Featured affiliated academy: Jogja Top Team, BJJ Indonesia
Where is the gym located?
Yogyakarta, Indonesia. You can find us on Google Maps here.
How many people train there?
About 15-30.
Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
The members come and go because most of them are college students or travellers who visit Jogja for a while.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
Our coach is a purple belt and the students are white belts. We often have guests from other dojos or affiliations, with all belt grades from all around the world. In our opinion it doesn’t matter, because we always open the door to feel the joy of rolling time on the mat.
When did Jogja Top Team, BJJ Indonesia open?
The Jiu Jitsu schedule is every Monday and Thursday at 7pm, but we open every day and any time you want (by request if you want to train together with us).
Some facts about you:
Name: Pintoko Darupito
Age: I’ll be 30 in March
Belt: Purple belt
Profession: Business owner
Years in BJJ: Officially started learning BJJ in 2014
Other martial arts: Judo, Wrestling, Sambo, Kurash, and a little bit striking
Currently living in: Yogyakarta
Originally from: Yogyakarta
Please tell us the story of how Jogja Top Team, BJJ Indonesia came into existence
We grew up as a community who love martial arts. Over time we adjusted to be a semi-conventional gym who have regular classes and athlete classes. We also arranged BJJ events so that we could engage with other enthusiasts in Indonesia, especially in the Yogyakarta area like Jogja Friendly Grappling Tournament, Jogja Outdoor Rolling, and may more. We also participate in BJJ competitions like Indonesia Super Grappler, BJJ Jakarta Open FBJJI, Nerium Invitation Match, Titan BJJ Challenge, and other tournaments.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
Most of them are college students who love BJJ or martial arts as their lifestyle, and we also have students who fall in love with BJJ and martial arts as their way of life, so they are excited to train and to compete.
Why do they train in Jogja Top Team, BJJ Indonesia?
They train to do something fresh, for friends, and for fun!
What are some of the challenges of running a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym in general, and in your area specifically?
Jiu Jitsu is still unfamiliar in Jogja. That’s why we create outdoor events to introduce Ji to the public. But in the capital, Jakarta, BJJ is growing up so fast and there are a lot of BJJ gyms and dojos with different affiliations.
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
A bright future, we guess, because Yogyakarta is such a favourite place for students and travellers.
What’s the best thing about your gym?
“The Unity of Fight Cultures” is our motto. We really welcome everyone with different martial arts backgrounds, and you can find a new family with our brotherhood here!
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
The landscape, the food, and the people for sure! Yogyakarta is the breathtaking destination in Indonesia!
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