Archive for category: Blogs

Where is the gym located?
We train inside the local leisure centre called Merthyr Leisure Centre. It’s at the heart and soul of the town in which we are based – Merthyr Tydfil (Wales). This is a large town and borough about 30 miles from Cardiff and Swansea, and close to the beautiful Brecon Beacons.

How many people train there?
We have on average 17 people training per session. This can go down as low as 6 and as high as 22.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
Every month the club sees new students trying out BJJ with us, as well as existing practitioners trying Merthyr BJJ.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training in Merthyr BJJ Wales?
We range from absolute novices to a blackbelt.

When did the gym open?
We’ve existed for around 8 years, but we were part of a larger academy up until 16 months ago, when us and our sister clubs (Rob Taylor Jiu Jitsu in Cardiff and the MAT Academy in Treforest) disbanded and became independent of the Chris Rees Academy. Since then we moved premises, and then settled within the leisure centre, where we have now set up home!

Some facts about you:

Name: Alyn Weyman
Age: 47
Belt: Black belt (September 2018)
Academy: Merthyr BJJ Wales
Profession: Firefighter
Years in BJJ: 15
Other martial arts: Karate from aged 12. I competed internationally and won several titles.
Currently living in: Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Originally from: Rhymney Valley

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
When i decided to retire from karate, I began taking BJJ lessons under Chris Rees and I instantly fell in love with the sport. In between my shifts as a firefighter, I tried to travel down at least twice a week to attend classes. I also began training BJJ with a few friends who had strong interests in BJJ and MMA in Merthyr. Before I knew it I was competing, and as a blue belt, under the guidance of my instructors, I opened a class in a friend’s dojo and set up the first BJJ classes in the town. Several years and moves later, we have Merthyr BJJ in its current form. We now train twice a week, and it seems a very long way away from being in a cold warehouse to the heated flooring we have now!

It has always been about making long thought-out decisions and taking the plunge to try and better the club and the facilities for those who train with us. It’s now a club that myself and my partner Rebecca run and have set up a beginners fundamentals programme as well as advanced classes in both gi and nogi.

Tell us about the people that train in Merthyr BJJ Wales – who are they?
We have male and female students from 16 to 63 training with us. The majority are male. We have many overseas students, as the demographics of the town means we see people who’ve moved to the surrounding areas from outside the UK. We have local, national, and international medalists, as well as people who have and will not ever compete. There is absolutely no pressure on people to compete.

We have students with backgrounds in stand-up martial arts and those with keen interests in MMA who’ve come to us to add skills to their ground games. We cater for people with physical and mental disabilities. We also have students who have conditions such as diabetes.

Why do they train?
The majority of our students train because BJJ is their hobby. We have people who wish to compete in BJJ and MMA, and mainly they want to improve their fitness and skill set. Rugby players come to us to improve some of their skills as well as body conditioning.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
Merthyr is known to be an economically deprived area, so £5 per lesson is a struggle for some students, and when you factor in buying a gi and insurance, this can sometimes be off-putting. The fees of competing can be extortionate, and as many people will gauge their progress on results, getting the money together for even local competitions (let alone any of the very expensive IBJJF ones) could prove to be a barrier. Getting appropriate marketing material designed and printed to encourage new students has been one of the challenges. Keeping hold of existing students has also proved to be quite difficult, as we have very little say in moving the times and days of the classes.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
The future of BJJ in south Wales looks promising. When world champions hold seminars nearby, it proves that there are sufficient numbers interested and training. The likes of Brett Johns, John Philips, Jack Marshman, and Jack Shore are all in the UFC and have all trained BJJ locally. That is not something we should overlook. The number of people that approach us and ask us to begin a children’s class is phenomenal.

What’s the best thing about your gym?
After years of training in warehouses, it has to be heat! Heat and the range of students we have As long as we have people smiling when they train with us, that is as good as anything to see!

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
We live in a beautiful part of the country, and have many outdoor activities that can be done here due to the geography of the land. We have the internationally known Bike Park Wales (a fantastic facility for lovers of mountain biking, which we also do!), we’re right on the doorstep of the Brecon Beacons, with plenty of scenery to take in, as well as many castles for a bit of a history lesson.

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

Where is the gym located?
Bohol Island Jiu Jitsu is located in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, which is right smack at the center of the 7,107 islands in the Philippines. Our island is a very touristy place, with a lot of nature and great beaches, and the smallest monkey in the world – the Tarsier (our logo) – can be found only on our island. Currently we’re the only BJJ school here.

How many people train there?
In total Bohol Island Jiu Jitsu Philippines has around 20 members registered, but the consistent numbers we get are about 50% of that.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
Since most of our members are students, and we don’t have a lot of job opportunities here, people tend to move to other bigger islands in the Philippines so once they graduate. So to answer the question – we are growing, but people also leave every now and then.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
White belts, blue belts, and purple belts.

