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Age: Chronologically speaking 44, biologically speaking will depend on my life choices at the time. My social age will range from behaving like a 12-yr-old during Ninja Assassin Game shenanigans at Zen Camp, or 105 after a full day of training and open mats 😀

Belt: A happy brown belt now (which wasn’t always the case)

Profession: Short answer – Nurse. Long answer: I am a trained paediatric nurse (RN), but hardly worked as one. Instead I ended up working 10 years in geriatrics (one of the hardest things I’ve done), first as an RN, then qualified to be a Quality Manager within geriatrics, then a Charge Nurse, then became the equivalent of a Nursing Director for nursing homes. However, I gave up on all that to become what I had dreamed of becoming since my apprenticeship: a specialised OR Nurse. I like “open” people! I love my job.

The hardest and most rewarding job, however, is being a lone parent to my daughter since she was 6 months old. On top of that, since 2023 I also take care of my mum, who has been quite ill. I basically run a household where no one listens to me… apart from the dog… sometimes haha!

How many years in BJJ: 13 years, since October 2011. Ask me what happened at my first training session, proper cringe…

Other martial arts: I did Wing Chun for a couple of years.

Where do you live: That’s easy to answer: Bergen, Lower Saxony, Germany.

Where are you from: That’s not easy to answer 😂 I am an ex-military child, so although I was born in Germany, I grew up mostly between England and Germany, with a short spell in Northern Ireland. I’ve lived in Germany for longer than I’ve lived anywhere else. It is my home now.

Other fun or curious information you would like to share:

• Genetically I’m half German/half Polish. If asked, however, I’ll always say I’m English. That is a campfire story.
• I went to boarding school. Started learning German properly when I was 16 and I’m still learning haha.
• I was junior silver medalist in Lower Saxony for small caliber air pistol.
• I used to be in a band called “No Borders”, and we had a few gigs around my area. I kinda gave up playing guitar when I started BJJ. I dabble from time to time now.
• For a couple of years now I’ve been on a constant search to discover ways to help myself and others with strategies to help with mindset.

Conny Genko – BJJ Globetrotters Iceland Camp 2024

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
I wouldn’t necessarily say I was inspired to travel and train. More like I was forced to. The only training available when I started was 1 hour away in Hannover, where my ex Wing Chun teacher, forever mentor, and good friend had started to train. It took a while for me to grasp what the hell was going on. The long car rides back and forth, training 6 times a week, with him explaining EVERYTHING, truly helped. Later on, however, because of the growing obsession to acquire as much information as possible, I would visit other gyms, go to seminars by myself, and compete as much as possible. I’ve lost count of how many gyms I’ve visited. One thing I do remember though is, wherever I went, regardless whether there were girls’ changing rooms, showers and lockers or not, the vibe of the people on the mats, irrespective of country, was consistent.

This is what inspired me to travel as much as possible, to visit any gym that I could. I always felt we were all in the same boat, trying to get better, trying not to drown. It never mattered that I was often the only woman on the mat. It never mattered that I had to bring my little girl with me to training because there was no one else to look after her. It didn’t take long until roadtrips became our thing. Pretty sure my daughter grew up mostly in the car hahaha.

I love meeting new people. I love the invisible bond there is between people. It wasn’t until my first BJJ Globetrotters camp (which was my first ever camp, and took me 5 years until I could fulfil that dream) that that invisible bond became tangible. I was absolutely completely hooked. It’s kinda like a drug to be surrounded with people who follow the credo of “it doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from, you are welcome, you are seen, you are part of a big ginormous family”. So it felt completely normal to have post-camp blues and, regardless of the consequences, to book the next camp straight away. Not one of my better life choices, but I’m still glad I did, as that camp turned out to be the best for multiple reasons.

Although there are many more gyms to train in nowadays (even one down the road from me) my time and my capacity to train are much more limited than they used to be. Sometimes just getting to training is a battle in itself, so to be able to go to camps is even harder. But not impossible. Never impossible.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
As 2024 comes to an end, it has been a great year of travelling. I’ve been to Hamburg, Osnabrück, Munich, Holland, Breslau (Wrocław) and via the Czech Republic, which is a beautiful country, I visited the first Spring edition of Zen Camp. Those cherry blossom trees are a must see. I went to Iceland for the first time on a strict budget, which was terrifying, but doable. Lastly my favourite camp, the October edition of Zen Camp again. (I love autumn.)

In December I’m going to London with my daughter and hope to be able to train at one of the infamous London gyms, and I’ll kickstart the New Year in style at the Winter Camp in Wagrain, Austria. In January, I’ll be going to Lisbon. I will always move heaven and earth to be able to go to Zen Camp, mainly because I love messing around pretending to be a ninja and thinking of ways to kill people in the most secretive way. Those who know, know.

Conny Genko – BJJ Globetrotters Zen Camp Spring 2024

What are the things you enjoy about travelling?
I could start by saying all the things that everyone who loves to travel would say, and I will get to that. First and foremost though, for me travelling is a form of escape. I’m sure many parents, especially the ones doing it by themselves, will agree. In normal day-to-day life you sometimes lose yourself, but once you get in that car to go somewhere (yes I love driving, even with my English road rage) things become easy again. The rules change, there is no protocol to follow, there is just leaving “life” behind and the destination—with whatever goodies occur on the way.

On the occasions where I travel by myself or with a friend, I find my equilibrium returning to “normal” person settings. Not the parent, not the caregiver, just me. This is the thing I love the most about travelling.

