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Kambiz Warriors Gym Malaysia BJJ

Where is the gym located?
The gym is downtown Kuala Lumpur behind Ampang Point Mall, on the 4th floor above the TIME ZONE shop. We’re about 10 mins away (via bus or taxi) from the iconic landmark KLCC twin towers, and the nearest train lines are Ampang Park (Putra LRT train line) and Ampang (Star LRT train line).

How many people train there?
Kambiz Warriors Gym has around 60-70. That’s Muay Thai and BJJ.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
Growing gradually. We’re a gym that is more focused on producing local talent rather than making money.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
White is the lowest and purple is the highest.

When did the gym open?
Kambiz Warriors Gym Malaysia opened in 2002, but the BJJ programme started in 2014.

Some facts about you:

Name: Seyed Ali Ramezani Bayani, AKA Coach Ali
Age: 39
Academy: Kambiz Warriors Gym Malaysia
Belt: 1st degree black belt
Profession: I’m an English teacher by trade. The teaching of BJJ, which I do two hours a day, five days
a week, is purely for the purpose of giving back to an art which has given me so much.
Years in BJJ: 18
Other martial arts: I started my martial arts journey at the age of seven. I have a black belt in
Kenshen Karate, and full contact Karate.
Currently living in: Based in Malaysia for 11 years now.
Originally from: Iran, but I was born in Kuwait and I was raised in the UK.

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
The gym was opened up in 2002 by Master Kambiz, and initially it was purely a Muay Thai gym. Master Kambiz himself is a 4th degree black belt in Taekwondo and a true master in Muay Thai, which he practiced and fought in Japan. He has produced multiple champions and even world champions. I joined the gym in 2014 and started the BJJ classes. Since then, Master Kambiz and I have been working in perfect harmony alongside each other. He teaches Muay Thai and I teach BJJ, and together we teach MMA.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
Kambiz Warriors Gym Malaysia BJJ has practitioners from all walks of life. Master Kambiz and I have always been focused on teaching the very essence of martial arts; we’ve never been a commercial gym. Through the years we’ve produced many Muay Thai and BJJ champions, but our crowning achievement has been the fact that we’ve produced humble, kind, and generous human beings. That is how we aim to give back. A lot of our members are refugees, and from low income families. I myself have never made money from the BJJ I teach. There was a short documentary that was made on our gym and how we’ve taken in refugees and given them an opportunity through martial arts.

Why do they train?
They all have different reasons. Some do it for fun, some to become champions. We try to cater to all needs. The practitioner who does it for self-growth and the one who goes on to become champion are all given the same treatment. I always tell my boys and girls that they do not need to compete to be great martial artists. There is so much to the martial arts, and competition is only one small part of it.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
Well, we have such a mixed background of students studying here, and once they’re done with their school course they return to their home country.

Kambiz Warriors Gym Malaysia BJJ

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
Definitely growing. There are a lot of new competitions popping up, and the interest in the art has gone up. When we first started our BJJ classes here, there were only a handful of gyms and competitions, but now there are quite a few of both.

What’s the best thing about your gym?
I would say the environment. We’re not a fancy gym with a lot of facilities, but we do put our heart and soul into our practitioners. We’ve built an environment where all members are respectful and very caring of each other no matter what background of life they come from. Our BJJ class is run in a very unique way. Due to my experience of teaching inside a classroom, I am able to apply some of my teaching knowledge into my instruction of BJJ. Our BJJ class has differentiation, meaning that practitioners are divided into groups based on ability and everyone follows a scaffolded curriculum when it comes to technique. Start our class with solo BJJ drills, then partner drills, and then one throw for the week. We then go on to technique and rolls.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Malaysia is famously known for its iconic twin towers (KLCC), beautiful beaches, and for its mouth-watering cuisines. Luckily enough, our gym is located only about 10mins away from KLCC (which you can see it from the gym’s window) and it’s in one of the most multicultural parts of the city. The Ampang Point area is also home to a variety of famous local and international dishes from Malay, Indian, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Arabic, and Western cuisine. So after a training session the hardest decision to make is what you want to eat.

Thanks for sharing with us! If you’d like to pay a visit to Kambiz Warriors Gym Malaysia BJJ, you can find them here.

Where is the gym located?
Curepipe, Mauritius.

How many people train there?
Curepipe BJJ Mauritius has 4 adults, 12 kids.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
For now, the number is more or less constant.

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

When did the gym open?
Curepipe Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Mauritius opened about 2.5 years ago.

Some facts about you:

Name: Govind Rummun
Age: 31
Academy: Curepipe BJJ Mauritius
Belt: Blue
Profession: Management support officer
Years in BJJ: 4 years
Other martial arts: Karate and Japanese Jujutsu
Currently living in: Curepipe, Mauritius
Originally from: Mauritius

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
First, you have to understand the situation in Mauritius. For the longest time we didn’t have a BJJ black belt in Mauritius. It’s only been a couple of years since we’ve had one. And yes, this guy is my teacher.

