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Age: 35

Belt: Black Belt 1st Degree

Profession: Jiu Jitsu Instructor

How many years in BJJ: I’ve been saying 15 years for a few years now

Other martial arts: Tae Kwon Do, American Kenpo, Kickboxing, Judo, Submission Wrestling, Kung Fu, Kali

Where do you live: Gainesville, Florida, USA

Where are you from: Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I stopped training martial arts for a few years in college and took up breaking (breakdance), and I honestly think it is the thing that helped my Jiu Jitsu more than anything else. I also was a Physics major and definitely see Jiu Jitsu through lense of simple machines (levers, wedges, etc.) and relative motion (lines and circles).

Charles Harriott – BJJ Globetrotters

Tell us what inspired you to become a “full-time traveling coach”?
I honestly kind of fell into it. At first I was just trying to see the world and train for a year as an adventure. I was at a point in my life where I felt if I didn’t do it now I would put it off forever. After a year of traveling, making friends and teaching, I got home and thought “I think I would rather just keep traveling.” I got a little bit more organized… sometimes. I wouldn’t actually say I am full-time traveling anymore since Covid. I am probably travelling more than a lot of people, but I spend most of the year in Gainesville, FL with my partner Natasha Collazos.

How do you find new academies to coach at?
A bit of everything. I meet a lot of people at BJJ Globetrotters camps. Sometimes they tell their coaches back home about me or they themselves own a gym and invite me to teach. Some people have found me via my Instagram (@charlesharriott). After I did an instructional with BJJ Fanatics (Leglocks101), I had a few people that liked it reach out to me and book a seminar or two.
However, my first substitute teacher opportunity came at Octopus Academy in Tel Aviv. One of the students there (Johnny Axelrod) was an American Kenpo student of my friend and first blue belt Alexander Perez. I had been sparring with his elder brothers and him back when he was a teenager. Fast forward almost a decade and he had seen me on social media and he reached out and said I should come visit Israel. I get asked how many classes I can handle by the gym owners Saul and Gidon, and I say all of them. The first visit was for two weeks, and I ended up loving it there so much that in 2019 between the visits I spent more time in Tel Aviv than any other single city including my home in Gainesville.

The second location I got to play substitute teacher was in Mallorca, Spain. My friend Yogi Jack had a job as an instructor at a gym and wanted to take some vacation time to handle some things back home. We were talking about it and I just said hey I can cover for you. I hopped on a plane to Mallorca and got to live almost on the beach for a week and learn about Mallorca and get to know the gym owner Joe and the cool students that trained there or were just passing through.

My most recent and longest stay in New Mexico at Binder BJJ was literally due to a fellow Globetrotter named Rich telling his coach that there was a guy at camp whose personality and teaching style reminded them of him. From there he told me that his coach was going to need shoulder surgery and was looking for blackbelts to fill in. We spoke on the phone and got along and the rest is history.

Charles Harriott – BJJ Globetrotters

What are some challenges of jumping in and covering for another coach for an extended period of time? Do you stick entirely to their curriculum or do you try and add some stuff of your own too?
The main challenge is that the students there are accustomed to the culture and methods of their coach. They love their coach – that’s why they go to their gym. So at first there can be a little “who the hell is this guy?”, but it generally shifts into curiosity and by the end friendship and/or mutual respect.

Another challenge is striking the right balance between technique drilling and rolling. I recently learned that lesson. Some gyms want to roll way more than others. On one hand, students need and want to roll; on the other I am being paid to instruct. If they just wanted to roll, they wouldn’t need me and just have an open mat for that right??? Wrong. Putting myself in the shoes of students and knowing that some people come to BJJ for the stress relief and need those rolls every class has definitely improved my balance and class planning.

I am lucky that no one has ever asked me to teach a curriculum on my travels. I think the reason people hire me is because there is something I do that they like that they want their students to learn. Or at the very minimum they respect what I do and how I do it. I am usually given general guidelines like “Teach the beginners defense” or “Can you show them your approach to single x and leglocks.” Even in the case of those prompts, I don’t think the coaches would have expected Priit-style Defensive Jiu Jitsu postures being taught when they gave me that cue.

I have been so lucky that I have always been supported and embraced by the gyms that host me. At Octopus in Tel Aviv, I taught some of what Chris Paines taught me and they had him come out with me on my next visit. At Binder, they allowed me to teach a special seminar and put on mini-events while I was there.

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
My favorite thing about travelling is the people I meet and then getting to experience what they deem special about their town and their view of the world. I have traveled alone and with company and every small change adds a little spice to the experience. I love food and locals always know where to take you. In Tel Aviv, all the guys at the gym would take me to their special spots. This is the spot for Sabich, that is the spot for the best hummus, or falafel. I also love nature and museums so if I am lucky to be hosted by people who love that stuff then I get to see that. I learned early on that hotels are lonely, so I always try to stay in a guest room or couch in order to get to know people and learn something while I am there.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training (and coaching)?
In Berlin, Yogi Jack showed Natasha and I Wartenburg, the launching of a barge, a shipping container party, family breakfast, and a street market all in a few days. In Sioux Falls, we were hosted by Rich, who took us to natural history museums, cooked us amazing keto food, and gave us insight into his time as a police officer. In Enschede, Leah and Marwin took us on a beautiful walk and we sat around talking about hip hop, anime, and BJJ until I fell asleep on the couch, and Natasha and Leah bonded over all kinds of spiritual stuff. In Albuquerque, I was able to enjoy the beautiful nature by day and then really get to enjoy watching the students grow by night. On top of that, each student gave me advice on which nature trails or volcanoes or mountains to see. On top of this a few students (Matthew and Dan) and Natasha set up a camera and made a bunch of funny informative videos together. The icing on the cake was my roommate Gannon, who is a firefighter and cowboy. I got to get to know him and learn from his immense experience for his young age, and he took me to where he works on a Native Reservation and ate some fried bread.