When did the gym open?
Bohol Island Jiu Jitsu Philippines started in 2014 in an old Taekwondo gym. Since then we’ve moved to a newer location.

Some facts about you:

Name: Jay Uy
Age: 31
Belt: Purple
Profession: Manager
Years in BJJ: 11
Other martial arts: Boxing
Currently living in: Tagbilaran City, Bohol
Originally from: Tagbilaran City, Bohol

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
I started training BJJ in 2008 in Cebu City, where I attended university. Every now and then when I went back to my hometown, I would teach and train with my brother, who had also started training in Manila under a different team. I would seek out MMA gyms and other martial arts gym here in Bohol just to be able to train. On the weekends, I’d take a 2-hour boat ride to Cebu to train with my old team and try to keep learning from my coach there. In 2013, when I was still a blue belt, a big earthquake hit my island and a lot of the buildings got damaged. A year afterwards, in 2014, I learned that another blue belt from New York was in town and was actually based here. So I tried to reach out, knowing he was teaching at a local Taekwondo gym here. After a few months training with each other and a few beginners, he decided to name the team Bohol Island Jiu Jitsu.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
Most of the guys that train with us are from here – they really started from scratch with me, John, and my brother Ton. The majority are students that go to school in the morning and train with us at night, like Julliver, Vincent, Arman, Ali, and Milven. Some of our senior members like JM, Luther and Vic have jobs during the day, so most of our classes are at night only.

Why do they train?
They really do love Jiu Jitsu and enjoy learning from each other. I guess for the younger members it’s for fitness and self confidence. Our older members would say it’s such a big stress relief from work as well.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
For me it’s a passion project. I really enjoy teaching and spreading BJJ, and learning from different people, so I’m not in it for the business side. However, paying the bills can get pretty stressful at times as well. When people leave to pursue a career elsewhere, we also lose members. Losing people can be pretty frustrating. On the other hand, I’m happy they started with us and when I see them do well in competitions in other countries. Also, in our area time can move pretty slow, and some of our members can get pretty lax at times when it comes to training. Especially if comp season is over.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
Hopefully, other teams or gyms can start as well in order to have more BJJ spread out in the other towns. Economically our city is growing, and population also increases along with that. When jobs start pouring in, people that have trained on other islands might want to come work here as well, and either train with us or start their own schools. I see a ton of potential here. We don’t have a black belt yet on our island, and maybe one day if not me, one of my students would be the first home grown Boholano black belt.

What’s the best thing about your gym?
Bohol Island Jiu Jitsu Philippines is just a small gym, but between me, John, and my brother Ton, we have a total of 33 years of experience between us. John started in 2008 in New York – he has his own style of teaching. My brother Ton also started in 2008 with our current Professor, Ali Sulit in Manila, and he incorporates a lot of the ATOS-style techniques. Our gym also has a lot of tourists that drop by every now and then to train with us. You never know when a group of 3 people from Australia will show up at the exact same time a Swiss purple belt said he would drop by to train as well. Plus the beach is just a few minutes away from us too. :)

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Panglao Island is where all the best resorts are – we have world class beaches there. Also a great spot to try and learn diving, or hop on a boat to go visit other smaller islands. Bohol can offer tons of dive spots around the island. We have beautiful reefs and the diversity of marine life here will amaze you.

The Chocolate Hills are a couple of hours drive from Panglao or the city. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site where 1,260 hills turn brown in the summer season and resemble Hershey kisses. To get there you can either join a tour or drive, but on your way there be sure to also visit the Loboc River cruise where you can have lunch, and the man-made forest in Loboc and Bilar towns.

The Tarsier Sanctuary is also a must-visit if you’re here. The monkeys are endangered, and although some can be found in the wild, the sanctuary is the best place to find and learn about these nocturnal creatures.

You can also rent a motorbike or go on a countryside tour, where you never know when you’ll stumble upon exotic caves, stunning rice fields, fireflies in mangroves, very old churches, or great views from mountaintops.

Thanks for sharing with us! If you’d like to pay a visit to Bohol Island Jiu Jitsu Philippines, you can find them here.

About the gym:

Where is the gym located?
The gym rents 300 m2 full-time in the southern part of Vilnius, Lithuania. Here you can see the precise location of our gym, Laumžirgis (which means “dragonfly” in Lithuanian): https://goo.gl/maps/DyP5Y6tSDmo. It’s not easy to find us when you’re there in person though – just contact us through Facebook and we’ll send you a detailed how-to-find-us guide.