So I was training at this place where our teacher had set up a gym. He’d come regularly for classes, but eventually left the responsibility to the most experienced/oldest member (he was 50+ years old). My teacher would come from time to time to supervise, but it was really up to the members to do their training.

For a time it was good, but little by little everyone just stopped coming and we were left with only a few guys. Eventually, at some point, being one of the most senior there, I was given that responsibility. I did what I could at that time until the club was back on track. That’s when my teacher told that I should set up my club in Curepipe (my hometown). Since then, I’ve been doing my own thing.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
Curepipe BJJ Mauritius has your typical kids classes. Chaotic, messy and lots of shouting and ordering! As for the adults, you get a broader range of people. From adolescents to a 40-year-old ex-army man.

Why do they train?
Some come to keep fit; some for competition. The kids come mostly because their parents brought them, but they really like it.
But my most interesting student is the 40-year-old guy, Joe. He’s been with us since the beginning. He’s been to a few competitions, but that is not his objective. He also likes to keep fit, and has been to the gym more than once. I’d say he likes to train just for the sake of it. There is this thing in BJJ that just makes you want to keep coming!

As for me, I love BJJ because it’s such a wonderful art. I’d done some other martial arts prior to this, and don’t get me wrong, they were good, but BJJ just hits the right spot. It’s safe, practical, and you’re always learning something new. I meet new people all the time and have lots of fun at competitions. The introvert that I am gets to express himself in another way.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
The biggest challenge is getting your name out. Most people here don’t know what BJJ is, and it’s very hard to get new people to join. We usually get confused with Karate because we wear the gi.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
The future is the kids. Right now I can see how they’re developing an interest in the art. At competitions, and by training in other gyms, you can see how the athletes are developing. We have a couple of international-level athletes here, but the next generation is definitely going to be better.

Our Federation is on the right track by doing its best to make BJJ known throughout the island. We have lots of competition from other sports and disciplines, but little by little we’re making our way.

What’s the best thing about your gym?
The training atmosphere, I would say. I, the coach, don’t believe in running a hierarchical gym. Sure there are belts, but the essential thing is that we’re all here to learn. And also have fun!

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
We have wonderful beaches here in Mauritius. People are usually very friendly, and most of the natives speak both English and French. You can find some good deals online for hotels. We also have a big BJJ community, where anyone knows anyone and you can train at any gym on the island.

Thanks for sharing with us! If you’d like to pay a visit to Curepipe BJJ Mauritius, you can find them here.

Michael Velotta BJJ

Age: 43
Belt: 1st degree Black Belt
Profession: Physical Therapy Assistant in an acute care hospital
How many years in BJJ: Oh gosh… almost 24 years now?
Other martial arts: High school wrestling, Muay Thai, Boxing, and a little bit of Sambo. Oh, and now a little bit of Irish Collar and Elbow Wrestling (Thanks to Ruadhán MacFadden for making that happen!)
Where do you live: Currently living in Madison, Wisconsin
Where are you originally from: Southern California
Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I’m an avid woodworker. I have my own wood shop in my basement, and I play Dungeons and Dragons like it’s still the 80s and it’s cool… hahaha.

Michael Velotta BJJ

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
When I first joined the US Army, in 1999, my first duty station was Bamberg, Germany. I’d only been outside the country to Mexico before that, so I had ZERO traveling experience. But when I got to Germany, the wanderlust hit me HARD. Since then, I’ve been to just about every Western European country and most of the East as well. As for training, I find that almost everywhere I travel to, there’s Jiu Jitsu in some form or another. For me, THAT’s the common language. I can speak the language of grappling to anyone.

Tell us about your most recent trip and your upcoming trips – where have you been and where are you going?
My most recent was probably one of my greatest trips ever. I was lucky enough to get a last-minute ticket to the 50th Globetrotter Camp in Heidelberg, Germany. It was such an amazing atmosphere, with some truly great Jiu Jitsu instruction from passionate and skilled BJJ coaches from around the world. The whole experience was completely unreal, and I met so many great people!

My next trip is coming up in September; I’m heading to London and Belfast, Ireland with some of my fellow Jiu Jitsu Brotherhood instructors from across the U.S., mostly for a vacation, but also to get some great training in!

Michael Velotta BJJ

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
This list would take all day for me. So I’ll try to keep it simple. Getting out of the humdrum of the normal daily grind, getting on a plane and landing in another country… you simply can’t beat that feeling of exploration and excitement! As soon as I leave the confines of that airport, it’s an open map to whatever destinations I want. I love experiencing other cultures, other coastlines or mountains, other languages and foods. Whether I’m there for business or for fun, it doesn’t matter; the next new experience is just around that corner.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
Another long list that I’ll keep short. I’ve eaten the best fish and chips in my life at a gas station sitting across the street from an amazing, ruined castle on the coast of Ireland. Castle-hopping with friends along the Neckar River while at the 50th Globetrotter camp to do research for a book I’m trying to write. Meeting so many talented and amazing people around the world, each with something interesting to share, or teach you… I could list a thousand more great experiences!