Pre-pandemic in Köln, I got to teach one of Sven’s students a flying armbar at CAGE MMA. I got a video a month later of Sven telling me that he managed to hit it on him, only to get thrown into the cage fence à la Crazy Horse. In Köln this past year, I returned and got to see they now have their own gym, and it is thriving and they still have a good relationship with the owners at CAGE. I got to introduce Nelson and his wife Annelen to Natasha and they immediately asked if this is the one you were on the phone with last time. I laughed and said yes. That is, in a nutshell, what I love. I have this loose extended family all over the world of people I see infrequently, but when I see them we pick right up where we left off.

Charles Harriott – BJJ Globetrotters

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Yes sir, I just take care of airfare and lodging first. They are the ones that are the most variable in price. I use Skyscanner for international flights and Frontier for inside the USA. I heavily utilize the “to anywhere” feature and just figure out where the cheapest place to go from a given airport is. If I need to get to a particular place, then I will always look to go on an off-day, or leave my departure and return dates flexible. I will often take the cheapest flight into Europe then take a small flight, train, or bus to my final destination. I highly recommend Skyscanner and rome2rio. I also travel light with a backpack as a personal item. I avoid taking a checked bag for both the size and cost, unless I am bringing a large amount of gis for a long stay. In general, I can travel for 6+ weeks with just a backpack.

For lodging, I use the “Members of BJJ Globetrotters” Facebook group and matsurfing. First, it is free or costs me trade like cooking or teaching some Jiu Jitsu or breakdance. If you don’t have anything like that to trade, bring something from home to share your culture or passion with them. Second, as stated before, I love the people and find hotel rooms lonely.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Always bring an extra charger – they will break at the worst time. Portable chargers are your best friend. Take some photos and videos that you don’t share on social media. It’s nice to share them in person with friends and loved ones, family photo-style.

“Things will either go well or you will have data material for a great story”
I keep this in mind at all times. Anything that goes wrong in your travel will, in enough time, make for a great story. So don’t get mad, just pay attention and try to remember everything, especially if it is ludicrous.

“Don’t waste time trying to figure out whose fault anything is; just focus on moving forward and solving the problem”
This is something I learned from travelling both alone and with people. I noticed when I was alone I made just as many errors and had just as many setbacks as when I had company, but I never had anyone to complain to, so I just solved the problem. This helped prepare me for traveling with a partner as I currently do. It doesn’t matter who forgot something at home; we can always borrow or buy it when we are there. It doesn’t matter why we are running late; having a scapegoat doesn’t get us there any faster. Once you free yourself from finding someone to blame, you have all of your energy to work together to find a way forward and a much happier trip. I try really hard not to let myself complain. It’s useless and only makes your trip worse.

“You will remember the first, last, and best (most intense) 15 minutes of each experience”
I don’t know if this is true, but I heard it on a podcast and have used it to hack my memories. I don’t need to spend 6 hours on the beach, because I’m not going to remember 6 hours. I’m only going to remember how it started, ended, and what I found most memorable. So because I like to sleep in, I don’t worry that I only have 2 hours or even 45 minutes to do something that people say you need 6 hours for. I just go enjoy what I can and try to leave on a good note. This has allowed me to do more and not be victim to the feeling of “I guess it’s too late.”

“Visiting a gym is about learning and having fun more than establishing dominance”
It’s a fine balance between being nice and just letting everyone wreck you in training. It’s their gym and I always try my best to adopt their culture as long as I find it safe for me and appropriate. I feel comfortable in goofy, serious, intense, and laid back gyms. I can roll super playful, or have an ADCC reenactment. However, if you don’t feel comfortable rolling hard, and this gym has a competition culture, it’s okay to sit out. If you do like to compete with them, enjoy the porrada LMAO.

Conversely, if you roll like a murderer in a super laid-back gym that is trying to “flow”, they probably will not appreciate it. Above all, I try to keep both me and my training partner safe. It is never worth it to get injured or injure your partner when visiting a gym. At a minimum you will be unwelcome, and worse you may put yourself in physical danger from an overzealous mat enforcer. Even if you are so skilled to wreck the whole room, chances are you didn’t make any friends, and for me that’s the best part.

“Make them think you don’t suck at Jiu Jitsu and that you are not an asshole”
…and if you suck at Jiu Jitsu as an underbelt no one actually cares!

Thank you Charles Harriott – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

Where is Inverted Gear Academy located?
Bethlehem, PA, United States.

How many people train there?
16 active members as of this morning.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
We opened less than a month ago. We hope to reach 100 members within a year. So shooting for 8 new members per month.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training in ?
Brand new white belts, to second or third degree black belts.

When did the gym open?
December 5th, 2021

Some facts about you:

Name: Nelson Puentes
Age: 35
Belt: 2nd degree Black Belt
Profession: Entrepreneur
Years in BJJ: 15
Academy: Inverted Gear Academy
Other martial arts: Wrestling, Judo, Sambo.
Currently living in: Whitehall, PA. Little town in the Lehigh Valley. An hour north of Philadelphia, 2 hours west of New York City.
Originally from: Quinchamali, Chile.

