new gyms to open, and we need to spread BJJ around Congo. A French brown belt has just arrived for a few months in the capital (Brazzaville), and he’s opened a BJJ gym there. Now he’s the highest belt in the country, and he has the goal to spread Jiu Jitsu in this area as well. So we will work together on it.

Once we have enough people training, we’ll try to organize the first competitions in Congo. Or maybe some Congolese athletes will go to some other African countries like Angola to train and compete.

What’s the best thing about Congo Top Team, Congo BJJ?

Opening the door and seeing people motivated on the mat! And seeing how BJJ people can share the mat with other disciplines, together under the same roof.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?

In Pointe-Noire we live right by the sea, where we can always take a beach break and surf some nice waves. There are many surfers and bodyboarders here.

What’s really interesting to see in Congo is nature: you can go into the bush to visit forest monkeys, surf spots lost in the jungle, and walk along red sand gorges. You can also go to Brazzaville, the capital of Congo, where you can experience the Congo river by kayak, wake board, or waverunner, and maybe see a hippotamus along the way. And you need to meet the Congolese people, who are really friendly guys that like partying and having fun, and of course training and discovering martial arts!

Thanks for sharing with us! If you would like to pay a visit to Congo Top Team, Congo BJJ, you can find them here.

Featured Traveller: Liadain O’Driscoll – BJJ Globetrotters

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Liadain O'Driscoll BJJ Globetrotters

Let’s start out with some quick facts about you…

Name: Liadain O’Driscoll – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 33

Belt: Purple

Profession: Technical writer

How many years in BJJ: 6

Other martial arts: MMA until I detached a retina in a fight.

Where do you live: Cork, Ireland

Where are you originally from: Baltimore, Ireland – a beautiful fishing village on the south coast which I encourage everyone to visit.

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: In a previous life I played in several metal and hardcore bands. Besides my day job I work for the Irish Open Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championships, who run the biggest competitions in Ireland. When I’m not on the mats you can usually find me on my yoga mat or indulging my other obsession – knitting.

Liadain O’Driscoll – BJJ Globetrotters

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?

I got bitten by the travel bug the same year that I started training. I took up MMA and BJJ at the start of 2012, and later that year I had my first big trip outside Europe, when I spent a couple of weeks in Peru. I didn’t train on that trip, but it fuelled my desire to travel more, which coincided with me wanting to work less and train more. I went to Thailand for two weeks a couple of months later and spent a week travelling the north of the country and then a week training at Phuket Top Team, and within a couple of days of landing there my plans were hatched. In 2014 I left my job to train full-time in Thailand for a year, which was a crazy experience. Since then I’ve trained in some amazing places, including Tristar in Montreal and Mjölnir in Iceland, and I’ve competed all over Europe.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?

My last big training trip was about a year ago, when I spent five weeks in Thailand and Bali. I haven’t got anything major planned for the short to medium term now, but Mongolia and Brazil are high on the list of must-dos when I do get back to travelling.

Liadain O’Driscoll – BJJ Globetrotters

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?

The opportunity to get exposure to coaches and styles that you wouldn’t get at home is a big one for me. Especially coming from Ireland, where we don’t have a wrestling culture, being able to spend a year training under a high-level American wrestling coach was invaluable for me. Other than that, I love seeing new places, meeting new people and building up a network of friends and acquaintances all over the world.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?

Spending my Christmas Eve at nogi class and then going swimming at night on a tropical beach. Rolling with Cris Cyborg. Drilling in the gi with Tiffany Van Soest. Competing on a beach. Eating deep-fried Magnums every day for a week.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?

Being asked if I was on steroids was a good one! Also the amount of high-level black belts and MMA fighters you see on Tinder who you know full well have a wife or girlfriend at home. My screenshots folder is a world of trouble.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?

Not entirely – I’m probably somewhere in the middle between budget and luxury. I do tend to book flights a long time in advance, but that’s more because I like having something planned to look forward to than out of budget considerations. Airbnb has been a godsend the last couple of years though – I’ve made trips that I never would have been able to afford otherwise and stayed in some really nice places.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?

Tea tree oil is a godsend for fending off staph. Also, never underestimate staph.

Thank you to Liadain O’Driscoll – BJJ Globetrotters for doing this interview!

Featured affiliated academy: Octagon La Paz, Bolivia BJJ

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Octagon La Paz, Bolivia BJJ

Where is the gym located?

La Paz, Bolivia.

How many people train there?

About 50 people of all disciplines and ages.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?

Yes, by about 3 to 4 people per month.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?