Michael Velotta BJJ

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
That’s an interesting question actually. Probably one of the most surprising experiences I’ve had while traveling is learning just how tiny my known world was before I traveled. In life, you gain knowledge and you grow by doing, by seeing, by experiencing. And until you actually step out of your comfort zone, and change your comfortable little personal environment, you don’t really have a grasp of what life is like, globally.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Most definitely. Any trip I think I want to do, I plan months in advance. I start checking all the best flight apps, I start comparing locations and costs, and I start planning what I’ll bring so I can travel as light and condensed as possible. That way, when the time comes, I can just go for it instead of being stuck on the fence about it. Doing it this way has really helped me to actually be able to plan on short notice as well. I know all the tricks of the trade – travel is a passion for me, not just a hobby!

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Be open to new experiences. If you think you want to try something, TRY it. If you want to go somewhere, but aren’t sure, just DO it. “I can’t do it because (insert all the lame excuses we tell ourselves because we’re afraid here…)” and you WON’T end up doing it because you already said “I CAN’T”…

Follow your heart, follow that adventurous spirit inside you… and your feet will come along for the ride!

Michael Velotta BJJ

Agnes Lisik – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: Master 2

Belt: Blue, Icon BJJ (Pablo Cerino’s team in Brussels)

Profession: I’m a translator by training, but I worked in different jobs in my life, including fishmonger, journalist and currently, policy advisor in an environmental NGO.

How many years in BJJ: 3

Other martial arts: My first martial art love was Capoeira. I trained it regularly for about 3 years. I love how expressive it is, and how deep its cultural roots are. Now, I’ve just started historical fencing (HEMA) and picked up a sword thanks to having met a brand new bunch of martial art fanatics.

Thanks to that experience, and Ruadhán MacFadden’s podcast about our common grappling heritage, I start to discover how martial arts influence each other, and that everything is connected: wrestling, boxing, fencing… I hope to live long enough to take up boxing, and maybe even some MMA in the future, inshallah!

Where do you live: Brussels

Where are you originally from: Poland

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: Originally, I left my country for a mere five-month Erasmus student exchange in Spain. Now, it’s been 14 years living abroad and counting. I’m a migrant by default.

Agnes Lisik BJJ

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
Travelling is a way of life these days, be it for work or leisure. The world has shrunk so much! So far, I’ve lived in 3 countries, and visited around 30, mostly in Europe, which I love.

BJJ Globetrotters taught me to bring the gi with me wherever I go. I’ve visited different BJJ academies in Poland (Lodz, Gdansk), USA (Baltimore, Miami), Iceland (Reykjavik, Keflavik), Belgium (Brussels, Leuven), the Netherlands (Oss -sic!), Portugal (Ericeira), Spain (Vigo), the UK (London)… I usually travel solo and often I’m the only girl training in the club (never had an issue because of it).

Recently, I found out that a BJJ club is now present even in my home town of 30,000 people in the south of Poland. It’s impressive how much the Gentle Art is expanding.

Tell us about your most recent trip and your upcoming trips – where have you been and where are you going?
Almost all my holidays (and money ;) I spend on BJJ or other martial arts. I’ve just been to the BJJ Globetrotters Summer Camp in Heidelberg, Germany. On the first week of September, I organized a boot camp myself for 30 HEMA fencers in Stara Wies Dojo in Poland, the wonderful venue many Globetrotters know from Zen Camp. The HEMA community is awesome, but I think they need more integration and international exchange opportunities, like Globetrotters already do.

I have a Wanderlust syndrome, so I plan the next adventure even before my return journey. And I usually feel relieved only with a new ticket in my pocket and a new travel entry in my calendar. Next on my radar are weekend trips to Lithuania, Malta, and the beautiful Rhine Valley in Germany, full of castles and vineyards that I’ve recently discovered and keep coming back to in autumn.

Agnes Lisik BJJ

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
I like the initially unpleasant and anxious thrill of stepping out of my comfort zone. It’s getting more and more difficult as time goes by, because with age we get more lazy, cozy, and comfy, but as long as you don’t kill that curiousity and thrill in yourself, you feel truly alive.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
Last year I was in Iceland twice. I couldn’t wait for summer camp, so I visited already in wintertime, as a stopover on the way to the US. In February, I got caught in a blizzard somewhere in the woods between Perlan museum and Mjölnir MMA gym. I thought that if I was going to die there alone and freeze to death in the dark, maybe some Globetrotter would find my body and gi in July. But I survived and got my daily BJJ dose. In that week, I went from training in subarctic Iceland to subtropical Miami.

Another crazy idea was when Robert Barker stayed at my place in Brussels on his Panda Odyssey, and then I spontaneously decided to join complete strangers on a quest to London to roll 24h at a charity Grappleton at Wave BJJ.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
We are one. Whatever our nationality, religion, profession, political views, gender, etc., and whatever they say on the media in this polarized world, we are all just a bunch of naked apes who like to eat, roll, play, sleep, repeat. It’s also surprising how much we underestimate body language, whereas it’s the most natural way to communicate. BJJ for me was a way to reconnect with my own body, and at the same time notice that most of people don’t know their own bodies at all; they only use their most basic functions and fear getting physical in so many ways.