The opportunities that arise whilst going from A to B are just the cherries on top. Often I’ll stop the car at a random place and just revel in the beauty of the moment, feeling grateful for the chance to have that for myself. If I have a road trip buddy with me, the deep and meaningful conversations are always the apex of the journey. Throw in some hiking, waterfalls, forests, history, food, like minded people, BJJ and something I have never seen or done before and BOOM… perfection.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that make it worth traveling and training?
I find this extremely difficult to answer, because something that makes it worth it for me may seem extremely banal for someone else. Mostly, however, it has been the echoes of the personal connections made. Getting to know someone on a deeper level is a byproduct of traveling and training. When training we learn to trust people with our bodies, and when spending time with certain special souls you learn to trust them with your thoughts and feelings. This leads to friendships that withstand space and time.
Any experience I’ve had whilst traveling and training has been a memorable one, regardless whether it’s been traveling to a competition or a camp. The inside jokes that are made, the craziness that happens, that even 10 years later we still laugh about. The more time I spent with my team or fellow Globetrotters, the closer we got.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
I have never been one to remember things. The most surprising thing for me was, once you’ve left, there’s no going back. No do-over. Just gotta keep going. So even if you forget XYZ (unless it’s your passport/ticket) it just isn’t that important. There is no going back to collect, so make the best of what you have, and be surprised by the outcome.

As I previously mentioned, doing Iceland on a budget was scary. It was at the hardest, lowest financial moment of the year (maybe my life). It got to a point where I had no way to get back to the airport. I thought I had money on my card, but a surprise booking went through and I was left with nothing. The caring, sweet, financial help of someone I had just met a couple of days ago meant I got to get my flight. Something I will never forget. A truly humbling emotional experience.

I guess if you put your faith in the humanity of others, you will be constantly surprised.

During my early days of training, I was constantly surprised by the amount of people willing and able to help with my daughter. As the years progressed she went from being held, fed, changed, and rocked to sleep, to being played with, entertained, and looked after whilst I sparred. To then having help with schoolwork, held when upset, and heel hooked for being cheeky. It was always very touching to have people spontaneously willing to help.

Conny Genko – BJJ Globetrotters Iceland Camp 2024

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
For a few years I was forced to work part time to be more present at home. This obviously also meant half the pay. So although I love the finer things in life, they were (are) just not an option. I work more now, but still not to my full pay. So I’m constantly on a budget.

I am not a very organised person. However, something that has helped in that regard is to plan and research in advance. I don’t mean one or two months ahead. I mean more like two or three years into the future. It starts with an idea of wanting to go somewhere. That’s when the saving up starts. Also this is when I will start looking for accommodation, just to get a feel for the prices and make sure I research the area for better options. All the search engines are used. Every site you can imagine. Air BnB, Booking.com and even using Globetrotter matsurfing are viable options.

I now have a system that works for me. I plan out the yearly calendar by putting in the school holidays and all the BJJ Globetrotters camps or any other events that take several days. I see where the correlations are in regard to getting time off work (during school holidays it’s harder to get time off) and if there is organised child care available that I could book (this also needs to be done well in advance). So either I go to a camp where my daughter can go with me (during holidays) or I organise somewhere for her to stay, mainly her paternal grandparents. I make sure my mum has all her medicine and that my dad has no plans to go away.

I will mostly go to places that I can drive to. This means I also have accommodation in case worse comes to worst; then I’ll sleep in the car. Thankfully I have friends all over Germany and have always had a place to stay. One of the perks of having trained for so long. If you’re a relative newbie and would like to travel around, there is no harm in asking the people where you visit for the opportunity to either sleep in the gym (those big puffy gymnastics mats are awesome to sleep on) or for the possibility of a couch. There’s always gonna be someone who can vouch for you, providing you’re not a serial killer.

When staying somewhere, I’ll usually bring as much food from home as possible. If I’m travelling by car, the limit is endless. I will scope out offers for big packs in the weeks leading up to departure. If I’m flying then noodles, rice, oats, protein power, and soup bags are crammed into my hand luggage so that my main luggage is not too heavy. Also I will try to wear as much as possible so there’s more room for training gear. This is what I did for Iceland.

I will always be social, and being social isn’t defined by drinking and eating big meals in restaurants. So I save a heck of a lot by refraining from doing those things if necessary.

Using the WISE Card has been a godsend. You can create multiple currencies and that way save losing money from a bad exchange rate.

Keep the change!!! By that I mean all those little coins that inevitably find their way into your pocket. Keep them. Use them next time. Especially good for buying little things at the airport, or if you need to pay for the use of a toilet. I have lots of different wallets for different countries.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Go. Do the thing. Why wait. There is no better time than the present moment to enjoy your life to the fullest. If you struggle financially like me, then trust the process and know that you will be okay. You have survived being stuck in mount for what felt like hours on end, so yeah, having a little less money for the next few months will also be a lesson learned on how to do it better next time.

Always have something to look forward to. Why else do we work so hard? You deserve to be kind to yourself. For all those experiencing mum or dad guilt, trust me when I say your travelling and training experiences will make you a better, stronger person, and therefore a better parent. The kid/-s may not like or understand why you want to go somewhere by yourself, but they will reap the benefits of your mental batteries having been recharged.

The more effort you make to get to know people and to get out of your comfort zone, the more you will learn. Like Jiu Jitsu, you don’t get better by doing the same thing. Test the waters, discover new sides to your capabilities, surprise yourself—you will be better off for it. Trust yourself.

I for one cannot imagine my life without the Globetrotters camps now. From going to my first camp all by myself, to now having a solid group of people I look forward to seeing. Thank you to all who I have had the pleasure to connect with. Thank you Christian for being a legend on so many levels. And lastly thank you to those brave souls attending their first camp. Be brave. I cannot wait to see you!

Thank you to Conny Genko – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

Age: 34

Belt: Black (as of a few days ago!)

Profession: Former bicycle-taxi, former programmer, sometimes Judo/Jiu Jitsu instructor. These days I work with spreadsheets and strategy while I figure out what’s next–including starting @newazaclub next month!

How many years in BJJ: Getting close to 19 years since I first stepped onto the mat.