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence
Lehigh Valley PA had 5 schools as of a few months ago; two of them were 10th Planet and did only nogi. The other 3 did both but leaned heavily towards nogi. Nogi has become really popular in the area. So we felt the area needed a gym that dedicated itself to not only gi Jiu Jitsu, but also had a strong fundamentals program.

Tell us about the people that train in Inverted Gear Academy – who are they?
Right now we are in a unique situation for a new gym. We are mostly upper belts. We have more black belts signed up than white belts. A lot of the upper belts in the area that want to focus on the gi have joined the gym. As well as lots of visitors that want to sharpen up their gi skills or add variety to their training.

Why do they train in your gym?
We have mainly hobbyists at this point. They train to stay in shape, to learn how to defend themselves, and for the community aspect of the sport.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
Opening a gym during a pandemic might not be my brightest idea. Starting a gym can be stressful, and it can be months before the gym is profitable. I am in a situation where my main source of income, Inverted Gear, is fairly stable and I will not depend on the gym for income. This allows us to make good long term decisions.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
The area is having an influx of population. It will be fascinating to see what the future brings. The area is renowned for their wrestling, both at the high school and college level. So if we could get some of those kids interested in grappling, throw a jacket on them early, and teach them some basics as they come up and learn wrestling at the same time, the sky is the limit.

What’s the best thing about Inverted Gear Academy?
We spent a lot of time working on our curriculum. We are also planning on taking a look at it every three months to make adjustments. We hope this allows us to bring up some well rounded grapplers, that are comfortable playing different guards, passing in different styles, and escaping gamut positions. Once they are comfortable with that, they can specialize in whatever game they want, since they have a solid foundation.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Historic Bethlehem is a must, 5 minutes drive from the academy. Neat restaurants and bars, and lots of amazing historical buildings. Another stop is the Steel Stacks, the remains of Bethlehem Steel, and one of the coolest open air museums I have ever seen.

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Thanks for sharing! If you’d like to visit Inverted Gear Academy, you can find them here.

Age: 26

Belt: Brown

Profession: Freelance photographer

How many years in BJJ: 8

Other martial arts: None!

Where do you live: Currently living in a tent while travelling around the world on my motorcycle.

Where are you from: Westchester County, New York, USA.

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I’d be remiss NOT to mention my website, www.mikebarrphotography.com, which is where I write about my journey and sell my photography prints!

Mike Barr – BJJ training

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
So this trip – and I say this trip because I actually did another BJJ Globetrotters trip back in 2017 – has been in the works since February/March of 2018.

I graduated from college in May 2017, did a 7-week road trip around the US, and then immediately dove into my first “big boy job”. I was a property manager at a real estate company near where I grew up. It wasn’t a job I’d ever pictured myself doing, but for a 21-year-old kid with student loan payments starting, I couldn’t complain. For the first time in my life, I had a large amount of disposable income, so I went out and bought my first motorcycle – just in time for winter to hit New York. I put the bike into storage for the winter, and pulled it back out of storage the first warm weekend in 2018.

The idea to do a RTW trip (round-the-world) didn’t really come from anywhere special – the idea wasn’t there, and then it was. I’ve come to realize in the last few years during the planning stage that there’s a number of deep-seated reasons for this trip, but they all come back to the same thing: I want to live a life that I’ll be proud to look back on when I’m older. I want to be able to sit my kids down one day and tell them about the crazy journey I experienced when I was in my twenties, and I want to do that journey now, BEFORE I settle down and start a family of my own.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
At the time of writing this, I’ve been on the road for a day shy of two months. I left my hometown in New York on September 10th, and immediately headed up to the Adirondack Mountains for a weekend wedding. I spent a few weeks in the northeast, cutting across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. While in Maine, I spent four days sleeping on the mats and teaching classes at Acadia Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, an awesome school just outside Acadia National Park run by Kris Douglas, a brown belt under the MassBJJ Banner.

After my time there, I started south, ultimately spending a week in Virginia with my older brother. I had to take a two week intermission for his wedding (which is a whole story in its own right that involved flying to Oklahoma, driving back to New Jersey for the wedding with my father, then driving my father down to Florida, all before flying BACK to Virginia to get my motorcycle.)

After flying back to Virginia, I spent a few days there before riding south. I hit the Blue Ridge Parkway during peak fall foliage, which was AWESOME. These last few days have been spent at Open Source Jiu Jitsu, a small Jiu Jitsu “compound” just outside of Asheville, North Carolina run by Bobby McMasters. It’s the closest thing I’ve ever experienced to a Jiu Jitsu hostel. I love it here!

As for future travels, there’s a really long-winded answer, but ultimately it’s a true “round the world” journey; I’m riding from Alaska to Patagonia in 2022, then from Australia to Portugal in 2023. The entire route is outlined on my website, www.mikebarrphotography.com (shameless plug!)

Mike Barr – BJJ trip

 

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
Oof. That’s such a hard question to answer. I really love the freedom of being able to wake up every day and live my life. It’s kind of selfish, but I love not having to wake up and report to a job I hate, working for a boss who doesn’t like me all that much, and with people I don’t particularly see eye-to-eye with.

