Jungle BJJ (Prague, Czech Republic)

Prague, Czech Republic —While visiting Switzerland, I decided to hop over to Prague, Czech Republic. Thanks to Korean Dramas, Prague is one of the most famous cities visited by Koreans as various romantic K-drama scenes were filmed in this city. As expected, you can easily spot tourists in Prague everywhere. With its beautiful medieval architectures and rich Bohemian culture, you cannot argue why tourists from around the globe (not just Koreans) visit this city. After walking through narrow and winding streets of Prague for hours, I had a chance to stop by Jungle BJJ.

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City
Located on the banks of Vltava River, Prague is the capital and largest city of Czech Republic. It has served as the capital of Bohemia for centuries. With its unique baroque buildings and Gothic churches, the city is nicknamed “a City of a Hundred Spires.” Prague is not only rich in traditional Bohemian culture but also full of local music and art. It was memorable that, as soon as I walked into a traditional Czech restaurant, the server asked “light or dark (beer)?” before asking anything else. You will understand why Prague attracts countless tourists from all around the world once you visit the city.

Overview
Jungle BJJ is led by Fernando Araujo who is a 4th-degree black belt under Francisco “Toco” Albuquerque (Nova Geração). Before opening the club, Professor Araujo spent a year in Norway spreading BJJ around the country. He was one of the pioneers to introduce Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to the Czech martial arts community. As he builds his Cezch BJJ army in Prague, he encourages his students to participate in competitions around Europe to challenge themselves regularly. As a result, the club is home ground to well-known European BJJ grapplers.

When I visited, Jungle BJJ was still located at Lublaňská 125/20 in Prague 2, and it had a limited class schedule. It seemed that the facility was shared with other martial arts gyms. The gym was quite crowded although the mat was spacious enough. Fortunately for you, JBJJ recently relocated to a new location in Prague 7 (Tipsport Arena -Za Elektrárnou 419, Praha 7) so space should not be a problem, and now offers a variety of classes. It was one of the largest gyms I have come across during my BJJ journey around the world with a fair mix of color belts as well as white belts.

Also, Jungle BJJ has expanded its reach and has affiliated academies across Europe including Ufa and Kirov, Ruissa, and Dublin Ireland. Jungle’s affiliated gyms are BJJ Globetrotter friendly, and, being one of the most visited cities in the world, it is not uncommon to see travelers dropping by. That said, I was welcomed to the community by Professor Araujo when I walked into the door. With detailed instruction from Professor Araujo and friendly students at Jungle BJJ, I wish that I could have extended my stay in this beautiful city. If you are ever in Prague, Jungle is the place to train.

Location
The academy is located in Tipsport Arena, which is a multi-purpose arena that frequently holds sports events and music concerts. Next to the fan shop on the side of the building, a VIP entrance leads you to the gym. Although the gym is not located in the city center, you can easily access the academy via public transportation within 20 minutes. (Google Map: Link)

Schedule
Jungle BJJ’s most recent program is posted below:

Visitor Fee
Jungle BJJ did not charge for my visit. However, it is always courteous to reach out to the gym before your visit.

Miscellaneous
They have an English website that you might find helpful.

Tourist Attractions

• Prague Castle — Dating from the 9th Century, Prague Castle is the largest existing ancient castle complex in the world, and this UNESCO World Heritage site was home to Kings of Bohemia, Holy Roman emperors, and presidents of Czechoslovakia. The castle is an iconic tourist attraction in Prague, which attracts visitors from all around the world. It is worth spending a whole day in the complex.

• Old Town Square — Prague’s Old Town Square has remained relatively undamaged since the 10th century despite the history of foreign invasions in Prague. The square remains a mixture of cobblestone streets and countless church spires. The Prague Astronomical Clock, one of the signature tourist attractions, can also be found in the square.

• Charles Bridge — This medieval bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world, and it connects the Old Town and adjacent towns. Every afternoon, the bridge is packed with tourists who fight for the best views of the Vltava River.

Source
– Google Maps
– Website
– Prague Map

Thanks to everyone from Jungle BJJ!