We have third-degree brown belts all the way down to fresh white belts that have just started training.

When did the gym open?

The gym as an entity has been going for almost 20 years, but in our present incarnation we’re pretty new – we moved to our current facilities in January 2017.

Some facts about you:

Name: Oscar Negron
Academy: Octagon La Paz, Bolivia BJJ
Age: 24
Belt: Purple
Profession: Businessman
Years in BJJ: 9 years
Other martial arts: No
Currently living in: La Paz, Bolivia
Originally from: La Paz, Bolivia

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
The gym was founded by Jaime and Hugo Cabrerathe, the first BJJ black belts in Bolivia, almost 20 years ago. They eventually stopped training and then the classes were taken over by their highest-ranked students. Our Mestre Antonio Cicconi (4th-degree black belt) has been helping us constantly since 2012 to reach new goals as a team. With his help we’re currently working to join up with Gracie Barra.

Octagon La Paz, Bolivia BJJ

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?

We have a loads of people, all with different goals and approaches to BJJ – from kids to adults, hobbyists to active competitors. Doctors, students, lawyers, police officers etc. People that live right beside the gym and those that sit on a bus for two hours to come and train, then go back home. There are people that want to learn self-defense, others that want to keep in shape, and competitors that work hard to bring gold medals to the academy. But we all have the same feeling: WE ALL LOVE BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU!

Why do they train?

I believe that there’s a really nice environment in Octagon La Paz, Bolivia BJJ. People go there to learn more than just techniques and how to fight – Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has much more to offer. They train because they can improve their lives both physically and mentally.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?

For instance, La Paz is the highest capital city in the world (3600m – higher than many Alpine peaks) – does the altitude make it a tough environment for such a high-intensity sport as ours, or do people get used to it after a few weeks?

Well, running a BJJ gym is definitely challenging, and involves making lots of small adjustments and refinements. In the beginning, we just held one joint training session for everyone (beginners, competitors, and juveniles), but eventually we started to realize that this wasn’t the best idea. As I said, people have different goals. So now we separate the classes into beginners, ranked belt students, juveniles, and kids (and we divide the kids in two groups according their ages).

The altitude is tough, but people born here are used to it. I mean, the locals adapted physiologically thousands of years ago (it’s been proven that the membranes in their lungs are bigger). Of course, the effect is different for people that aren’t used to altitude, but even for foreigners their breathing changes very quickly – people get used to it in a few days, especially athletes.

To be honest, hardly any sport likes to compete in La Paz because of the effects of altitude. (For people that live here, we experience a different effect when we compete at sea level.) However, many athletes from all around the world like to come here and train at altitude to improve their conditioning. Colombian cyclists often come and bike around Lake Titicaca at 4000 m, for instance.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?

BJJ is growing all around the world. In La Paz, the gentle art is growing as well. New academies are opening and I see more competitors in tournaments, which makes me personally very proud. We’re really working towards producing some world-class competitors in future.

What’s the best thing about your gym?

The friendly environment, for sure.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?

La Paz offers a lot of options for outdoor activities and exploring – like biking and hiking – since we’re surrounded by beautiful nature and mountains. It also has a wonderfully unique cultural side that isn’t like any other city.

Thanks for sharing with us! If you would like to pay a visit and test your lungs at Octagon La Paz, Bolivia BJJ, you can find them here.

Featured Traveller: Wale Adelakun BJJ Globetrotters

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Wale Adelakun BJJ

Let’s start out with some quick facts about you…

Name: Wale Adelakun – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 32

Belt: Purple

Profession: Engineer

How many years in BJJ: 6

Other martial arts: Wrestling for 4 years (yes, I’m considering it a martial art)

Where do you live: Wiesbaden, Germany

Where are you originally from: San Francisco, CA

Other fun or curious information you’d like to share: I didn’t start training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu until I came to Germany, despite having been born and raised in a hub of high-level gyms. After beginning, I stumbled backwards into some of the best gyms in the world. I casually dropped into AKA, not connecting American Kickboxing Academy with Khabib, Daniel Cormier, and the legendary Camarillo brothers. I got smashed.

Wale Adelakun – BJJ competition

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?

After I began training in 2012, I started another position at my job that would entail a significant amount of business travel. In order to stay in shape on the road, I started looking up gyms that were near my travel destinations, calling ahead, and dropping in. I actually learned a great deal about myself in the process, as it is rather intimidating to walk into a foreign gym in a foreign country to train how to break bones and choke each other unconscious. As I walk into the locker room, conversations grind to a halt. People begin sizing me up, everyone stops and watches my rolls during sparring, and people become eager to prove themselves to their professor with the newcomer. By the time I go through practice and spar, all tension is gone, and more often than not I share a post-training drink and talk shop about upcoming MMA fights.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?