Other martial arts: Judo, 2nd dan

Where do you live: Divide, Colorado, USA

Where are you from: Austin, Texas, USA

Other fun or curious information you would like to share:

• I once gave a talk in Esperanto about Jiu Jitsu while staying at “The Esperanto Village” (Herzberg am Harz) in Germany
• I was once nationally ranked in Sambo in the US (Unfortunately, I promise this sounds more impressive than it is)
• I once completed a ride that included 1500 miles in 36 hours on a 1986 motorcycle (a Yamaha FJ1200 if you’re a nerd), certified by the Iron Butt Association (Yes, that exists, and yes, I have a certificate)

Kyle Baker – BJJ Globetrotters

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
I moved to a foreign country when I was 18 and lived abroad for 3 years, and I’ve later lived abroad for many of my adult years in a few countries. Growing up, I never wanted to live in my home country–so traveling has always been a big part of my life.

Doing Jiu Jitsu and Judo while traveling felt very natural, and honestly is one of the ultimate travel hacks–instantly connect to locals, cut past all the caricature reality of the modern default travel experience, make some real friends.

In this era, travel is so weirdly commoditized and provided as a Disney-like experience. Every travel destination is oddly self-conscious and presents itself as a pre-packaged experience–postcard highlights to repeat for every tourist. It can take some effort to escape that experience. Jiu Jitsu can be a bridge to that authentic world; I rarely travel without trying to connect to a gym, and it’s often a highlight of my experience.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
I just got back from Zen Camp October 2024, where I (finally) received my black belt from the Council of Traveling Black Belts, 7 years after getting my brown belt at that first Zen Camp back in 2017. I did some matsurfing at Next Level MMA in Frankfurt, under the kind hospitality of Francesco Fonte. Also, though, a coach under him (Aris) generously spent hours with me every day, sharing stories and theories with me, discussing the origins (and limitations) of ecological theory and the history of pedagogical techniques in Judo–definitely a highlight, something I didn’t really plan, just invitations and happenstance that landed in my lap through traveling in the Jiu Jitsu community.

On my way back, I was hosted by another globetrotter who showed me (again) that good German food actually does exist, among many other deep and beautiful truths.

For better or worse, I accidentally left a painting and my travel guitar behind… so I guess I have to return. We’ll see what that journey brings.

Next is a short jaunt to Peru… and then, honestly, I’m still fairly new to Colorado, so experiencing the seasons here in the mountains still feels like somewhere new and beautiful every day to me.

Kyle Baker – BJJ Globetrotters

What are the things you enjoy about travelling?
There’s something very special about traveling when it comes to creating relationships. Perhaps it’s a bit like the internet–you’re almost anonymous, you’re leaving soon, so the openness to going deep and creating a real connection feels higher. I think at this point, this might honestly be the thing that motivates me to travel more than anything else.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that make it worth traveling and training?
I mean, the easy first answer is that as someone who hasn’t had an instructor for more than 10 years, I got my brown and black belts at Globetrotters camps, both in ways that were very special moments for me.

Beyond those “mountaintop” experiences, there has been a lifetime of meaningful experiences for me on the road. I’ve been invited to teach and made close friends for life. I’ve become connected to a global web of travelers and jiu-jiteros that I encounter over the years. I’ve fallen in love, experienced heartbreak, learned languages I never planned to. I’ve accidentally been to the border of Ukraine while lost in 12 hours of deep conversation with a stranger. I’ve competed, given seminars.

One stop that was supposed to be 6 weeks ended up being 2 years, with me co-leading a gym and bringing Judo back to a town that had seen the last dojo close years before. My 2nd degree black belt in Judo came through those local competitions, too, from an old 8th dan that saw me and took an interest out there–but that’s a story for another time, ask me when we meet in person.

When I got my black belt in jiu jitsu last week in Poland, I received kind private messages of recognition from instructors and training partners and students at gyms I had trained with from all over through my many years of training. I haven’t had a home gym in a long time, but I had friends and fans who had followed my journey in some way all along the way who shared their recognition and celebrated with me.

I could have just kept down the corporate path and have more money saved in the bank, trained less on the side. And… I am so glad I didn’t do that. That’s fine for many, but it just wasn’t the life some of us were made to live, and I found so much value and meaning living this way.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
How it always just works out, one way or another. You don’t need to stress, just take everything as another story in the making.

Other than that, maybe I’m most surprised by how little surprises me. In this era, traveling is so accessible. The world has never been smaller. The travel opportunities available to us now would have been the wildest, unimaginable dream of our ancestors even a hundred years ago.

Kyle Baker – BJJ Globetrotters

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

• If you’re an American, and you have good financial discipline, learning the credit card sign-up bonus game can make a lot of flying free, which is crazy. Feel free to reach out for a primer on the subject if you’re interested, I studied this way too deeply this year and wish I’d done it sooner.
• Use “Wise” while abroad to manage currency conversion–can save you a few percent otherwise lost to just changing your money into the local form, and that really adds up.
• Find the cheap major transport hub airports, and then use BlaBlaCar or Flixbus in Europe, or other cheap ground transport to get to your final destination, and just look for gyms along the way.
• Go cheap, but not so cheap that your sleep is ruined. Good sleep is worth paying a little extra for, this goes for flights, hostels, bus rides, etc. Bring earplugs, bring an eyemask, take magnesium and melatonin as needed. Sleeping well is the cheapest way to stay healthy and enjoy everything in life more–what good is a day of travel where you’re miserable and groggy? Priorities!
• I wasted the potential of some of my early travels by being too frugal. This is the time to enjoy! Make it count!
• Carry-on-only is the way to go if you’re doing a longer trip. Get a 60l backpack (I swear by the Patagonia Black Hole duffel) and a deceitfully spacious shoulder bag (I use a bag I’ve had for 20 years from Timbuktu) for the ‘personal item’, you can live out of them if you’re careful. Less is more, you can always buy what you need on the road. No matter how efficient I try to be, somehow it seems there are always some things at the end of a trip that I realize I never touched.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Travel now, not later. Old age comes faster than you realize. You can make up the money later, but youth and time are passing you by. You never know what doors will open and how your life will change.

I leave the reader with two quotes that have guided me on my way:

“Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon?

Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”

“The secret for harvesting from existence the greatest fruitfulness and greatest enjoyment is — to live dangerously.”