How many people train in Sporto Klubas Laumžirgis, Lithuania BJJ?
It varies – sometimes greatly – depending on the time of the year. We had around 40 people show up at least once this January, for instance; some only have time to train few times per month, whereas others train consistently for 6+ hours per week. We consider ourselves an MMA club; about half of the people train Jiu Jitsu and wrestling, while others are only interested in boxing and striking, so we separate the classes and then people can build their own schedule based on what they enjoy.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
The gym has seen slow but steady growth over the past few years. In the early days it wasn’t uncommon to only have 2-4 people in the class. Now that we’re open to the public, we usually get 10-20 new people showing up each year when the new season starts, and several of them stay and become long-term members, which is what we’re looking for. Jiu Jitsu and combat spots in general is not something you can really learn in a month, or even a year.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
In our Jiu-Jitsu classes we have blue and white belts. We also have higher belts visiting, but because they’re visitors they don’t count in our statistics.

When did the gym open?
Sporto Klubas Laumžirgis, Lithuania BJJ started as a group of enthusiasts interested in training together in 2007. Our club, Laumžirgis, was officially founded in 2009. We started renting a place full-time in 2014, and moved to our current location in 2017.

Some facts about you:

Name: Irmantas Radavičius
Age: 33
Belt: Blue
Profession: I teach Computer Science at Vilnius University
Years in BJJ: My first class was in 2007
Other martial arts: I started with Aikido back in 1999, tried a lot of different things over the years, and finally settled with MMA. Meaning, one accepts what is useful and rejects what is useless, and wants to be efficient in all ranges and areas of combat.
Currently living in: Vilnius, Lithuania
Originally from: Also Vilnius, Lithuania

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
The aikido community I started with introduced me to martial arts, for which I will always be grateful. However, that community was like a cult, with lots of hierarchy, bowing, and rituals, which is ultimately very at odds with what I’m about.

I was looking for a community where I would feel happy. I was also interested in self-defense and functional martial arts, since I wanted to feel safer and more confident; able to trust that what I do actually works. Aikido did not give me that, so I quit in 2006 and went through many clubs looking for somewhere to belong. Sometimes I didn’t like the teaching style, sometimes the community was a bit off, sometimes the techniques were very strange, and since I was a student at the time sometimes the classes were just too expensive.

Thus me and few other guys started training on our own. My first experience with Jiu Jitsu was in 2007, when I went to a grappling seminar by Ričardas Piepolis, a famous grappling coach in Lithuania. A lot of what we did after that was gleaned from articles, blogs, books, and videos. I remember watching Matt Thornton’s video series, as well as numerous others. Jiu Jitsu was just not really present in Lithuania as it is now. I was reading Matt Kirtley’s and Christian Graugart’s blogs, and when they announced they were going to Estonia to teach a training camp in 2009, I knew I had to be there. This is when we first started travelling to different places for training, and where we first met Priit Mihkelson, a then-purple belt from Estonia (now a black belt) who we now consider our head coach and mentor. From that point onwards, everything changed.

Sporto Klubas Laumžirgis, Lithuania BJJ

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
We’ve had people from 15 to 56 years old, guys and girls (sadly only a few of them, but their number is growing as well), most of whom are hobbyists training for various personal reasons. Many of them work in IT-related fields, which, given my own profession, is not at all surprising! The majority of new members are brought to our club by friends.

Why do they train in the gym?
People in our club train for various reasons (social, safety, health, fun, etc.) that tend to change over time. Most newcomers come because of self-defense, or because they want to try something new and maybe find a new hobby. Once they decide to stay and are there for a long time, however, I think it evolves into something different – it is always the case that they simply like the activity and the community, and all the benefits those two things bring into their life.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
Since we’re a small gym we do most of the things ourselves, including book-keeping, cleaning, repairs, etc. We don’t have many staff members, and that limits us since there are only so many things that can be done per day, and only so many classes that one can run and teach. Retaining our members thus becomes really important, as otherwise we have to start learning/teaching everything from scratch again, and at the same time it’s very hard to lose a member whom we consider a necessary part of the community. There are many activities in Vilnius, and it’s not uncommon for people simply to decide not to pursue martial arts anymore and take up something else. The long grind is sadly not for everybody.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
BJJ has been constantly growing here over the past few years. When we started there were no black belts at all in Lithuania; now there are. I suspect and hope that BJJ will continue to grow and will also continue to evolve in every sense, including techniques, coaching methods etc.