On the road, I just get to wake up in the morning, pack up camp, look at a map, and think, “Okay Mike, what are we doing today? Where are we going?” It’s unbelievably freeing, and it’s the first time in my life where I feel like I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing at exactly this point in time.

There’s also the classic answers: seeing new places, collecting experiences, meeting all sorts of new and fun people, etc.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
Training up in Maine was a big one for me. I’d been on the road for about two weeks at that point, and I’d only trained once at a small gym in Concord, New Hampshire. I hadn’t even called ahead like I usually do – I was literally riding down the road, saw a sign that said “Acadia BJJ”, and pulled into the parking lot on a whim.

I walked into the gym, and was greeted by Kris, the owner. He was so unbelievably kind and welcoming, and didn’t even mind that I hadn’t arranged to pop in beforehand. He’s since been promoted to brown belt, but he was only a purple belt when I visited. I only bring this up because after warming up for class with some light rounds, he asked me to teach some of the aspects of my passing game that he wanted more details on. I was surprised by the request, but I was more than happy to oblige and share some knowledge. At the end of class, Kris and I were talking shop – all about Jiu Jitsu, and about my travels. He asked where I was staying, and I told him that I wasn’t all that sure, that I was probably just going to put my tent up somewhere nearby. He didn’t even hesitate – he offered me a corner of the mats to sleep on while I was in town.

I had just met this guy. We only trained for an hour, and he barely knew anything about me, but he was willing to let this total stranger into his home away from home. It’s experiences like that – the ones that totally depend on the kindness of strangers – that make all of the hard travel days worth it.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
Just like I said above: the complete kindness of strangers, and their willingness to help out. This surprised me a lot, and I was kind of shell shocked the first few times it happened. With how divided the world seems to be these days, it’s always really refreshing to have total strangers come into my life to lend a hand.

I’ve had people offer spare beds in their house for me to rest for the night; I stayed with a really kind gentleman named Tom while up in Maine for three days waiting for a motorcycle part to be delivered, and he helped me out of a bind when they sent the wrong part.

Christian G. messaged me after announcing my trip completely unprompted that he’d send me a free gi for my trip, telling me that it made him nostalgic about his trip.

Heck, I met an older guy just two days ago. I was packing up camp when he came up to the bike while walking his dog. He must’ve been in his 60s. We got to talking about my trip, and he wished me luck before continuing on with his dog walking. Five minutes later, he came back and told me that I was welcome to follow him back to his house where I could shower, wash some clothes, all while his wife would cook me some breakfast.

I’ve got a link on my website where people can donate money to keep me on the road – I say that “$15 gets me 200 miles further down the road.” I’ve had total strangers send me $20, $40, $100 here and there. It’s insane to me sometimes, and I find it hard to express how appreciated those little things all are.

Mike Barr – BJJ Globetrotters

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I’m absolutely a budget traveller. I camp out almost every night – I’ve only paid for two nights accommodation in these first two months: every other night was either spent camped out in a tent, or on someone else’s couch (and/or Jiu Jitsu mats). There’s even been two nights so far where, not being able to find a campsite, I literally threw a tarp down next to my bike and went to sleep on the ground. I’m the definition of “houseless and unemployed.” As for food, I try and cook for myself as much as I can with my camp stove, not to mention some trade-secrets for on-the-road cuisines (e.g. 3/$3 taquitos from 7/11. No, I’m not ashamed. Yes, I do have heartburn sometimes.)

As far as planning for the trip itself, I spent about three years saving up as much money as I could. I’d say the biggest tip I figured out in that time is this: stop focusing on accruing more, and instead focus on spending less.

I realized about a year into my savings journey that by paring my spending down to just a few categories, I could readily be saving $1k a month for my trip. So outside of my living expenses, I only spent money on four things: Jiu Jitsu, my motorcycle, photography gear, and rock climbing.

Part of that comes from also making the decision to go after your dreams. Once you decide that something is GOING to happen, rather than thinking it COULD happen, your brain starts conjuring all sorts of ways to make that thing possible. You stop eating out as much. You stop buying stuff you don’t NEED. You stop buying things to impress other people.

Overall, you stop spending money on THINGS, and start spending money on EXPERIENCES.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Just go for it. Do it. YOLO.

I’m kidding, kind of. This whole experience has taught me that living your dreams is absolutely possible as long as you’re willing to work hard, and work through the hard days. Not every day on the road has been easy; I destroyed my MacBook Pro on the first real day of my trip, and nearly lost $6,000 worth of camera gear in the process. That was hard. But waking up to a misty Adirondack sunrise the next morning made it totally worth it. Swimming in a natural stream the next day made it totally worth it. Seeing the sunset over Acadia National Park made it worth it.

Furthermore, go into every day on the road with an open mind. Slow down. Take the road less travelled (seriously: I avoid interstates like the plague.)

Beyond that, I’d caution everyone to realize this: time is the one thing we never get back. Never. Death doesn’t show up at the end of your life and go, “So I see you worked 30 years at that job you desperately hated: here’s a voucher for 30 more years. Go cuddle some puppies.” No – our clocks are all ticking, and one day they’re going to run out. You don’t want to wake up one day and realize that you let life pass you by because you were afraid to try for what you really wanted.

Thank you to Mike Barr – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

Where is the gym located?
In Paderborn, North Rhine Westphalia, Germany.