 

Thank you Kyle Baker – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

Where is the gym located?
The gym is located in the city of Manacor, Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, Spain. It is in a unique setting, located inside a hilltop country villa, with an orchid and animals.

How many people train there?
At the moment we have 80 members who train with us, and we are constantly growing.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
We’ve only been open since November 2023 and seen our gym grow from 12 initial members to 80 within 10 months. This has been a huge achievement.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
We have all levels at our gym, from white to black.

When did the gym open?
November 2023.

 

Some facts about you:

Name: Scott McGuigan
Age: 36
Belt: Brown
Profession: Educational researcher
Years in BJJ: 8
Other martial arts: Muay Thai, wrestling, and BJJ
Currently living in: Manacor, Mallorca, Baleàric Islands, Spain.
Originally from: Scotland

Please tell us the story of how The Farm Association, BJJ Spain came into existence
Having previously lived in Asia and having travelled around the world training at different gyms, I experienced many different learning or training styles, along with making lots of connections with awesome people in BJJ. After 7 years of travelling and working abroad, I eventually settled in Mallorca, Spain. We wanted to create something completely unique. By choosing a countryside setting, we allowed ourselves to train in the middle of nature. Having access to all that natural light makes a huge difference to your emotions and enhances your training experience. You can smell the freshness of the garden as you enter the gym.

We also wanted to create an academy with a unique methodology for training which we just did not have access to on the island. We structure all of our lessons around a task-based learning approach, with a focus on consistent movement and problem solving in every lesson. This has been inspired by my personal research into educational methodology and the effectiveness of hyper focus in learning. We encourage all of our students to learn through movement and play, with a focus on more intensity when the time comes for a more competitive element. We have seen a significant improvement of skill retention and understanding since implementing these methods of training.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
We are a family orientated gym, with most of our students having full time jobs. We have a significant number of guardia civil and police officers that train with us, they make up around 50% of our student population. We are really blessed with a fantastically positive learning environment, where everybody can have a laugh and a joke, whilst getting down to business when the time comes to get more competitive.

Why do they train in The Farm Association, BJJ Spain?
Most people train with us to enhance their everyday lives. We are seeing more and more people having an interest in BJJ and acknowledging the benefits it can have on your quality of life. It pleases me more than anything else to see these people grow. We do also have a good record in competition, having success at European level as well as grappling industries and local Spanish competitions, but again, our students are achieving this whilst working full time and with families, so the focus will always be on personal growth and development as opposed to solely competition. As a coach it pleases me more than anything else to see someone who has never done any sport before come in, try for the first time… enjoy it! Because that is important and becomes extremely resilient through training. The sense of achievement they acquire is like nothing else they have experienced.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
I have actually been extremely blessed as I have grown at a rapid rate. This however, can come with the challenge of “keeping up”. I have a planned extension of facilities to increase our 70m2 of Fuji tatami to 110m2, as well as previously building changing, toilet, and shower facilities. This all costs a lot of money for initial investment and it can be hard as the money you make might not be so high at first. It is also a challenge to keep the gym grounded and maintain your initial close community values and keep your pricing to an affordable rate with significant extension work. But all of this I have made it my objective to achieve. I always want it to be as affordable as possible for my students.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
The future is bright, I believe Mallorca has a growing community of gyms and students and I hope they can all work together to enhance the community on the island and use BJJ to teach positive human values and morals and not just focus on the competitive element. I see our gym and myself continuing to develop, create and reinvent effective ways of teaching and learning to make BJJ more effective and accessible to all.

What’s the best thing about The Farm Association, BJJ Spain?
The environment for sure, in more than one aspect. The friendliness of our team is just awesome. The people who train here really make this a special place, so to me… this is number one! The second is the way we teach. Tourists and visitors of all levels (some very high level) always comment on the effectiveness and uniqueness of our lessons. And lastly, of course, it’s in the countryside, which is just a nice thing to experience when training.

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

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Thanks for sharing! If you’d like to visit The Farm Association, BJJ Spain you can contact them here.

Mathieu Paquet – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 40
Belt: Black belt
Profession: I’m commercial on telecommunication and real estate manager
Started training (year): Practicing BJJ since 2010
City/country: Chalons en champagne, France

 

Main achievements in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:

Multiple HBI and undefeated champion HONOR BATTLE INVITATIONAL 

Multiple first loser (silver medal) on IBJJF, London, New York etc.

Champion Naga Europe in Amsterdam

Double gold grappling industries Brussels 

 

Which Globetrotters camps have you attended:

Zen Camp oct 2019

Austria Camp Jan 2020

Iceland as a coach June 2023

St. Barth as a coach Jan 2024

Mathieu Paquet – BJJ Globetrotters Iceland Camp

 

Which camp has been your favorite so far?

I really enjoy each camp. All of them are full of high energy, magical. 

However, St. Barth is my favorite, we are litteraly in paradise (maybe more than..) at every moment. Find again my old friends, meet new, sun, beach, surf, and of course BJJ.

It seems that what binds us is BJJ, but it is the desire to create strong connections, to share and build unforgettable memories, to savor every second smiling.

I love each person. We all have something to receive, to offer, to share.

Mathieu Paquet – BJJ Globetrotters Caribbean Camp

 

Favorite stories/moments from the camps?

Zen Camp: The place is wonderful, full of dreams. The decor so beautiful!! The detail that makes the difference: all in white gis!! Such a wonderful picture in my mind.

Iceland: The Vikings tournament: Christian had brought a huge speaker and was playing Celtic music.  We thought we were in the Viking’s time.

St. Barth: The moment when all camp participants cooked for the last dinner. Emulation was at its peak, everyone was eager to do the best of themselves. I appreciate all the details that make this camp so special. Even the music during the open mat. The hammock never too far from the tatami mats.

Anything else you want to add to your profile:

For all of this : I love you BJJ Globetrotters

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Mathieu Paquet – BJJ Globetrotters instructor

Where is the gym located?
South Burlington (VT), United States.