For me, BJJ creates a true community and real sense of belonging: we have the same goal and our own corporal language and common understanding: slap hands, bump fists and roll, then try to submit and not let yourself be submitted. BJJ, like any other serious martial art, I think, teaches a lot of respect and humility. We can potentially hurt our partners or get injured ourselves, so with such a “superpower” comes a big responsibility for the others. The Gentle Art taught me discipline, put a structure and purpose to my messy life, and healthily humiliates my ego and challenges my self-limitations on a daily basis.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I’ve been using Skyscanner.net for years to map the best flight options, although I like travelling by train best and I try to do that more often. For accommodation, I use Booking.com – a very handy app that allows even last-minute decisions, although sometimes you can negotiate better rates if you call the property directly. Airbnb or couch surfing never really worked for me, because I don’t like to be dependent on others and their schedule. I am a highly functioning introvert moving at my own pace, so I appreciate single rooms and anonymity of hotels. I need privacy to recharge and prepare for my exhausting supernova blasts of social activity.

I used to get obsessed with planning my trips, whereas now I only plan “the anchors”: where I fly from/to and where I am going to stay on the first and last night. I like to keep “controlled spontaneity” and improvise in between those key points. I don’t plan what to see anymore – I got too overwhelmed and didn’t enjoy it anymore – except if there are any specific landmarks on my bucket list. I like just to wander around and absorb the genus loci, turn down the street that appeals to me most, and see how the place and me connect, and what mini-adventures spark in between. The cities where I was hit by such magic the most were Zurich, A Coruña, Valencia, and Zadar. I have a good sense of orientation and a radar in my head, so it’s difficult for me to get lost, but I try to make the path curvy enough to discover sidetracks.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Don’t listen to others’ advice, check it out yourself ;) But if you really have to:

Always go full mental and don’t bother what others would say. Notice the beauty around you, even the little miracles, and let yourself be amazed, absorb, and appreciate it. Don’t miss the opportunity to do new stuff, because it may never present itself again, whether it’s a chance to train Icelandic wrestling (Glima), Irish Collar & Elbow, or try new dance, love, food or drink. The worst thing is to regret not having done something.

Thank you Agnes Lisik BJJ for doing this interview!

Jacek Klimko – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 36

Belt: White

Profession: Yoga teacher, massage therapist, writer

How many years in BJJ: One

Other martial arts: Some Aikido when I was young. When I grew disillusioned with it, I took up Krav Maga… which proved to be quite similar to Aikido, but more violent.

Where do you live: Swansea, Wales

Where are you originally from: Poland

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I once spent over 3 years travelling the world on my motorcycle.

Jacek Klimko BJJ

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
Working in the corporate world could have had only two effects on me:
1. Send me mad
2. Make me want to do something more interesting with my life
Luckily, the latter happened first.

Tell us about your most recent trip and your upcoming trips – where have you been and where are you going?
Most recently, I spent 6 months in Asia. On this occasion, it was all about learning. First, I spent 2 months in Thailand learning the art of Thai massage. Next was Bali. I travelled to this beautiful island to develop my yoga practice. Finally, after two months of intensive practice, I travelled to India to qualify as a yoga teacher.

I’d love to go to Japan next. I used to travel mainly to see interesting places and to meet people from different cultures. Now I seek experiences. So for example, if I were to go to Japan, I’d want to immerse myself in the culture, in this case by training kendo, judo, or learning to do raku pottery.

Jacek Klimko BJJ

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
I’ve always believed that travelling should be challenging, either physically or mentally; that it should be an opportunity to face your own limitations, fears, and prejudices; to challenge who you are and shake the foundation of your being.

I travel to return a different person; more able, open minded, trusting, caring, connected with other people (both in their joys but also in their sorrows)… simply a better me.

More conventionally, I really enjoy tasting local dishes.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
It must be waking up at 4 am in Darjeeling in Northern India and seeing the rising sun over Kangchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world. The view was magnificent, like molten gold pouring over the peaks.

What was even more special about this experience was the fact that just one week before I almost gave up on travelling in India and went home. In Kolkata I got sick and spent an entire week between my bed and toilet. Add to that other numerous frustrations that I experienced around that time, and my spirit was near-broken. I got what I wanted, a challenge, and I couldn’t take it.

Georges St-Pierre said it well:

“You don’t get better on the days when you feel like going. You get better on the days when you don’t want to go on, but you go anyway. If you can overcome the negative energy coming from your tired body or unmotivated mind, you will grow and become better. It won’t be the best workout you have, you won’t accomplish as much as what you usually do when you actually feel good, but that doesn’t matter. Growth is a long-term game, and the crappy days are more important.”