I have rolled in the following countries: Germany (obviously), Israel, Estonia, Serbia, Morocco, Tunisia, Spain and all over the US. My next drop-in will be in Huntsville, AL.

Wale Adelakun – BJJ Globetrotters

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?

I enjoy getting out of my own myopic worldview and experiencing a place as locals do while traveling. I enjoy the people, interaction, and feeling that travel provides more than the sights themselves.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?

Traveling and training automatically plugs you into the local culture in a way that is difficult to replicate otherwise. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is still a rather niche art, and it has a unique flattening effect to those who practice. Those from all walks of life, from students, skilled laborers, professionals, and everyone in between, simply become your training partner while practicing. As a visitor, this means that you interact with all these people equally when dropping in. I have been invited to share family dinners in places where I never could have forged that connection otherwise.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?

I dropped into Ralph Gracie San Francisco with Kurt Osiander. He is exactly the same person as depicted on Youtube. That gym has a great juxtaposition of being in a beautiful space with homeless bums outside and great food immediately surrounding the area. I was surprised at the style of instruction (demonstrate one movement, then drill it for an hour), intensity of the sparring (they pull no punches for visitors), and the intensity of Ralph Gracie himself (he was at the gym watching his purple belt destroy me, while critiquing the purple belt’s inadequate technique. It was eye opening.)

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?

I try to eat, travel, and train as the locals do. I also try to eat and train anywhere that Anthony Bourdain recommends, obviously.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to drop-in to a gym, be humble, and have fun!

Thank you Wale Adelakun BJJ Globetrotters for doing this interview!

Featured Camp Instructor: Rich Sab – BJJ Globetrotters

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Rich Sab BJJ

Rich Sab – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 54 yrs old
Belt: Belt Black 1st degree
Profession: BJJ instructor & personal trainer
Started training (year): BJJ 2003 – Martial arts 1985
City/country: Saddle Brook, New Jersey USA


Main achievements in BJJ:

Achieving black belt and teaching for the Globetrotters camps. 

Which BJJ Globetrotters camps have you attended?

USA camps (all except the first) Heidelberg, Iceland, St Barth (twice). 

Which camp has been your favorite so far?

I love them all for different reasons however the US camp in Maine is my favorite because it’s self contained, everyone is on the grounds throughout the camp which makes it easier to meet and get to know everyone. The Heidelberg camp will always be special because that was my first camp as an instructor and my first time leaving the United States.

Rich Sab – BJJ Globetrotters camp in Germany

Favorite stories/moments from the camps?

The first Heidelberg camp was my first opportunity to teach at camp and a stand out moment for me. I was a bit nervous that 1. no-one would come to the class and 2. the class wouldn’t be well received. Thankfully I was worried for no good reason as people came and the class was well received. 

Another great moment for me was to be able to assist with one of the kids classes in St. Barth and to be able to communicate with children through BJJ even though we spoke different languages. 

Also my first roll at a Globetrotters camp was with none other than Chris Haueter, that was pretty awesome.

Rich Sab – BJJ Globetrotters camp in Maine

Your favorite class/classes to teach at camp?

 I teach a class I call “Think For Yourself” that I wasn’t to sure about initially because I don’t actually teach any technique in the class but instead put everyone into scenarios and make them work using knowledge they already possess, the kicker is you’re not allowed to use a specific technique more than one time per position forcing both the person and their partner to think and work out solutions. If anyone gets stuck then I intervene and help them by asking questions that in most cases they know the answers. The first time I ran this class at camp I was approached by a couple of black belts who said the class made them think really hard and pull on knowledge and technique they haven’t used in a long while. 

Anything else you want to add to your profile? 

The Globetrotters has opened many doors for me from traveling outside the US for the first time and being able to teach BJJ across the states in Europe and the Caribbean. I’ve made friends around the world, and taught seminars that would not have been available had it not been for the Globetrotters camps.

***

Rich Sab – BJJ Globetrotters instructor

Training Report: Fifty/50 Martial Arts Academy (Falls Church, VA, USA)

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After a 2-year-long backpacking journey in Asia and Europe, I finally returned to the United States to resume the glorious corporate lifestyle. Don’t worry, I still have countless cities and academies that are still on my bucket list! Before moving back to New York City, I had a pleasure of living like a teenager again while staying with my parents for the summer. Lucky for me, their house is located near the infamous Fifty/50 Academy, and it was one of the most exciting summers spent training and rolling with Fifty/50’s monsters.