How many people train there?
15 full time adult members (gi and no-gi), 14 kids (gi), 12 kids wrestling. We have a lot of members that cross train from other gyms as well (drop in training partners).

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
We have been getting about 2 new members a month.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
White belt up to brown belt. But we are under Nick Bramlage, a 1 stripe black belt that comes to train monthly.

When did High Hat Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, USA open?
We opened a small training room in June of 2023. In February of 2024 we found our current standalone location, which is when we began advertising.

Some facts about you:

Name: Shayne Fenton
Age: 50
Belt: Brown
Profession: Farmer
Years in BJJ: 8
Other martial arts: N/A
Currently living in: Charlotte, VT (15 minutes from the gym)
Originally from: Burlington, VT

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence
I was training under a Gracie Jiu Jitsu black belt, and my son lost interest in that program. In order to keep him active, we opened a small training room near our house where we trained together. From there I realised that I was unhappy with the training as well. I was introduced to Nick Bramladge from Infinity Martial Arts, who is an Allen Hopkins blackbelt, and began training under his tutelage. Alex Z began training with me and we began brainstorming to find a larger location where we could build out the Jiu Jitsu program, but also build a youth wrestling program. After moving to the new location we brought in three-time Vermont state wrestling champion Jack Carney to lead the youth wrestling program.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
In our adult program we have a high school senior, several members of law enforcement (both local and federal), a doctor, an executive vice president, a math graduate student, a physical therapy student, and many others.

The kids program has students from 5th through 10th grade.

Why do they train in High Hat Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, USA?
Lifestyle change, community atmosphere, to be essentially a part of a support group. Some train for competition and some for self defense. Some of us come to train hard and get a good anaerobic workout and sweat.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
The population is small in our area. It can be challenging to incorporate new people into our gym and build their fundamentals while also keeping the more advanced people engaged. But we have established a good system that keeps it balanced. Vermonters live a very active outdoor lifestyle. It can be hard to pull people away from their lifelong interests.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
We are very optimistic based on the growing interest. The sport is clearly gaining popularity. We offer an excellent combination of sport Jiu Jitsu and self defense. Our location and friendliness make us an excellent local option for training. Our goal is to double our adult enrollment by Christmas.

What’s the best thing about High Hat Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, USA?
Our focus is on building a great training environment which is very welcoming. We are not focused on the financial aspect of having a gym, which gives us the freedom to vet new training partners.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
We are two miles from the Burlington Waterfront of Lake Champlain and the Church Street area. We are 1 and a half miles from the University of Vermont. We are 20 minutes from excellent hiking and biking trails, as well as some of the best ski resorts in the north east. We are an hour and 15 minutes from Montreal.

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Thanks for sharing! If you’d like to visit High Hat Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, USA you can contact them here.

 Alexander Backus – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 43
Belt: Black
Profession: Forensic psychiatric nurse
Started training (year): 2011
City/country: Örebro, Sweden

 

Main achievements in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:

Still having the most fun and enjoy playing the game.

 

Which Globetrotters camps have you attended:

Tallinn Spring Camp, Heidelberg and Austria Winter Camp

 

Which camp has been your favorite so far?

Tallinn Spring Camp 2022 because it was the first camp and for personal growth and connecting to the community. Really enjoyed just having fun together and learning alot.

Alexander Backus – BJJ Globetrotters Spring Camp

 

Favorite stories/moments from the camps?

Winter Camp when I started and lost a snowball fight with 20 ish campers from the balcony with no shirt on and with no snow. And like a cliche from an old move the american friend came to the rescue with a ton of snow so we could fight back.

That time in Heidelberg when I was told that everything closes at 01 o’clock in Heidelberg. I accepted the challenge and Heidelberg did not close :)

Every open mat at every camp. I learn so much and that is the best moments for me. Just to roll with so many awesome people with different styles and to share knowledge.

Alexander Backus – BJJ Globetrotters Winter Camp

 

Your favorite class/classes to teach at camp? 

The next class I am teaching is always my favorite :) Love to teach so every class is special.  Generally I like to teach fundamental stuff that everybody can do but at an advance level.

 

Anything else you want to add to your profile:

If you are not having fun when you are rolling. You are doing something wrong.

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 Alexander Backus – BJJ Globetrotters instructor

Age: 31

Belt: Black (Judo)

Profession: Teacher

How many years in BJJ Judo: 27

Other martial arts: Karate, BJJ, MMA

Where do you live: Everywhere and nowhere

Where are you from: France

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: With the Judo Nomad project, I’ve had the opportunity to teach Japanese Jiujitsu, BJJ, and MMA. All those sports are martial arts that I never actually tried, and yet I taught either BJJ or MMA (Grappling) in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and Australia…

Our disciplines are always linked somehow, and it is really interesting (if not more) to teach a class for people of other sports.

Julien Brulard – BJJ Globetrotters

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
Living in Japan for nearly three years with the goal of becoming a better judoka profoundly shaped my understanding of the sport. The philosophy and depth of judo I encountered there were far beyond anything I had learned in 20 years of practice. During my time in Japan, I developed a passion for teaching. As I traveled to nearby countries, I found myself frequently invited to teach, and these experiences were incredibly rewarding and friendly, sparking the idea for my project.

I dedicated many years to studying and achieving various certifications from the French Judo Federation, culminating in a master’s degree in high-level sport performance. Despite these accomplishments, I found it challenging to secure the job I aspired to—being part of a national staff or a special judo school. This realization led me to pursue my own project, fueled by my dreams and the inspiration I gained from my experiences abroad.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
My most recent adventure took me to New Zealand, a place rich in both cultural diversity and judo enthusiasm. I visited multiple clubs across the country, from Auckland to Wellington to the South Island, meeting incredible judokas and immersing myself in the local judo scene. One of the highlights was training with Dave, a 76-year-old active competitor, whose dedication and energy were truly inspiring.

NZ was the 40th country out of the goal of 197 countries. It has now been 3 years out of a planned 10!