These were indeed “crappy days”, but I persevered, and I’m so happy I did – because what I saw just a few days later in Darjeeling was more than worth it. In a way, I feel that this make or break experience made me through breaking me.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
One day, when travelling through northern Iraq on our motorcycle, my wife and I stopped by the side of the road to cook. Soon, curious about this unusual sight, a small crowd of people materialised around us. Everyone was welcoming and friendly, so we enjoyed a bit of company. Once it was ready, we shared our simple dish. When we were ready to leave, one of them, Abbas, asked us to come with him to his house. We accepted. After spending a few hours with Abbas and his family, we felt it was time to leave. We were planning on reaching the next town that same day, but when asked to stay overnight, we happily accepted the offer. A few hours later, when it came to sleeping, we were given a mattress and some blankets, and were shown where to sleep.

Just before hitting the pillow, we realised that we’d been given the only room in the house, and the entire family had gone to sleep outside on the concrete. We couldn’t believe it. Their hospitality was unprecedented; they went out of their way, giving their house and comforts away, just to make us feel welcome.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Having left my job to travel the world indefinitely, budget had to be a serious consideration. Travelling on a motorcycle proved to be a perfect solution. It gave us freedom and adventure, but also allowed us to save a lot of money. We’d cook our own food whenever possible, sleep at least a few nights a week camping wild or couchsurfing. Also, travelling slow proved to work to our advantage. We’d rent rooms or even entire apartments, sometimes for months at a time (for example, we had a flat in Batumi, Georgia for close to 4 months). This way, we could make friends and really get to know the area, and at the same time live on a tiny budget.

Later we discovered house sitting, which within just a couple of years we used more than 30 times. We house sat in Thailand (almost 2 months), north Wales, Scotland, and many other attractive destinations.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Always go with the flow. Be kind, be easy going, be considerate.

Thank you Jacek Klimko BJJ for doing this interview!

Heather Raftery BJJ

Age: 33

Belt: Black

Profession: Freelancer

How many years in BJJ: 11 in January!

Other martial arts: Doughjitsu – the art of sneaking into the freezer at night and picking out all the cookie dough pieces from ice cream container while everyone is sleeping.

Where do you live: Mother Earth

Where are you originally from: Tucson, Arizona (USA)

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I’ve lived in a VW bus for nearly two cumulative years (total, with breaks here and there), which I painted myself and named Bonnie Clyde. I’m currently staying in it for a month while training in San Diego, preparing for No-Gi Worlds. I used to ride horses competitively in an equestrian sport called “cutting” (my dad is a horse trainer and former professional bull rider) and I was once a world champion in that. Hung up my spurs in college and then started wrasslin’ people. I have two fur babies: Mr. Fleabags and Gooby the Goblin Hunter.

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
Growing up riding horses, we always traveled to other states to compete. When I started training Jiu Jitsu, it was more of the same. In college, I discovered my love for traveling internationally – visiting new, exotic places and experiencing cultures wildly different, and yet in many ways remarkably similar to my own. Luckily, I started Jiu Jitsu at a time when it had already found roots in most major cities around the world, so my gi and rashie always had a place in my travel bag, wherever I went.

Tell us about your most recent trip and your upcoming trips – where have you been and where are you going?
I’ve trained Jiu Jitsu on six continents (Antarctica, I’m coming for you!). My most recent international trip was to Thailand to reunite with one of my very first training partners, Alex Schild, now a Jiu Jitsu coach at Tiger Muay Thai. From there I went straight to Australia, where I trained for over a week with Lachlan and Livia Giles and their awesome (and hilarious team) at Absolute MMA. Then I was guest instructor at the incredible 4-day Australian Girls in Gis camp, put on by my good friend Jess Fraser, at a real campsite waaaaay out in the boonies with no Wi-Fi. In all, it was definitely one of the funnest trips of my life. I’m hoping to plan a U.S. road trip in the Bonnie Clyde for 2020. I want to try to see as much of my home country as I can (though I’m sure I’ll break down and get stranded half a dozen times).

Heather Raftery BJJ

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
The excitement of not knowing what’s around the next bend, what you’ll be doing that day and the next, or who you’ll meet along the way. It’s cliche, but every day really is an adventure. You become addicted to that cocktail of adrenaline and dopamine. And with traveling, not only do you escape the mundane, but also the comfort of a predictable routine, both of which stunt personal and spiritual growth.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
There have been several times in my Jiu Jitsu travels that I’ve become incredibly close to a group of fellow practitioners, despite the relatively short time I was there. For instance, several years ago when I was a purple belt, my work sent me to Colombia for about a month, where I trained at Affinity Colombia in Bogotá. They were some of the most warm and welcoming group of people I’ve ever come across, from the very second I stepped on the mats. Even to this day I still receive lovely messages from my Colombian family. This has happened several other times, around the U.S. and internationally; where I’ve met people that I instantly connect with, despite any cultural differences or language barriers. Some I could swear that I’ve met in a past life.