How many people train there?
At the moment we have around 200 members training at our gym. In a normal class there are about 10-25 people. MMA classes tend to get a little bit more crowded.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
The gym is steadily growing, but we try to welcome new members in specific assigned months each year so we can focus our attention on them. So sometimes we get zero new members a month, sometimes it’s 30.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
We have grapplers of all levels at our gym. In luta livre, our practised nogi grappling style, we got a couple of blackbelts and alot more whitebelts (and everything in between). Bjj is slowly catching up with a good group of grapplers from white to brown with one blackbelt.

When did Paderborn Wombats, BJJ Germany?
The team was started in 2007 by our Luta Livre coach Mark Davis.

Some facts about you:

Name: Paul Urbanik
Age: 33
Belt: Black belt in Luta Livre and BJJ
Profession: Schoolteacher for mathematics and physics
Years in BJJ: 9 in BJJ, 12 in Luta Livre
Other martial arts: Luta Livre, MMA, and some Taekwondo back in the day
Currently living in: Paderborn
Originally from: Born in Poland, raised in Germany

Paderborn Wombats, BJJ Germany

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence
In 2007 we started as a nogi and MMA competition team. Later down the road we started to loosen up a little bit and tried to focus on building the sport in our area. At that point, we listed our gym as a non-profit club and rented a bigger place.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
We got people from all walks of life at our gym, with almost every age present. So it’s not unusual to see our 8-year-old kids greet our adult class attendees that work as a policeman, chemist, welder, or teacher.

Why do they train in Paderborn Wombats, BJJ Germany?
Most of the members just enjoy training, sweating, improving, and getting a clear head for a couple of hours. But we also have some strong competitors in grappling, as well as a great group of pro MMA fighters.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
Paderborn is a city with a lot of “big” sports clubs like soccer, American football, and baseball. So the focus for many people are those “ball-sports”, while martial arts is often looked down on. At the beginning there was no one teaching BJJ, Luta Livre, or MMA in the area, so our founder Mark Davis had to build it up from zero. Now we have a strong team of volunteer trainers with great knowledge in their respective styles working together, which we are really happy about and proud of.

Paderborn Wombats, BJJ Germany

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
BJJ and Luta Livre (no-gi grappling) doesn’t get the same attention as, for example, MMA, but we’ve noticed a steady increase in people who come to us for BJJ only. So kudos to all the celebs who use their reach to promote the sport.

What’s the best thing about your gym?
The team and atmosphere for sure. We’ve got a great mix of people on the mat in Paderborn Wombats, BJJ Germany who always keep the energy light and fun. Also a lot of people worked together to push the team to where it is now. All those times traveling to competitions, rebuilding our gym, and grinding on the mats formed a really tight bond between a lot of members.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Paderborn itself has some nice spots with some sights and good places to eat, but the surrounding area has some really cool sights too. The Teutoburg forest is right around the corner, with some great hikes and old historical sights. You can even attend an old German feast like the Germans who fought the Romans back in the day (no need for forks and knives).

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Thanks for sharing! If you’d like to visit Paderborn Wombats, BJJ Germany, you can find them here.

Belt: Brown

Profession: I work for BJJ Globetrotters as Ask Vara!

How many years in BJJ: 8

Other martial arts: Karate for many years, MMA for a couple of years before I did my first BJJ class in a gi.

Where do you live: Right now I am in Thailand

Where are you from: Denmark

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I have been on two different national teams in two different sports.

 

Vara Poorisrisak – BJJ gym in Bangkok (Bangkok Fight Lab)

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
Originally it was my old BJJ coach, Christian, who encouraged us to go train with other people, as you will not only gain experience by training with other people whose game you are not used to, but your training partners back home would also benefit from it if you come back better than before.

Now I am more interested in finding unusual travel destinations that not many people go to. Right now I have two really cool places I want to go to on my travel list!

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
I went to an island called Koh Yao Yai for a 3-day New Years trip to get away from Bangkok, and I wanted to spend New Year’s Eve all alone in my hotel room ordering their lobster soup and watching a movie. After the three days, I decided to just stay in Phuket because I know that the air pollution is really bad in Bangkok from January until around April. Then Bangkok had a really long lockdown with everything shutting down, including the gyms, so I had no rush going back really.

I originally came here for New Years for three days with a small backpack and three sets of clothes, but I am still here haha. I did have to order a gi and belt online so I can train. So I just see it as I am still on a long holiday / travelling.

Vara Poorisrisak – BJJ friends

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
Seeing my friends! Whenever I’ve been travelling for BJJ camps or I go to competitions alone, I always run into people I’ve met through the BJJ community. Some of the friends I always enjoy seeing are my BeHousing family (a reference to the place we always booked for the BJJ Globetrotters Summer Camps in Belgium). I’ve known these guys since the first camps we did in Copenhagen, so I’ve known them for many years now. I haven’t seen them for a while but hopefully we can have a reunion next year! Let’s make it happen guys!

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
I had a very rewarding experience the last time I travelled to Sangkhlaburi to visit a project that the Danish ladies in Bangkok support. The project helps out kids along the border with Myanmar. I asked my teammate and One Championship fighter Detchadin Sornsirisuphathin from Bangkok Fight Lab to come and teach the kids some Muay Thai.