What’s the best thing about your gym?
Unarguably, it’s the community that we have. It’s very important to have a space where you feel welcome and safe, and it becomes even more important if you train martial arts, which by definition is a risky and dangerous activity. No building and no mat space can ensure that by itself; it is always about the people. It’s the students that empower any coach and make his work worthwhile, it’s the training partners who help you get better, and are there when you succeed and you struggle, and so on. Personally, I consider the people I train with to be some of my best friends that I’m happy to have.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Vilnius is a great city. If you’re into museums and architecture, we have our Old Town and some sights that date back to the Middle Ages. Lithuania is a small country, meaning travel distances are relatively small – we have beautiful nature and some places to visit in the countryside, too. If you’re into food, there are many cuisines in Vilnius. If you want to try more traditional Lithuanian food, try some dishes from potatoes and/or meat, and we have good beer too. If you’re into overall leisure there aren’t many things that you can’t find in Vilnius; we have big commercial and leisure centers, with restaurants, cafes, cinemas, and lots of athletic and fun activities.

Really, come to visit, and when you do you are most welcome to come to our gym and say hi!

Thanks for sharing with us! If you’d like to pay a visit to Sporto Klubas Laumžirgis, Lithuania BJJ, you can find them here.

Where is the gym located?
Our gym is located in First Club, in the neighborhood of Caballito at the heart of Buenos Aires city, Argentina.

How many people train there?
We’re about 50 people training in the academy between the competitors and the beginners.

Is Positive Jiu-Jitsu Buenos Aires growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
Last January we started a new course, “Introduction to Jiu-Jitsu”, where we focus on the basics and the self-defense point of view, which added 10 new members!

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
There are total newbies that are starting their martial arts trip, jiu-jitsu newbies with background in other martial arts, and on the other side we have professional jiu-jitsu athletes and mma fighters, most of them black belts.

When did the gym open?
We started Positive Jiu-Jitsu in May 2018.

Some facts about you:

Name: Pablo Peirone / Walter Alamo / Francisco Cuneo
Age: 37 / 31 / 34
Belt: Black / black / black
Academy: Positive Jiu-Jitsu Buenos Aires
Profession: Jiu-jitsu professor / digital marketing specialist / financial consultant
Years in BJJ: 12
Other martial arts: Judo, wrestling
Currently living in: Buenos Aires, Argentina and New York, USA
Originally from: Buenos Aires, Argentina

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
We conducted our training in Jiu Jitsu under the tutelage of Ricardo De La Riva, under whom we graduated to black belt in 2016.
In 2018, we decided to start a new path, under the name of Positive Jiu Jitsu, registering the academy in the main federations and achieving independence in that way. In just 2 years we’ve reached important podiums in the main tournaments (IBJJF Worlds, UAEJJ Grand Slam, and AJP Tour).

Tell us about the people that train in Positive Jiu-Jitsu Buenos Aires – who are they?
They’re regular people with regular lives – students, moms, dads, teenagers, athletes, and professional fighters. We welcome every type of person, and give them through Jiu-jitsu a place and a vehicle to walk through life and express themselves in their own unique ways.

Why do they train?
The common aspect that defines the people that train at Positive is the love for Jiu-jitsu and the aim to be better and overcome our challenges and difficulties.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
The greatest challenges are the sedentary way of life we have as a society, and then the anxiety of “being good” at any activity in just a few classes. Jiu-jitsu is really difficult, and it demands discipline and consistency. In our area specifically, the economic situation of the country is tough, so sometimes people have a hard time finding a way to pay for tuition.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
Argentina has an excellent level of Jiu-Jitsu, with a lot of top guys getting good results on the international circuit. I see a very bright future for Argentine Jiu-Jitsu in general. Just in Buenos Aires city you can find dozens of academies lead by black belts spreading the word all over the country and the globe.

What’s the best thing about your gym?
First Club is a great place. Besides Jiu-Jitsu there are other activities and sports, suitable for all and family-oriented. There’s a gym where you can complement your Jiu-Jitsu by lifting weights. And we have sauna in the men’s locker room as well as in the women’s; great for relaxing the body after a tough training session.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Buenos Aires is one of the capital cities of the world and one of the largest cities in South America, with a European flavor.
There are tons of touristic attractions such as La Boca, tango lessons, and Argentine BBQ. Buenos Aires is also the city with more cafés in the world, with different options that range from the more traditional like Café Tortoni to the more modern and younger styles in Palermo. Besides that, you have the connections to the other Argentine provinces and a great public transport system.

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

Where is Sarnia BJJ Guernsey gym located?
Guernsey in the Channel Islands.

How many people train there?
20-30

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
It would be but for COVID-19!

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
Black through to white.

When did the gym open?
2018.

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
I returned home from London and wanted a Jiu Jitsu experience I couldn’t find elsewhere on the island, so I decided to try and create it.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
We have a great mix: we have young and old, women and men.