Heather Raftery BJJ

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
I’m continually amazed at how much people will go out of their way to help a complete stranger. In this day and age, it’s easy to get discouraged about the fate of the human race, but traveling renews your belief in humanity.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Absolutely. The less I have to spend on the nuts and bolts of traveling (airfare, transport, accommodations), the more I can spend on the experiences. Of course, #vanlife is probably the most budget you can get, but unless I have unlimited time to get there (the Bonnie Clyde’s top speed is 55mph/88.5kmh), it’s not the most convenient at times. If I’m traveling internationally, I usually try to get the cheapest tickets I can… risking multiple, long layovers, red-eye flights, and traveling on low-demand days. I also try to tap into the local Jiu Jitsu community wherever I’m going, as a kind-hearted jiujiteiro will usually offer rides and sometimes accommodation. If that happens, I always try my best to repay the favor in whatever way I can.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Be up for anything, and don’t sweat the small stuff. When you’re up for anything, you’ll always come home with the best stories to tell. As for the second part, shit will always happen when you’re traveling. That’s the nature of the beast. Learning to recognize them as small bumps in the road will keep you from expending unnecessary emotion and energy worrying or getting upset about them, and help you become a more flexible, easy-going traveler… and a more zen human being.

Heather Raftery BJJ

 

Stevie Antoniou

Age: 24

Belt: Black

Profession: Freelance photographer and filmmaker

How many years in BJJ: 8

Other martial arts: Nope

Where do you live: In Stockholm, but I’m traveling more than I’m at home. :)

Where are you originally from: Stockholm, Sweden

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: Parents are Greek/Irish and Swedish/Estonian.

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
Honestly, I’ve always met inspiring people when traveling, and that’s what keeps me going. Combining it with Jiu Jitsu is perfect because you get to meet locals wherever you are and make friends in a matter of minutes of stepping on the mats.

Tell us about your most recent trip and your upcoming trips – where have you been and where are you going?
Well, if this year’s travel counts as recent then I have 17 trips to tell you about… Go to my Instagram for all that. These past two months I’ve been to France, Poland, Arizona, and Oregon. Currently in a hammock between two palm trees in the Caribbean. I’m in St. Barth for a month and then I’m going home just before Christmas. I’m heading to Asia in mid-January for a month or five. We’ll see haha

Stevie Antoniou

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
The sense of adventure and the fact that I always learn a lot about myself. Whether it’s trying new things, exploring on my own, or meeting inspiring people with different views on life.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
Man, it doesn’t matter where in the world you are. Put on a gi and a smile and you are welcomed like family in most places. I was on a train in Portugal a few years ago and I was with my girlfriend at the time. We were there for a holiday and we definitely didn’t think to pack our gis. Before getting off the train, I see a poster with a quite famous face on it. Everything is in Portuguese so I can’t read what it says, but there’s a number on it. I call and find out that Royce Gracie is doing a two-day seminar that upcoming weekend. The guy says we are welcome to come, so we show up and it’s me, my girl, and 40 portuguese dudes. I was a blue belt at the time, and she had just started training. We didn’t have anything to train in, but after a day of asking around and searching everywhere for a gi, we found this guy who sold us two gis out of his trunk in a shady parking lot. When the first half of the seminar was finished, I’m talking to another participant and Royce joins the conversation and invites us to come to the beach with them. Long story short, we ended up hanging out with Royce Gracie and his friends that whole weekend. Beach trip, a few meals, and even the club haha. I can’t think of any other sport that this would happen in. Does the random guy who trains soccer get to go stand-up paddleboarding with Zlatan Ibrahimovic?

I have plenty of stories like this, but all I can say is that combining traveling and BJJ is an awesome time, and everyone should give it a shot.

 

Stevie Antoniou

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
How easy it is! Once you get in to it the world isn’t as big and scary as you think.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I like a bit of both. In general, I don’t spend a lot of money and try to find good value. I don’t mind spending €50 on a killer breakfast buffet every once in a while either though. When I’m at home and have a trip planned, I’m extra particular on not spending money on stupid things. Having something to look forward to keeps me motivated to save money for that specific trip. You don’t need that cigarette or caramel frappuccino with extra cream ;).

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Just freaking go. Book that ticket, make that call. Whatever it is. Experience is more valuable than most paydays. I’ve never been on a trip that made me regret going or spending that money.

Photo by Stevie Antoniou

Liz Corso – BJJ Globetrotters

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

Age: 35
Belt: Blue
Profession: Teacher
How many years in BJJ: Two
Other martial arts: None
Where do you live: Paris, France
Where are you originally from: New Jersey, USA
Other fun or curious information you’d like to share: I do mail art, collages, and stop-motion animation. I also get really happy when I encounter a 3-pronged fork.

Liz Corso BJJ

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
I’ve always been a traveller. I crave new perspectives and enjoy solving problems (how do I get vegetarian food in this strange language?!). I left the US as soon as I finished school, and have since lived in half a dozen different countries and travelled to well over 50. I accidentally stumbled upon BJJ while living in Taiwan and immediately became obsessed. My first coach, Daniel Reid, is a Globetrotter, and he introduced me to the Globetrotters network, which makes it so much easier!

Tell us about your most recent trip and your upcoming trips – where have you been and where are you going? 
I just got back from the Winter Camp in Wagrain and it was amazing! I always meet so many great new people at Globetrotters camps. My next trip is back to the US to visit friends and family. There’s a 10th Planet gym near my folks, which is a fun change from what I’m used to in Paris. Before I set off for the summer, I plan to revisit Prague in the spring. I hope to add a couple cities around that trip… possibly Vienna and Brno. We’ll see!