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City
Falls Church, Virginia is a suburb of Washington D.C, which is the capital city of the United States bordering Virginia and Maryland.

Overview
Established in 2008, Fifty/50 Martial Arts Academy located in Falls Church, Virginia is headed by Ryan “The Wizard” Hall who received his Black Belt under Felipe Costa. Ryan is not only a professional MMA fighter competing in the featherweight division of the UFC, but also a renowned submission grappler with remarkable records prior to shifting his focus to MMA. The academy currently also has 3 black belt instructors including Adam Benayoun and Jen Hall, whose accomplishments and qualifications speak for themselves. As a martial arts school, the academy also offers striking and wrestling led by NCAA All-American wrestler and active MMA fighters. Besides this formal introduction, I am sure everyone has heard of Ryan Hall and his well-known academy, Fifty/50.

Unlike other gyms I have visited, I had an opportunity to train at the academy for an extended period of time. A few notable things that stood out to me about Fifty/50 are its community and Ryan’s unique teaching style. During the summer, I was regularly attending advanced BJJ classes on Monday and Wednesday nights. There was a tightly-knit group within the academy which welcomed me to its Jiu-Jitsu community, and I instantly felt included although I was simply a visitor at the academy. In addition, I found Ryan’s teaching methodology rather unique. Instead of teaching specific techniques, his focus was to explain concepts through analogies as he encourages his students to explore and apply these concepts to their own games. For example, while teaching a guard, his emphasis was to explain the concept of aligning the body structure, which can be easily translated to other positions and techniques. Then specific techniques that illustrate these concepts followed. Fifty/50 has recently expanded its reach online so if you are interested in checking out Ryan’s teaching style, feel free to check out ryanhallonline.com!

Honestly, I could not ask for more from Ryan, Adam, and the rest of Fifty/50 team during my brief but intense 5 weeks. I have been visiting the academy whenever I am back to see my parents, and I am planning on doing so going forward. My only regret is that I did not start training early enough to be a part of Fifty/50 while I was in high school living in northern Virginia. If you happen to be in D.C. or northern Virginia, don’t regret later missing out on training and rolling at Fifty/50. With top-notch instructors and athletes in combination with friendly training environment, Fifty/50 will remain one of my favorite academies to visit. Thank you, Ryan, Adam, and the rest of the Fifty/50 family. I will see you guys soon!

Location & Facility
The academy has a massive mat space, which allows for up to two classes to be run simultaneously. Also, the academy offers men’s and women’s locker rooms with showers. Fifty/50 Martial arts academy (929 W Broad St, Falls Church, VA 22046) is located in Falls Church, VA, which is about a 20-minute drive from Washington D.C. (Google Map: Link)

Schedule
Fifty/50 has an extensive schedule with a variety of classes ranging from Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to Kickboxing offered everyday so you cannot make any excuses not to train if you are around the area. The academy’s most recent schedule is posted below:

Visitor Pass
The academy welcomes all visitors from any affiliations and offers daily, weekly, and monthly visitor passes that cater towards everyone’s need. Also, discounts are applied to military and law enforcement visitors.

Website — Fifty/50 Martial Arts Academy

Tourist Attractions — Washington D.C.

  • The Washington Monument — Built to honor the nation’s first president, this marble obelisk stands slightly over 555 feet in the center of the grassy National Mall. You should take an elevator to the top for aerial views of Washington D.C.
  • Lincoln Memorial — Located at the western-end of the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial is another popular tourist destination. At its center is a gigantic giant marble statue of President Abraham Lincoln surrounded by 36 columns which represents states that existed at the time of his death. The memorial is free and open 24 hours so I would highly recommend visiting the attraction after dark when it is lit and less crowded.
  • The Tidal Basin — Bordering monuments and memorials, the Tidal Basin, a man-made reservoir adjacent to the National Mall, is home to thousands of Cherry Trees that were gifted by Japan all around the edge of the water. Every spring, the Tidal Basin is surrounded by a cloud of cherry blossoms luring visitors from all over the world.
  • The White House — Located in the heart of the nation’s capital, the White House is the official residence of the U.S. Presidents and one of the most iconic landmarks in Washington D.C. A trip to D.C. wouldn’t seem complete without getting a glimpse of the White House.
  • Museums — From Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum to National Museum of African American History and Culture, Washington D.C. is filled with world renowned museums and galleries that will appeal to virtually anyone’s interests. The best part is that all of the Smithsonian museums including the National Zoo are free to the public.