 

Some facts about you:

Name: Adrian
Age: 36
Belt: Brown
Gym: Sarnia BJJ Guernsey
Profession: Jiu-Jitsu teacher
Years in BJJ: 9
Other martial arts: Kickboxing in the past
Currently living in: Guernsey
Originally from: Guernsey

Why do they train?
We have students who train as a hobby, students who train for self defence, students who train for exercise, students who train for mental health, students who train for professional skills, and students who train for sport.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
I think the biggest challenge by far is getting people through the door, and to come to enough lessons that they “get it”. Jiu Jitsu is so good that, with the right culture and teaching, people will fall in love with it. But trying to get people who’ve never heard of Jiu Jitsu to come and lie on top of a stranger is difficult. Guernsey is a little behind the times, and so the barriers here are probably even greater than they are in many places.

BJJ Guernsey

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
It’s going to be amazing. Jiu Jitsu is unheard of for most of the islanders. It’s going to be great to see the benefit it can do for the community.

What’s the best thing about your gym?
How committed all the students are to making a positive environment which is inclusive and fun for all. I have been to many gyms which are great if you are a certain type of person or practitioner, but I think it’s a real testament to our students that whether you are shy, non-physical, and new to Jiu Jitsu or confident, strong, and experienced you’ll have a great time.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
The beaches, the cliff paths, the beautiful island!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Some facts about you:

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

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

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

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

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

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Singapore

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Schedule

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

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

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

Website — Click here

Tourist Attractions

• Eiffel Tower — Without a doubt, the Eiffel tower (La Tour Eiffel) is one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. With its breathtaking architecture, the Eiffel Tower leaves you speechless. Although it was originally designed as the centerpiece for the World’s Fair in Paris in 1889, the tower remains as a symbol of Paris to this day. A visit to Paris would not be complete without seeing the iconic Eiffel tower.

• Notre-Dame Cathedral — Located next to the picturesque Seine river, the Notre-Dame Cathedral is considered a Parisian icon. Although it remains closed until further notice due to the unfortunate fire in early 2019, Notre Dame carries the title of most visited monument in Europe as one of the oldest cathedrals in the world. With its stunning stained glass windows and structures, Notre Dame is often regarded as one of the greatest Gothic cathedrals. Let’s hope to see this beautiful cathedral back soon!

• The Louvre — As the most-visited and the largest museum in the world with nearly 10 million visitors per year, the Louvre is another historical monument in Paris. The building was once home to French Kings, but the Louvre was converted to a museum during the French Revolution. With its sheer size and vast collections, you can literally spend days in the museum.

• Shopping — Undeniably considered as the Fashion Capital of the world, Paris definitely has its own style. From Chanel to Louis Vuitton, the city is home to the most influential fashion designers. If you are into shopping and have some $$$ to spare, the shopping experience in luxury shops and also adorable local boutiques is without comparison.

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

Jenn Carson Yoga

Age: 38

Belt: Blue, with some stripes, if that matters

Profession: Library Director, Author, Yoga Teacher

How many years in BJJ: Three and a half-ish

Other martial arts: Yellow belt in kickboxing when I was in high school, does that count? I also belong to the Woodstock Boxing Club, but I’m fairly rubbish at it. Have you seen how skinny my arms are?

Where do you live: Woodstock, New Brunswick, Canada

Where are you originally from: Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I’m a physical literacy researcher. You can check out my work at Jenn Carson website www.jenncarson.com.

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
I travel to teach people about physical literacy and to improve my own. I live in a small town where there isn’t much opportunity to train Jiu Jitsu, so I travel to take seminars and experience different gyms’ cultures. Currently the nearest BJJ gym is an hour away, so I train with friends on borrowed mats in my basement. I like bringing the BJJ friends I make while I travel back to my small town to share their knowledge with the handful of training partners I have here. I share things I’ve picked up while I’m away, even though I probably forget 99% of it. I feel like Indiana Jones bringing home treasure and bruises.

Tell us about your most recent trip and your upcoming trips – where have you been and where are you going?
This is hard to talk about due to the pandemic. I’ve had to cancel all my travel plans, which I was really looking forward to. I was supposed to present at a writer’s conference in May, teach yoga at the Arizona and Maine Globetrotters camps (which will hopefully happen later in the year… if not, next year), possibly train in Ireland in the fall, go visit a Globetrotters friend in Reno, go see a bunch of cool concerts with my kids and friends (I’m a major music nerd), take my kids on an amazing adventure this summer in the Berkshires (mountain range in the Northeastern US), give a keynote presentation at a library conference out west… all of which likely won’t happen now. Not only have I lost money over this, the anticipatory magic has died. I feel guilty and indulgent for being sour, because I’m healthy, my kids are healthy, we have food and shelter, we are safe and loved. And I’m totally privileged to be able to even have that sort of itinerary in the first place. It’s not so bad, but it still sucks. I think it is okay to feel conflicting emotions at the same time.