Liz Corso BJJ

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
I’ve met so many great people training in different places. Some of them have gone on to become really good friends, some have even shaped who I am as a person. When you leave your comfort zone, you learn. Sometimes it’s painful (we all remember our first couple BJJ classes!), but learning is always rewarding.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
In addition to meeting great people, having lots of fun crazy nights, experiencing new cultures, and trying new things, travelling helps a lot for BJJ. Sometimes I’ll be having trouble with a particular aspect of my game, and this is often the best time to travel somewhere new and train. Fresh perspectives can really help to get you out of a rut… both in your BJJ game and sometimes life in general!

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
Realizing how far a smile and patience can take you. Keeping my cool has helped me out of many many tough situations. For example, after living in Berlin for a couple years, I got tired of the weather and decided to do a motorcycle trip from Berlin to Bamako, Mali. Actually, I didn’t have an end destination… that’s where I ended up selling the motorcycle for plane tickets to Asia – but that’s a different story.

Long story short, I had entered Guinea illegally. Not because I had wanted to, but because…OK, short story…that’s how it was. When crossing the border into Mali, I ran into trouble: I was illegally in the country with a foreign vehicle. This being Africa, the border guard was eager to cut a deal: $100. The only problem was that 1.) I didn’t want to spend $100, and 2.) I had sewn my larger bills into the waist seam of my pants and I only had a 1 dollar bill on me. Not losing my cool, staying friendly, and having patience worked to my advantage. It took a lot of smiling and A LOT of patience, but in the end, I parted with my $1 and was on my merry way.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Staying and training with a Globetrotters host not only helps you to meet a great new person, but also cuts down on accomodation fees. In the summers, I quit the city for good. I sublet my apartment and explore around Europe in my VW camping van (yeah, the sexy kind). I love the freedom it affords and I only wild camp, so it doesn’t cost much. It’s really nice, but the van doesn’t have a shower. That’s where training fits in perfectly! I find a nearby club with showers to train at. I still go to laundromats to wash my gis, but nogi gear can easily be hand washed.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Smile. Be open to people and experiences and things will happen.

 

Thank you Liz Corso BJJ for doing this interview!

Pat Divilly – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 32

Belt: Purple

Profession: Speaker and Coach

How many years in BJJ: 3 and a half years

Other martial arts: A little Judo as a teenager, alongside boxing, Muay Thai and MMA. Now that I’m old I stick with BJJ!

Where do you live: Galway, Ireland

Where are you originally from: Limerick, Ireland

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I’m a speaker and podcaster in the area of personal development. Have a huge passion for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and my work, have done a number of high-altitude mountain expeditions, and in recent years have gotten into yoga and surfing.

Pat Divilly BJJ

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
I trained martial arts as a teen and loved it, but didn’t have the work ethic to really succeed in my younger years. When I “grew up” I gave up everything to chase financial success and status. I spent 10 years growing a business, woke up at 28 having ticked all the boxes I thought I needed to tick, and still didn’t feel fulfilled day to day. At that point I knew it was time to go back to martial arts, and I took up BJJ.

Training does a huge amount for me in terms of supporting my mental and physical health, providing community, and giving me a chance to find a state of flow daily.

Travel has been a staple of my life for the last number of years. I feel blessed to get to see the world, and feel I learn more about myself when I’m outside of my comfortable environment than I ever could being in one place.

Tell us about your most recent trip and your upcoming trips – where have you been and where are you going?
I’m currently in Zanzibar for a few days after climbing Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for the second time. I brought a group of 21 clients to climb to the highest point in Africa, and now I’m getting a little down time before heading home to Ireland.

My next plan is to go to Bali for a month in April to surf, train Jiu Jitsu, and work on new content for my future seminars and workshops. I work in the area of personal development, and so I like to be constantly tweaking my content and taking on new experiences to ensure I’m “practicing what I preach”.

I tend to work intensely at home and in the UK delivering lots of workshops for 2-3 months, then go away for a month of travel and new experiences.

Pat Divilly BJJ

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
I love it all! The uncertainty, the break from routine, the chance to be completely anonymous and to see the world through a different lens. I love seeing a new snapshot of the world, a new culture, meeting new people and seeing how different but similar we are. I love the possibility and the randomness of showing up somewhere with no expectation and no plan. I love meeting new parts of myself through adversity, challenge and unpredictable situations and experiences.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
I’ve been welcomed at BJJ gyms all over the world and treated like family, climbed some of the world’s highest mountains, completed a 200-hour yoga teacher training in Thailand with no previous experience.

I’ve spoken at a youth leadership conference in Nepal and subsequently funded a school out there. I’ve gotten to run a triathlon with my business hero Richard Branson and his family, and visited his private Island in the Virgin Islands.

I’ve gotten laughed at and pointed at by every person in the nightclub in Tanzania for being the only non-local (or maybe it was my dancing?!). I’ve lost passports and credit cards in South America, been surrounded by an angry mob in Russia and climbed snow capped mountains in Poland in my shorts with Wim Hof.