The kids tried Muay Thai for the first time and they all amazed us with their athleticism and power. They all had so much fun and also picked up the techniques impressively fast. We had three training sessions in three days, and on the last day Detch made a small competition for the kids. The competition for the bigger kids was to kick as many times as possible in 30 sec and the winner kicked 50 times in 30 sec – pretty good for a first-timer! Detch also donated some pads, shin guards, and gloves to the children so they can continue training.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
I went to this beautiful country called Bhutan. Not many people know about Bhutan, but it’s a Buddhist kingdom on the Himalayas’ eastern edge, known for its monasteries, fortresses (or dzongs) and dramatic landscapes that range from subtropical plains to steep mountains and valleys.

The people there and the country is the most awesome place – along with Japan – that I’ve been to so far. I loved everything about Bhutan and I even got to do my first judo class and had the pleasure to teach some BJJ techniques there. They don’t have any BJJ gyms in Bhutan, but they do have judo :)

Vara Poorisrisak – BJJ Globetrotting

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I think I’m in between. I’m not a super budget traveller and I am not a high-end traveller either. I try to find cheaper but still nice accommodation, as I prefer to spend money on experiences while I am travelling but I still like a nice place where I can relax after a long day going sightseeing, trying food etc.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Please be open-minded and learn from other cultures while travelling. Please don’t be judgemental or think you are entitled just because you do it differently in your own country which you think is much better. Maybe you can appreciate something they do differently or in a better way that you can reflect over and maybe incorporate in your daily life.

Sometimes a simpler way is a happier way!

Thank you Vara Poorisrisak – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

Taherul Khan – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 38

Belt: Brown

Profession: Software Test Automation (I basically piss off software engineers)

How many years in BJJ: 11, I guess officially, but I’ve been doing some form of shit grappling since 2005.

Other martial arts: Boxing, Muay Thai, and ages ago Kung Fu

Where do you live: Zurich, Switzerland

Where are you from: London, England… the bit that wanted to stay in the EU

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I recently took up acting a couple of years ago. It’s fun and super challenging.

Taherul Khan – BJJ Globetrotters Camp in Heidelberg

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
Midlife crisis… kidding… maybe not, but a curiosity like most other people I guess.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
Aside from the recent Globetrotters camp in Heidelberg, I kind of consider moving to Zurich as a bit of a vacation, as I’m still in the honeymoon phase due to Covid. Am going to Sardinia in September though, which I’ve never been to, so I’m looking forward to that and Sardinian white wine: contini karmis bianco tharros. Get this bottle of white from there, it’s a good one.

Taherul Khan – BJJ Globetrotters

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
It varies. I like to travel alone a lot, as I get to just pick and choose what I do, who I meet etc. But food is definitely one of my favourite things. I started a habit a few years back of visiting Michelin star restaurants where I can in other countries, and I love sampling this from different cultures.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
Ok, so Globetrotters is an obvious but very real reason to do so. I’ve made a whole bunch of friends and fun experiences.

Outside of Globetrotters, it depends on what you want to get from travelling. For me, I go with the flow and see what happens. In New York, I love the fact that I can go to a bar by myself and once ended up at a rock gig with a bunch of random student doctors. I’ve tasted some amazing food. NOA Chef Hall in Tallinn, Estonia was mind-blowing – it had some of the best wine pairing I’ve had to date.

In Cuba, I randomly found a Newaza judo club on Varadero beach and they invited me to train. It was a great way to meet locals in a more real way as, without getting into it much, generally the behaviour towards tourists can be understandably superficial, so having a sport in common to train with for a few days in a row lifts some of those barriers.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
I can’t say I’ve had any surprises. Maybe I didn’t expect to fall in love with New York as much as I did and seeing how friendly people were, given what you hear about NYC people. But coming from London and having visited Paris, I guess anywhere after that seems friendly! Make what you will of that answer. P.S. I love France, don’t hate me mes amis Francais…

Taherul Khan – BJJ Globetrotters

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Not gonna lie, I’m too old for budget travelling and I like travelling and sleeping in comfort. The days of sleeping on people’s kitchen floors a la age 20-somethings are long gone. So I’m the worst to give that advice.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
I think a lot of people feel a pressure to travel in a way that other people would like to see them travel. Don’t. Do the things you want to do and travel how you want. Even if you’re on a budget, travelling is still expensive in the form of time – don’t waste it visiting the places or doing the things you think would look good on Instagram or please other people. If you want to stay in just one place for a week without seeing much, and you enjoy that, then do exactly that. If you want to see 8 million things in a day, do that. It’s your time and your experience, nobody else’s.

Having said that, if you’re not too shy, try to get to know locals somehow. We have a superpower in BJJ in that it makes it so much easier to meet people from a local region, so if you want, it’s worth using that to connect with locals and get a glimpse of their culture.

Finally, if some dude on a street corner is staring at you and rubbing his knees, probably don’t strike up a conversation with him. Or do. YOLO.

Thank you to Taherul Khan – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

 

Where is the gym located?
Our gym is located in Muttenz. This is an small village near the city of Basel in Switzerland, close to the border of France and Germany.

How many people train there?
So we didn’t even start yet, but i think between 10 and 20 people will be there on our first session.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
Hard to answer this question. In the beginning, maybe 1 to 3 new members each month. We have some advance registrations, but only time will tell!

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
The highest belt grading is a purple belt with four stripes. The lowest is, of course, a couple of white belts.

When did the gym open?
The gym will open on the first of August 2021.