Looking ahead, my journey will continue with a return to Europe. I’ll be coaching for Vanuatu at the Olympics, which is an exciting and significant milestone. After the Olympics, I’ll head to the UK to earn my IJF certification. During this period, I plan to explore judo communities in the UK, Ireland, and possibly Iceland, continuing my mission to teach judo and connect with practitioners around the world. Each destination brings new experiences and opportunities to share the art and philosophy of judo.

Julien Brulard – BJJ Globetrotters

What are the things you enjoy about travelling?
Traveling brings a sense of adventure and discovery that I find incredibly fulfilling. I love the opportunity to meet new people from diverse backgrounds and immerse myself in different cultures. Every destination offers unique experiences, from the vibrant streets of bustling cities to the tranquil beauty of remote landscapes.

Teaching judo around the world allows me to share my passion and knowledge, while also learning from others. It’s inspiring to see how judo is practiced and appreciated in different parts of the world. I enjoy the camaraderie and connections formed through the sport, as well as the chance to grow personally and professionally. I feel like I give myself the chance of doing things that I would never have done in my life without this project.

Additionally, the challenges of traveling—navigating new places, adapting to different environments, and overcoming obstacles—are rewarding. They push me out of my comfort zone and make each journey memorable. Overall, traveling enriches my life with new perspectives, friendships, and unforgettable moments.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that make it worth traveling and training?
The fact that my travel is based on training and teaching makes every hard moment worth it. If I weren’t teaching judo and Jiu Jitsu, I would probably have been bored already. Doing this, I feel like I have a family everywhere waiting for me; it’s indescribable.

I have had so many good experiences. For instance, I can mention the classes I gave in Nepal, where judo is primarily humanitarian, so I taught mostly in orphanages. I was welcomed by those kids like a king, always covered in flower necklaces, food, and beautiful smiles. I taught in one orphanage for kids who lost their parents during the 2015 earthquake. They organized a ceremony and applied the traditional red tilak on my forehead—it was memorable! The next day, I watched a documentary on Netflix about the earthquake called “Aftershock.” I couldn’t stop thinking that those kids I was with the day before were in it. I just broke into tears on the back of the bumpy bus going from Kathmandu to Pokhara.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
The possibilities available to us are truly limitless. Before starting this project, I was a bit pessimistic. The climate and mood in France felt negative, at least to me. I never would have believed that I would have so many opportunities just by traveling and teaching judo. I’ve been offered head coach positions in some of the strongest judo countries in the world. Today, I’m preparing to coach an athlete at the Olympics. I’ve had discussions with presidents of countries about developing sports, and I’ve met extremely influential people—some very good and some terribly bad.

I’m constantly surprised by the experiences I’ve had, even though I’ve worked extremely hard for them and sacrificed a lot in my life. The journey has shown me that the world is full of possibilities if we dare to pursue them.

Julien Brulard – BJJ Globetrotters

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I’m a budget traveler on a million-dollar project. Traveling to 197 countries in 10 years is incredibly expensive. While I could adopt an extreme budget travel approach, I also aim to develop the project further, with hopes of building academies around the world or organizing special training camps, perhaps even in collaboration with you!

I plan my trips based on several factors. Firstly, I have a small monthly budget thanks to the support from people on Patreon, which allows me to teach judo for free everywhere—particularly in less affluent countries.

The process is the same in every country: I contact the local judo federation or reach out to my contacts there to explore potential collaborations. This often results in staying at academies or with local hosts, significantly reducing costs.

In countries where I can afford the cost of living, I plan to stay in a hotel one day a week or more. This gives me a chance to rest and handle administrative work that I couldn’t manage during the week.

For me, making a trip affordable depends on my contacts and organization. With the right connections, I can make even the most ambitious journey more feasible.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
There are many things I would recommend:

1. Go Off the Beaten Path: Some of the most incredible experiences are in the lesser-known places. Immerse yourself completely, learn the language or at least some of it, and participate in local traditions. This brings us to the second recommendation:
2. Be Open-Minded and Tolerant: Traveling for extended periods or to many places means you’ll encounter people with different or even opposing views. Learning how to communicate (or not) with these people is crucial. Remember that you’re not at home and need to stay humble. Even if you disagree with something or find it extreme, sometimes it’s best to just let people talk.
3. Embrace Flexibility: If you’re planning a budget and long-term travel like I do, flexibility is key. Everything changes constantly, and your plans are temporary. This requires readiness and adaptability. Not everyone can tolerate such a life, so be prepared for it.
4. Stay with Your “Family”: Whether it’s your jiu-jitsu or judo family, when you travel, find a gym, and after a few classes you’ll be part of the family. This not only enhances your travel experience, but can also save you from tricky situations.
5. Traveling with a Community: Traveling within a community is intense. Training can be hard when you’re not used to it, but meeting new people and new teams means frequent hellos and goodbyes. It’s an intense lifestyle but also leads to some of the best parties of your life!
6. Safety First: Be wise and cautious. Travel with your passport in your hand luggage, avoid illegal substances or shady activities, and train hard but smart.

Thank you to Julien Brulard – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

Where is the gym located?
Sociedad Secreta BJJ gym is located on Jacinto Dávila and Tnte. Hugo Ortíz streets in downtown Puyo, a beautiful city in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Its warm weather, breathtaking landscapes, and tourist attractions like rivers and waterfalls create the perfect setting to be in contact with nature and BJJ.

How many people train there?
The training team consists of approximately 25 people – including kids.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
Sociedad Secreta is the fastest growing academy in the province. Despite being a relatively new academy, after just four months since our opening we have had great acceptance among people. Actually, we have on average 5 new students per week.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training in Sociedad Secreta, BJJ Ecuador?
Of the people currently training in Sociedad Secreta, purple is the highest belt, and we have several white belts. Additionally, we often receive visits from Joaquín Gavilanes, who is the black belt in change of the academy.

When did the gym open?
Sociedad Secreta BJJ opened on February 14th 2024. However, our official opening event was on March 9th, where people who attended watched Ecuadorian Chito Vera’s fight for the UFC bantamweight championship.