 

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
Fresh in mind, I think Kilimanjaro in Tanzania has surprised me the two times I’ve been there. I used to own a gym and would encourage clients to work toward goals such as 5km, 10km and half marathons. Then I decided organising and bringing a group to Kilimanjaro would be a great personal challenge for my clients.

In the back of my mind, I thought it would be overly commercial and wouldn’t feel like an authentic experience, but on both trips I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the energy and passion the guides and porters continue to bring to the mountain.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I’m pretty laid back in general which makes it easier to budget for trips. I don’t like spending money on hotels, as I feel all I need is a bed or a sleeping bag and I’m good! I can be a little last-minute booking my flights, which probably ends up costing more than it might have otherwise…..

Some people are keen to tick all the boxes on the tourist attractions of the city they are visiting. Maybe I’m boring, but for me I just love sitting in a local coffee shop or bar, having a coffee or beer and watching the world go by!

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Just get it booked! We tend to spend our lives waiting for the perfect time but the truth is there is no perfect time. Figure out where you’d like to go, get your dates in the calendar and book the flight. From there everything else will fall into place! I’m a believer that the worst decision you can make in life is no decision and so I try to be decisive, take risks and jump into things before I feel ready!

Thank you Pat Divilly BJJ for doing this interview!

Valérie Jean – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 33

Belt: Purple belt 4 stripes, turning pink

Profession: Immigration officer

How many years in BJJ: 6 or 7 years give or take with injuries and forced breaks

Other martial arts: Started with being bullied, so I was mostly on the receiving end as a kid. Did Muay Thai for a few years in my 20s, then discovered BJJ and never looked back.

Where do you live: Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Where are you originally from: A small farm town about 20 hours east of Montreal. I’m a native Quebecker (French Canadian).

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, I am now technically a citizen of Kazakhstan.

Valérie Jean BJJ

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
The people, the culture, the language, and the universal aspect of BJJ. I’ve always enjoyed traveling, and it was normal for me to look up gyms when away. I’ve lost count of the number of academies visited in total, but it’s probably around 60 or 70 in the past 5 years.

Tell us about your most recent trip and your upcoming trips – where have you been and where are you going?
I started the year with a big Southeast Asia trip. I left Hanoi (Vietnam) by bicycle and went all the way down to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). It was the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak and it was also the long Têt Holiday in Vietnam. Many academies were closed because of the celebrations, but 3 of them actually organized big open mats after being contacted and informed of my presence in town.

I then abandoned the bike and traveled through Cambodia. I was able to train there as well. My cardio was off the chart after the Vietnam cycling trip. I finished my trip in Thailand, where I trained at Bangkok Fight lab. My flights kept being cancelled or randomly postponed – I was fortunate enough to find places to live and to feel supported by the people there at the gym. Every day was uncertain. I finally managed to fly through Beijing (China).

I came back to work for about 2 weeks. Working at an international border was quite fascinating at that pivotal moment. On my first day back, I went to my US border mail box to pick up some packages, and I was taken away and put in quarantine by USCBP officers. I started to realize how time had stopped for me in Asia and how things were being taken seriously back home.

In March, I flew to Almaty, Kazakhstan, to train with some women in a private BJJ gym. All my flights were cancelled or moved on my way here – it was a disaster and I remember being in Switzerland thinking “what am I doing here, I think I’m gonna crack”. I have to say, it was worth it, and I don’t regret having a mini meltdown as it forced me to dig deep.

Their women’s program had been stopped many months ago for various reasons, such as religious discomfort during mixed classes and overall bad experiences on the mats. So far, it’s been an incredible privilege training here and meeting all those people. I witnessed the smile on all those women’s faces that first day back in a safe space to train – regardless or religion, clothing, or taboo.

This week, I learned that all my flights or routes to return back home next month have been closed by the government. I am officially stuck here. I have contacted my job and they’re trying to figure things out. I’ve contacted my Embassy and not gotten any help yet. I have no return ticket or date. There’s no point in worrying, is there?

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
The food, the warm weather, the people, and the connections. My number one thing is quite personal: how I become so resilient when put in tough spots or uncomfortable situations.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
I’ve trained in some places where women were coming to me and telling me they had been victims of sexual assault, and that it was hard for them to train with certain partners. Sharing my perspective and telling those women that it’s perfectly okay to refuse rolls and establish healthy boundaries in the gym is part of the BJJ experience. Growing as a person and gaining confidence is part of BJJ. I think we sometimes take for granted that BJJ is a hobby or a sport, but for some people in certain parts of the world, it’s a way to survive and to feel empowered.

Valérie Jean BJJ

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
How open and welcoming people are. How trusting and generous they are the moment you contact them. It still blows my mind to this day.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
A budget traveller with certain standards. I like my hot water, AC, and somehow reliable wifi. I like to plan in advance to limit costs. Right now I’m learning that overplanning means nothing when there’s a global pandemic.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Just go. Message academies. Ask them for tips and places to stay. Don’t make it ONLY about training. And wash your hands.

Thank you to Valérie Jean BJJ for doing this interview!