Some facts about you:

Name: Patrick Neugart
Age: 39
Belt: Purple Belt four stripes
Profession: Workforce Planning
Years in BJJ: 9 years (with interruptions)
Other martial arts: Wing Chun, Sanda, Kickboxing
Currently living in: Allschwil, near Basel
Originally from: Switzerland

Newguard Jiu Jitsu, Germany

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence
I was a coach in a couple of gyms. My friend from MMA Basel, where I gave some lessons, had to move out of their current place. They were searching for a new place to open a gym, so we had some talks. At that point I already I had the idea in my mind to do my own BJJ offshoot, because there are not many options to train BJJ in our region. They asked me if I wanted to join them and open my own BJJ school in partnership with MMA Basel and Enshin Karate Switzerland. I said yes, and here we are now waiting for the date to start.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
We have many nice folks here from around the world – women and men, old and young. They’re all in different stages of their life (study, work, family).

Why do they train in Newguard Jiu Jitsu, Germany?
Everyone has their own reason to train, be it for fun and having a good time and meeting new people, or for the fitness, competition, self esteem and self-confidence, self defense, and many other reasons. And that’s how it should be, because everyone should have the possibility to train for whatever their reasons are.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
BJJ is slowly growing here in Switzerland, but it is still a fringe sport. The area around Basel has many martial arts gyms, but most of them are Kick-/ Thai boxing studios. BJJ is actually not a big thing in this region. As well as that, Switzerland is very expensive and the rents are high, so the biggest challenge is not to go broke!

Newguard Jiu Jitsu, Germany

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
If i could say that, then I would need a new job! Joking aside, like I said before, BJJ is growing slowly, but it is growing. I’m sure that more people will discover BJJ for themselves and fell in love with this art. Like i did many years ago.

What’s the best thing about your gym?
We are open for all. We are one big family. We have a 235 square-meter mat space (including a seven-meter diameter cage). And we work closely in collaboration with Aire Valley Martial Arts in Keighley (West Yorkshire, England) and BJJ Kingston (near London).

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
You can do short trips to France and Germany. Because we’re right on the border of the two countries. But in the city itself, I would suggest to visit the bank of the Rhine (the river runs right through the city). It’s a beautiful place to chill (especially on sunny and warm days), with many small and urban bars and street food stands.

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Thanks for sharing! If you’d like to visit Newguard Jiu Jitsu, Germany, you can find them here.

Age: 28

Belt: Blue

Profession: Digital Marketing Analyst

How many years in BJJ: 4 years this July (I will actually be celebrating my Jitz-aversary at this summer’s Iceland Camp)

Other martial arts: I am a white belt in Judo. I do not train Judo nearly as often as BJJ, but it has been a ton of fun to explore a new side of the sport and incorporate a new focus on throws and sweeps into my BJJ gameplan.

Where do you live: Providence, Rhode Island, USA. I have lived here for just over 4 years, and I began BJJ shortly after moving here in hopes of connecting with new people in an unfamiliar city.

Where are you from: Oxford, Ohio – a small town an hour from Cincinnati.

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I have a blog at messykatie.com where I like to write about grappling and life! It helps me reflect on the important lessons I’ve learned while training and I hope that others can relate to some of the experiences I’ve had.

Katie Taylor – BJJ competition

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
I moved to Rhode Island from a small town in Indiana over 900 miles away. I knew ZERO people in Rhode Island before making the move, so I was really on my own in brand new surroundings. I had to leave my comfort zone to thrive, and learning to do this independently has instilled a great sense of confidence to pursue my curiosity about the world.

I quickly realized I can really just “figure it out” in any new situation – I couldn’t just call my dad to ask him about what apartment would be best to rent or hang out with old friends from school on the weekends if I wanted to have a good time.

So I paved my own way. When I got into BJJ, I had no way of knowing what a vast community I would become a part of. Through studying such a complex and boundless art form, the individuals who continue to train BJJ share a bond – and though each of us expresses this in different ways, it becomes a beautiful representation of just how limitless the art can be. In one training environment, you grow familiar with your partners, so the first time you ever venture to a new school for open mat you will be stunned at the unexpected ways your new partners move with you and create never-before-seen flows.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
Most recently, I attended the BJJ Globetrotters Maine Camp, which I wrote about on my blog. I loved being able to relive the experience of childhood summer camps, but with a grappling twist – plus I’m now (legally!) able to enjoy a beer by the lake!

Katie Taylor – BJJ Globetrotters

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
My daily life is such a routine – even more so now that I have started working remotely. It can be so easy to fall into a quite dull existence where you become consumed with work, chores, and the same conversations over and over again. Some consider travel as an unnecessary luxury; but it can be an opportunity to bring a splash of color, art, music, emotion to an otherwise ordinary life. Normalcy and comfort is so overrated.

Above all, I travel for the joy of learning. I am so curious about the stories behind a place – why their architecture looks a certain way, how cultures have blended their cuisines into flavorful dishes, and why one group of people says ‘y’all’ and another group of people calls it ‘pop’ instead of ‘soda’. It’s refreshing to have your expectations challenged.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
Jumping from open mats among new schools was actually my first exposure to the aspect of playfulness that could be achieved in BJJ. I found large groups of women that would organize training sessions so we could finally have similar training partners (still a rarity to find more than a few women in one BJJ class), and I experienced moments with grapplers that had no preconceived notions about my skills or style of movement.

I traveled to an all-female Girls in Gis event as a white belt, and I had never seen so many grappling women in one room! It was my first time ever seeing female black belts, and best of all it was outside the context of competition. Many times, women who train only get to roll with another woman when they are trying to win a medal! Being able to take the pressure off and actually focus on making friends with women on the mats was really exciting, and I still have all those connections today.