My most recent trip, before they closed all the borders (even between Canadian provinces), was in early March. I went to try surfing – for the first time – in the Atlantic ocean off the coast of southern Nova Scotia, as it was hovering near zero celsius, during a nor’easter with five and six foot waves. In a holey wetsuit. I figure if you are going to try something new, the best time is under the most impossible, frustrating conditions, because each time after that will seem so much easier and more enjoyable. Like starting an open mat rolling with the most grizzly, show-offy, pent-up purple belt you can find. After that, getting your ass handed to you by a graceful black belt, or being patient with someone who is just learning, comes more naturally. It also really teaches you whether or not you like something or someone quickly. If you can enjoy a person or activity at their worst, you know you are invested for the long haul.

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
At home I am very busy. I run an extremely active library, I participate in a number of sports, I am a single parent to two small children, I teach yoga and coach self-defense classes, I write books and do research, I grow a large garden and have chickens, etc… Travelling forces me to pause all that plate-spinning and just let myself focus on the task at hand: navigating a new environment. Ironically, I get a lot of good ideas for future research projects or artistic explorations when I slow down like that. So when I get home I have to be careful not to jump into seven new things to make me feel like I’m “making up for lost time” while I was gone.

Travelling also gives me a greater understanding, and therefore an increase in empathy, for how other people live. It also helps me appreciate what I have at home. I design and sew clothing for myself and my family, so I love seeing how people in different cultures dress. I love architecture and looking at buildings. I love being in different natural environments and learning about the flora and fauna. I can just look at things all day long.

Because my children are young and I don’t have a partner, I often travel alone. This is a wonderful break, because I don’t have to be responsible for anyone else for a few days, or even talk to anyone, except when ordering food, or at shops, or while training, or working (I often present at library conferences on the road). But mostly, I can just spend time looking and listening and… being. My nervous system takes a big sigh of relief. But I’m also very grateful to get home to “my people.” Introverts still need their humans.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
For the last few years at US Globetrotters camps, I have been the in-house yoga instructor. I’m also a positional therapist and will often give talks about that. I don’t go to a lot of the parties and social events around camp. I mostly show up, teach yoga, train all day, have fascinating one-on-one conversations, ask (probably annoyingly super-technical dumbass blue belt) questions, and then go back to wherever I’m staying (alone) to unwind from all the stimulation. People often approach me to help them with an injury, or to ask advice about their yoga or meditation practices. These connections last long after I come home from camp, as people continue to stay in touch through social media and keep me updated on their progress. I’m not the person at camp wearing an outlandish unitard or rallying everyone to do shots (but I appreciate the entertainment factor of those who do!). I feel like I offer a friendly, helpful, maybe even knowledgeable presence, and that makes me feel good about my work. And I benefit so much from everyone sharing their Jiu Jitsu knowledge with me. I like feeling physically and mentally full and exhausted at the end of camp – it is time well spent. And, of course, sharing knitting tips with Eric Bydairk.

Jenn Carson

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
I am normally a very conscientious packer and planner when travelling, but last year, on my way to a writing workshop on Deer Isle, Maine at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, I did something really stupid. I stopped at a gas station about three quarters of the way on my four-hour journey to fill up. I was in the middle of the Maine woods heading for the coast. I went to grab my wallet to go inside to pay and realized…I didn’t have it. I had my passport, which is how I got through the US-CAN border crossing, but my wallet was nowhere to be found. I dug through my hatchback looking everywhere and then had a horrible sinking sensation as I saw in my mind’s eye how it was sitting on my windowsill at home, near the door, where I put it so I “wouldn’t forget it.” I didn’t know what I was going to do. I had no credit cards, no cell phone, no driver’s license, no health insurance card… nothing but two crumpled Canadian five dollar bills in my pocket, which wasn’t enough to pay for more than a couple packs of gum – if they’d even take my worthless foreign currency. I pictured myself selling ass on the side of a backwoods road to an old fisherman with no teeth and a smelly dog. I used my yoga breathing to calm my panic and that’s when I remembered I had a baggy of American change in the glovebox from camping trips with the boys. I dug it out and cried with relief to find eighteen dollars (!!!) of change. The boys always make fun of my “trash wallet”, but because I hate carrying change in my pockets every time we make a purchase in the US, I just throw the change in an old zip-top baggy and it has accumulated over the years. They were always mortified when I used it in stores. I ran inside and paid for my tank of gas with pennies and dimes and quarters. I had enough gas to either turn around and head back to Canada and retrieve my wallet (and be very late for my weeklong workshop) or else drive to the school but be stranded there with no gas to get home. I decided, as is my usual pattern, to do the hardest, most challenging thing. I figured I had an hour of driving ahead to formulate a plan.