Some facts about you:

Name: Ivan Esteban Diaz
Age: 30
Belt: Purple
Profession: Dentist
Years in BJJ: 8 years approximately
Other martial arts: BJJ was the first martial art I got interested in. However, I have also tried kickboxing and Muay Thai.
Currently living in: Puyo city, Ecuador
Originally from: I was born in Puyo and I currently live here

Please tell us the story of how Sociedad Secreta, BJJ Ecuador came into existence
It all started with a group of four friends – me being the leader. We started practicing in my living room. At that time I used to live and train in another city, but I had the idea of creating an academy for many years due to the lack of BJJ gyms in my hometown.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
The people training in Sociedad Secreta are part of my friends group, as well as other people who have joined this martial family, and we have created a solid group of friends full of good vibes and energy.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
One of the biggest challenges of running the academy was starting and positioning ourselves, but excellent marketing, good vibes, and love for Jiu-Jitsu have put us on the map, not only within the city, but the country.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
We work hard every day to give BJJ visibility within the city, because a short time ago people didn’t know a thing about it. Our objective is to prepare athletes for national and international competencies. That’s why I remain active participating in competitions, to practice what I preach.

We take advantage of visitors like Joaquín. He supports the academy with workshop activities where students can learn and practice new techniques and, most importantly, have fun while doing what they like.

What’s the best thing about Sociedad Secreta, BJJ Ecuador?
I believe that the best thing about Sociedad Secreta is the friendly environment we have. We try to instill the BJJ lifestyle to every new student and make them feel part of this family.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
The Ecuadorian Amazon is the hometown of strong and capable people. This is a place full of potential to prepare world-class athletes just like Roberto Jiménez, Johnny Tama, the Iturralde brothers, and many others who put Ecuador in the BJJ map.

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Thanks for sharing! If you’d like to visit Sociedad Secreta, BJJ Ecuador, you can contact them here.

As we get ready for our 100th camp in a few days, I thought it would be fun to look back at some favorite memories from the last 12 years of this crazy adventure. While we’ve primarily focused on Jiu Jitsu at the camps, technique and rolling can be a bit boring to write about, so here is a non-exhaustive list, in random order, of memorable events from the last 99 camps!

The First Ever Camp

It was somehow coordinated that around 20 people—most of them I had met on a recent trip around the world—would all come train with us in Copenhagen for a week. Royce Gracie happened to be in town as well and he was actually the first instructor we ever hired for a camp. We had such an amazing time, and I knew right away that I had stumbled onto something special that I wanted to do more. They came back the next summer, brought some friends along, and the rest is history. I don’t have a single picture or video from that camp so you’re gonna have to do with the original spreadsheet of participants!

Fight Show in the Carlsberg Breweries

Our club in Copenhagen basically started out as a drinking club with a Jiu Jitsu problem and later turned into a Jiu Jitsu club with a drinking problem. We wanted to throw some big, fun parties, but we were poor. Early on, we realized that the camps could be a way to fund these dreams. One summer, we rented the recently closed Carlsberg Breweries buildings in Copenhagen and hosted a big summer party for the camp and our club’s members. We had a cage installed and ran some memorable matches; one of the kids from the club fought the teacher of the kids’ team. MMA rules. In suits. What a night!

Vodka & Violence

One of the first camps we did outside of Denmark was in El Salvador. Random, I know, but I wanted to go surfing. It was a small camp with only 20 people in a private house by the beach. We had a lot of spare time just relaxing in the garden during the day. Our beloved camper friend Oksana came all the way from Russia and didn’t speak any English. One day she was away with half the camp for sightseeing, and we decided to make a little film for her, completely in Google Translated Russian. And so, the movie trailer “Vodka & Violence” was born. I took us all day to film it because we laughed so much and had to film every scene so many times.

Swimming in the freezing ocean in Greenland

It’s already crazy enough to think that we hosted two camps in Greenland, of all places. The most remote, wild, and spectacular place I’ve ever visited. It’s expensive to get there, so I thought I would make the camp free for participants. To avoid too many people signing up for a free camp without being serious about actually going, I required a deposit that they would ONLY get back if they jumped in the ocean in Greenland during camp. Spoiler alert: Tons of people still signed up, then immediately realized that Greenland is far away and difficult to get to. I kept my word and only refunded those who got in the slushy waves with us! The camp itself was a truly amazing experience as we rolled with the locals, sailed with random fishermen to whale watch and got to know the life of people living in this special place.

“Crossface”

A handful of campers managed to put together a band and played live at the final open mat of the 2019 Summer Camp in Heidelberg, Germany. How often do you get to have a mosh pit at your open mat?

Summer Camp 2013 party & Fight Night

It was our club’s 10 year anniversary and we decided to have a big camp with a big party to end it. It was an epic location with a cage on the dance floor, where I had the silly idea to fight MMA against my long term training partner. Now veteran camp instructor Halldor from Iceland was only 16 at the time but his parents wrote a nice little handwritten note to us that said “It’s ok, Halldor can fight”. And so he got in the ring for an amateur MMA fight at the end up camp.

The First and Only UK Camp

It was the warmest week in 10 years in Bournemouth, and the camp was a beautiful, hilarious train wreck. Only one of the four big celebrity names we had on the poster actually showed up for the camp, but we had a fantastic time nonetheless.

Vikings vs. Tourists

It started as kind of a joke but ended up becoming a big tradition in Iceland: The Vikings vs. Tourists competition in traditional Icelandic wrestling, Glima. The old fighting art is struggling to stay alive, but we’re doing our part to help it as we once a year step up to get smashed by the Vikings and collect those sweet silver medals for Instagram.

“The Gentle Art of Travel” Documentary

Hands down the biggest side project we’ve ever done at the camps. Little did we know about a global pandemic lurking just around the corner, but it somehow made the long-awaited premiere an even more special experience. After two and a half years of work, we finally showed the film in a movie theater in Reykjavik, Iceland, followed by showings in Germany and Estonia before we made the film public on YouTube.