I believe that traveling for BJJ is not only an important factor for exposing yourself to new techniques and methods, but it is a wonderful reminder that the art of Jiu-Jitsu is so much more intricate than we could possibly imagine. Each new roll is a gift.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
The kindness of humanity amazes me. Women are often cautioned when traveling, and with fair reason… but I don’t feel that the negative stories should hold us back from exploring. I have had multiple circumstances where humans I didn’t know at all completely saved my day, expecting nothing in return.

I remember one instance where I was driving outside Chicago mid-winter (which I can’t recommend doing to anyone, ever). My car skidded across the icy street and had a major part break. Meaning I was stuck basically in the middle of a cornfield nowhere close to home. A man who lived down the road spotted me on his way to work and together, we rolled my car up into his driveway and he called a friend of his over to tow it to a service shop – and refused to accept any kind of payment.

Another surprise is just how many little random connections you can find across the world. I mentioned to my good friend that I planned on traveling to Iceland, and lo and behold she had a friend willing to rent out his apartment in Reykjavik. It’s easy enough to post on Facebook asking for recommendations in a new city and you’ll always get a handful of comments with helpful tips and tricks (or gyms to visit!).

Katie Taylor – BJJ Globetrotters

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I believe there are plenty of things worth splurging on, and other areas where it’s wise to save your change. I would much rather spend money on a once-in-a-lifetime experience than on luxuries that won’t make a lasting impact on my life.

The biggest way to save is really to make a plan of activities ahead of time. What attractions do I need to check out? Are there restaurants or unique local cuisines that I must try on my trip? I make those my highest priority, and keep a tight budget everywhere else.

Buying groceries to make meals is a huge way to save cash… I have realized that I really don’t need to visit a restaurant for every single meal. Mostly, I want to stick to my plan. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement when you see signs for local tours and events, but if you do the research ahead of time, you can often find the coolest things to do at much lower prices (and it helps having a friend who can tell you which attractions are really worth seeing).

When it comes to accommodation, I try to find a really happy medium of comfort and cost. The most important aspect to me is LOCATION! Usually, the hotel room or hostel bed I am paying for is simply a place to rest my head at night – so as long as the accommodation is clean, safe, and (mostly) quiet… I don’t need much in the way of upgrades. With the exception; as a grappler, I’m always looking for a place with laundry machines.

While traveling solo can be a wonderful way to discover a new place freely, it can also be expensive. There are so many ways to share costs with other travelers, whether it is staying in a hostel with bunk beds or ride-sharing to the airport. I was really excited to see how fellow grapplers in the Globetrotters community really jump on these opportunities as well – there are so many generous people offering their couches to surf on and inviting others to their academies to train with no drop-in fees.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Giving off positive energy will open the door to so many joyful moments. People gravitate toward smiling faces and generous spirits, and as you make new friends across your travels, they will provide unexpected views of the world.

Thank you to Katie Taylor – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

Age: 45

Belt: Purple

Profession: Dentist for children

How many years in BJJ: 9 and counting

Other martial arts: None

Where do you live: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Where are you from: New York State, USA

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: My fan name is Jiu-Jitsu Cowgirl. I love to train Jiu-Jitsu but I’m also passionate about country-western dancing and can Two-Step and West Coast Swing with the best of them. I boast an impressive collection of cowgirl boots.

Geeta Bhat – BJJ competition

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
After I had children I lost 75lbs through diet and exercise, and Jiu-Jitsu was part of my get-fit journey. I live a super busy life, so I made a decision to train Jiu-Jitsu faithfully twice a week (no more and no less) starting in 2012, and I’ve been training consistently since then for 9 years with no breaks. Even on a limited schedule I managed to win the IBJJF Masters Worlds at blue 3 times for my age group, with double gold in 2019. I’m so proud of that. I also love the social aspect of Jiu-Jitsu. There is nothing I love more than going to class to talk, laugh, hang out, and maybe get some rolling in. The ability to go anywhere in the world and drop in and train and meet new people is priceless. I try to train wherever in the world I go, and even got to train in Ireland and India.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
I enjoy bike adventures, so I most recently rode the Kentucky Bourbon trail along with a bike trip through Oregon. I will admit that I cheat with an e-bike, but sometimes we all need a little boost! I also went to St. Barts for the Globetrotters Carribean camp this past February, and last week I just got back from a trip to Las Vegas… just because!

My upcoming travel plans include a bike trip through Ojai Valley in Santa Barbara, a beach trip to South Beach Miami, and a visit to NYC to see my college friends.

Geeta Bhat – BJJ Globetrotters

What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
I’m a huge foodie. Also meeting people, socializing, relaxing, and a change of scenery.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
I just got back from the Globetrotters St. Barts Trip and still talk to people I met on that trip even after the fact… shout out to campers Charles and Natasha! Especially with social media, you find that people you know, know other people you know, and it just snowballs into a big community.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
How easy it was to make friends and meet people. I was the oldest camper (even older than the coaches) at the camp but I never felt out of place. I just thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Geeta Bhat – BJJ Camp in St. Barts

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Not even close! I live large and make no apologies for it. There were people at the camp from all economic backgrounds and no one was judged, period.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Do it! You will be happy you did. I just signed up for Castle Camp in Italy and I cannot wait!

Thank you to Geeta Bhat – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!