When I arrived I immediately sought out the school’s office manager, explained my situation, and asked if there was a computer with internet access I could use and if it was acceptable to have a piece of mail sent to the office. She said it was, and told me, “Don’t worry, you aren’t stuck here, one way or the other we will get you home”. But I didn’t like the idea of accepting help from strangers. I didn’t want to be a burden on anyone and was deeply embarrassed of what I’d done. I ran to the school’s tiny library with its dial-up internet, to slowly log into Facebook and message my best friend – who was visiting his brother in upstate New York – and ask him to mail me some concealed cash and just hope it got to me in the middle of nowhere by the end of the week. He agreed. Luckily I’d prepaid my room and board using a credit card, so I didn’t need to worry about eating or accommodation. I could settle in and focus on writing poetry, which is why I was there. I didn’t even tell my roommate I was completely broke. When everyone went to town to visit galleries and farmer’s markets, I’d take long walks in the woods or swim in the frigid Atlantic.

Near the end of the week, there was a group exhibit for which we needed to buy supplies at the school’s store. I suggested alternatives to the project that did not cost anything, which was met by indifference from my classmates. So I quietly explained my situation to the professor and why I couldn’t participate in the group project. This was overheard by another classmate in the dining hall. The student said, “Is that why you haven’t signed up for the lobster dinner?” (a tradition at the school). I insisted that no, I just didn’t need a lobster, as I’m from the east coast and could get them at home. He told me he was buying me one. I balked and argued. He laughed and signed me up anyway. Again, I didn’t want to be a burden on strangers, but he wanted to help and he needed me to let him. He told me stories of losing his wallet or passport while travelling in foreign countries and how other people had helped him. It was a moment of shared humanity. He said, “I like how you are flawed but also not afraid to still be a challenging human.” My professor told me to buy anything I wanted at the supply shop, and if I needed anything else during my stay to let him know. I silently vowed to mail them both a thank-you present (and cash) when I returned to Canada (which I did). Every day I checked the office anxiously to see if the mail arrived, and it finally did near the end of the week, with enough American money to get me home, and also buy me some lunch on the way. I was overjoyed with relief. It was enlightening to watch how uncomfortable depending on others made me.

My roommate, who was supposed to leave a day early, decided to change her plans and was worried about how she was going to make it to the airport since her ride was no longer available. I told her it was no problem, I’d drop her off at the airport on my way back to Canada. She was so happy and thankful, she told me she’d pay for my gas and lunch on the way in return. I was incredulous. Here I was, in the middle of the woods, with no wallet, and now I suddenly had more money that I’d ever need to get back home, with a lobster dinner in my lap, all because I’d taken a chance that it would all work out and I’d figure it out as I went. I was shaken by how deeply generous and caring humans can be, and how – like Christian Graugart often remarks – a stranger might just be a friend I hadn’t met yet. It renewed my trust in humanity. And gave me a deep lesson about how perfectionism is overrated. People still like me even when I fail. It’s okay to make mistakes.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I guess it depends on your idea of “cheap.” When I fly somewhere I rarely rent a car; I usually walk, bike, or take public transportation. I do this because it is cheaper, it is better for the environment (to help offset my guilt from flying), and because it lets me see more of the local culture. I also like the challenge of figuring things out at street level, especially when I don’t speak the local language. I also hate navigating traffic in unknown places. Other people’s driving terrifies me. I often stay in hostels or rent rooms from people, rather than in hotels – again because it is cheaper, but also because I get more of a feel for the place. A generic chain hotel looks the same almost everywhere. I rarely shop when I travel, except for unusual art supplies, books, or interesting things for my kids or friends. I try to find a local seamstress or fashion designer and purchase one piece from them. That is sometimes my most extravagant cost, besides the flight. But I have built a very interesting and exotic wardrobe because of it. It feels like visual storytelling when I get dressed, knowing where all the articles came from, who made them, and how I felt when I bought them.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Just once, to challenge yourself, try travelling without a cell phone. I don’t have one, and never have, and so it makes for a really wonderful and sometimes maddening experience trying to navigate the world without technology in your hand. But it is also amazing, because it forces you to really be present when you talk to people, to rely on them for help and kindness, and it takes you out of your self-absorbed, seemingly self-reliant bubble. You appreciate how interconnected we all are. And you look up and see things you would miss if you were staring at a phone. It also means I don’t take pictures when I travel. My memory becomes my camera. I have to really look at your beautiful face so I remember it. I have to pay attention because I’ll never get to live in this moment again.

A big thanks to Jenn Carson!

Jorgen Matsi BJJ

Age: 37

Belt: Black

Profession: I’m a personal coach / counselor in a CRM software company called Pipedrive.