Open mat in a 1000-year old church

At the Castle Camp in Italy we had our own, private little church that dates back around 1000 years. One a rainy day, we pulled the mats in and it was perfect for an open mat!

Diving Contest Almost Became a Dying Contest

Our early camps in Belgium were in a sports hall with a swimming pool. An impromptu diving competition got us banned, but it didn’t stop us from doing it again at several other camps in everything from Olympic-sized pools to kiddie pools. It all ended in Arizona where someone dived from a giant ladder into a tiny pool, making everyone stop breathing for several seconds. She survived, but the diving competition was put to rest forever.

The Assassination Game

The assassination game started with squirt guns at the USA Camp, but we quickly realized that the Zen Camp in Poland was the perfect setting for this if we played it with plastic ninja swords. Countless hours have been spent hiding in bushes and trees, waiting for a target to come by.

We rented a Castle. Six times.

I had an old checklist of things I wanted to try and do in life, and one of them was to rent a castle. It took almost 10 years before the camps made that possible. It was supposed to be a one-off, but we ended up having Castle Camps five times in Italy and Portugal. Those were small, intimate camps with only a few people and lots of food and wine.

Hosted Two Weddings

It happens that people meet at camps, and somehow it also happened that some of these people decided to get married at camp. Why not!

Forest Fisticuffs

The wrestling show at the USA Camp in Maine was a random idea one year, but it quickly became a new tradition that I think will keep happening for many years to come.

Cabin Parties

During the pandemic, we really missed our pub crawls at the European city camps. We still managed to do some camps in the US, and that’s when we got the idea to do a “pub crawl” between the cabins of the USA Camp in Maine. The moment we found ourselves dancing in a tiny, wooden cabin with a DJ and decorations all over, we knew this would have to become a staple of that camp.

Scooter Race

A horribly bad idea, but to everyone’s surprise, nobody got hurt during a giant race on electric scooters at the Beach Camp in Pärnu, Estonia. Not sure we’ll do that again, though!

Plague Camp

Just months before the pandemic, we had a Winter Camp where pretty much everyone got sick with a horrible fever. At some point, we just gave up waiting it out, and the open mats were a battlefield of fever hallucinations. Many of us got tested for antibodies later on, and it wasn’t COVID, so we’d like to believe we did the whole pandemic thing before it became cool for the rest of the world. Can you spot the special guest on the group photo?

50th Camp Party

The 50th camp in 2019 was celebrated in style with an epic party in Heidelberg, Germany. We somehow negotiated an all-you-can-drink deal with the place at a very good price and ended up literally drying out the bar. The staff was very impressed; the manager, not so much.

Black Belt Promotions

While we do belt evaluations and promotions at camp now and then, it’s something that we keep to a minimum. Over the course of 99 camps, we’ve promoted only four black belts, as far as I remember. Each time, it has of course been a very special moment, as it’s always someone who has been part of the camps for many years. Honorary mention goes to Giles Garcia, who got his black belt disguised as a pizza, with no clue what was waiting for him in the box!

Dodgeball Championships

At the USA camps in Maine and Arizona, we’ve had some epic dodgeball tournaments. Nothing comes close to the moment when Seb from the UK—who is slightly disabled—took out an entire opposing team on his own and sprained his ankle in the process. The victory scene was straight out of Rocky, and we don’t have any pictures of it because everyone was lost in the moment.

Someone Borrowed a Flag

There are many ways the camps have made their mark on the world. One of them was when a certain iconic flag was missing from a certain iconic castle in a certain Central European country. Legend says that a group of people (who may or may not have been campers) spotted it from a bar and decided to go borrow it in the middle of the night, scaling a castle wall that had up until that moment defended the city from invaders since medieval times. The flag was returned safely with an apology note a few days later.

The Party Camp

Everyone who went will testify that this was one of the wildest camps ever. Distortion was a street festival in Copenhagen where more than half a million people partied in the streets every day for a week. It was pure madness, and I don’t think there’s anything like it anywhere in the world. So we decided to host a camp during the same week where both Gianni Grippo and Kenan Cornelius were teaching. Incredibly enough, we actually managed to train quite a lot every single day!

Snowman Competition

When a team of Icelandic guys signed up for the first-ever snowman competition at the Winter Camp, we knew we could expect something out of the ordinary. Look at how proud they are of their art piece!

Kids’ Disco Night

We have done a lot of fun things for grownups at camp, but at the summer version of the Austria Camp, we’ve been trying to do the same for kids. One of the most fun things we’ve hosted has been the kids’ disco night. It’s approximately an hour of dancing with balloons, costumes, and glowsticks, but we often hear from the kids that they felt like it was all night long and the best night of their lives. So cute!

The First Winter Camp

The first Winter Camp in 2015 was a complete mess. We didn’t have much experience yet in organizing camps, and it showed. We all had a great time, but I slept a total of two hours in three nights and I was pretty sure I was going to pass out on the last day when I found myself basically all alone to load mats onto a truck and drive them to three different Judo clubs around the area. The later Winter Camps became better and better organized, and the only few little things we can report from there are minor occurrences, such as setting a bar on fire.

Techno Bunker

Where and how the Techno Bunker exactly started, I am not sure. But it has become a tradition that has spanned many of our camps now. Usually kicking off at midnight at some point during a camp week, it’s a lights-off, glow-in-the-dark, techno open mat.

***
There are many more fantastic memories I could add to this list but I will have to stick with this. Here is a little bonus slideshow with photos of good times at camps that I stumbled over when researching for this article:

Next stop is our one-hundredth camp, starting in two days. I am currently sitting in a strange, small castle hotel next to a highway just outside of Rome, finishing up this article before we head to the camp tomorrow, early in the morning. It’s been a long and wild ride to get to this milestone and I often stop to think how on earth we ended up here.

I deeply appreciate each and every one of you who decided to join us along the way, whether for a little bit or for many years.

Thank you ❤️

Christian