How many years in BJJ: 16

Other martial arts: Aikido for a few years before starting BJJ and MMA at age of 20 back in 2003. Parallel to BJJ I’ve trained quite a lot of MMA and related combat sports (wrestling, judo etc).

Where do you live: Tartu, Estonia, where I’m the head coach of Võimla (literal translation: The Gym) – the oldest official BJJ and MMA club in Estonia.

Where are you originally from: Pärnu, Estonia

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: Still to this day, I like to secretly think that one of the main things that inspired Graugart to start this awesome camps project after his around the world trip was how awesome the big BJJ & MMA Summer Camps I put on in Estonia were (I think Christian took part in 3 of those).

Also, in my MMA heyday I was an actor in an obscure Estonian music video. And you can watch the odd promos we did for the biggest MMA event back in the day (subtitled).

Jorgen Matsi BJJ teaching in EstoniaTell us what inspired you to travel and train?
I don’t know, it came really naturally. I was part of the group that kickstarted BJJ and MMA in Estonia, so to learn and develop myself I also had to travel, since YouTube didn’t exist back then :D Nowadays when I’ve again done a few international camps again (after dedicated 5 years of raising small humans) it’s just my favourite type of vacation away from my day-to-day life.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
My most recent trip was a work-related one to Lisbon (my company has an office there), but I managed to visit 3 different gyms in the 5 days I spent there. I worked during the day and trained in the evening; it was the perfect work-vacation, and all three gyms were super nice and accepting of visitors.

Jorgen Matsi BJJ

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
I’m the kind of person that actually enjoys the “everyday vibe” the most. I’m not big on specific sightseeing – I just like to wander randomly around places a bit, spend time with local people and train. All of which is nicely facilitated by doing a small fringe sport which has quite a welcoming community – BJJ :)

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
Unfortunately I’m kinda boring in that regard – I’ve just enjoyed spending time with people I’ve befriended and with whom I still communicate online even when we might not actually see each other for a few years in between common travel locations. To me, connecting with other people with whom I, by default, share the love for BJJ yet in comparison to whom I’m often a very different person with a different history – that’s the most enjoyable thing. Also, I first played real live DnD in Heidelcamp last year :D

Jorgen Matsi early competition careerWhat has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
I learned a hard lesson on how to not be a douchebag and got choked unconscious for the first time in my life. In 2012, me and my wife were visiting Amsterdam (this was also the time me and my wife first met in real life our wonderful friend and fellow Globetrotter Daniel Bertina). In addition to visiting Carson Gracie BJJ, we also visited R-Grip, the home gym of female MMA pioneer Marloes “The Armbarian” Coenen whom I was and am still a fan of. I was a purple belt with 9 years of MMA and BJJ and coaching experience so there were definitely some ego-demons I hadn’t conquered yet – yes you can say it – I was cocky.

The nogi BJJ class was taught by R-Grip head coach Roemer Trompert, and it focused on a front headlock series which included the famous Matt Hughes choke over Ricardo Almeida. I had seen the fight and thought it was somewhat of a fluke. Hughes had freakish strength and Almeida slept on it (pun intended) not taking urgency to defend. So I didn’t think it was something that could be systematically replicated by average people on someone who has decent awareness and choke defence (and that would include me of course).

So Roemer came to us and asked how we were doing and I said something like “Yeah I don’t think that’ll really work.” He was super polite and said he’ll demonstrate on me, and I was like “Alright, I’ll let him put it on me and then casually defend.” I remember thinking “Okay, this is tighter than I thought it was gonna be but it’s OK…”. Next thing I remember is feeling super weird and looking up from my back instead of being on my knees and a bunch of worried faces (including my wife and Marloes Coenen herself) looking at me weird. Despite that episode, everyone was still super nice to me, and I had really nice polite rolls including one with Roemer in the end of the class.

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I used to be in my 20s, but now I am old and lazy and have a stable income. I’ve done my fair share of sleeping in gyms and couches, and kinda have had enough. I wouldn’t mind it still if other conditions were so appealing, but I avoid it if I can. Food-wise I still like to pack some apples, protein powder, and a bag of nuts in my carry-on luggage whenever I go to travel because I don’t want to get stuck with being hungry in the middle of the night or having fast food as my only option. When I didn’t have to count every Euro anymore, I realized that more expensive flights can sometimes be literally cheaper enabling easier transfers, spending less money on food etc.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Contact gyms you’re going to beforehand. You’ll get a good idea in regards to how they are with visitors, and you’re going to have the best time in gyms that are actually excited about having visitors. At the same time – and depending on your goals / level – you might want to sniff out the largest open mats in the area for best rolls. If you’ve got competitive aspirations there’s nothing like competitive rolls with people you don’t know.

A big thanks to Jorgen Matsi BJJ Globetrotters for doing this interview!