Synergy Hardianism (Jakarta, Indonesia)

Jakarta, Indonesia — It might sound pretentious, but I may have gotten sick of white sand beaches and islands after spending a month in Bali and Lombok. To change things up, I relocated to another island in Indonesia, Java. There I had an opportunity to climb two active volcanoes. I arrived at Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta, before flying to Singapore. In Jakarta, I reconnected with Jerome Paye, a current MMA fighter with Synergy Academy, who I met during the training in Bali. He invited me to train with him in Jakarta at another Synergy’s affiliated academy, Synergy Hardianism.

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Region
Java, located in between Bali and Sumatra, is an island in Indonesia that is home to more than half of the country’s population of 130 million people, which makes Java the most populated island in the world. While Java has populated and modernized cities like Jakarta and Surabaya, the island also houses natural wonders such as Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park as well as the cultural city of Yogyakarta adjacent to a magnificent temple of Borobudur.

Overview
As mentioned in the previous post about Synergy Academy, the original Synergy Academy was founded by Niko Han, a Rickson Gracie black belt. Synergy Hardianism is one of the 35 Synergy affiliates in Indonesia, and the academy is led by Professor Hardian Kristiady, a black belt under Niko Han.

Following Professor Han’s teaching philosophy, Synergy Hardianism was focused on all types of submission, especially specializing in leg locks. Personally not being familiar with leg attacks, training at Synergy academy has been an overwhelming influx of new techniques and movements. Further, training with active MMA fighters with elevated sparring intensity has provided me with a different perspective on my Jiu-Jitsu game.

Classes at Synergy Hardianism were taught in English, and it was not challenging to communicate with fellow students. Although I had a hard time locating the facility in WTC Mangga Dua, as soon as I walked into the door, everyone at the academy welcomed me into their Jakarta’s BJJ community and were open to sharing their knowledge and experience. The welcoming environment was quite memorable at Synergy Hardianism in Jakarta.

If you are traveling in South East Asia, there is a high probability that you will land in Jakarta as various flights will pass through the city. After climbing volcanoes and enjoying Indonesia’s Nasi Goreng, why not drop by another Synergy Academy and get heel hooked before you move to your next destination?

Location
Synergy Hardianism is taught in two separate locations depending on the day. Classes will be held at WTC Mangga Dua on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Impact MMA on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. WTC Mangga Dua facility is rather difficult to locate as it is within the sports complex on top of the shopping mall. Both locations are in the heart of Jakarta. (Google Map: WTC Mangga Dua & Impact MMA)

Schedule
The academy’s most recent schedule is posted below:

• Tuesday / Thursday (WTC Mangga Dua) — 19:30–21:00
• Monday/Wednesday/Friday (Impact MMA) — 19:00- 20:30

Visitor Fee
The drop-in fee is Rp 250,000 (~$17 USD) per class. 
<<Exchange Rate: Rp 100,000 =~$6.8 USD as of August 14th, 2018>>

Miscellaneous
Synergy Academy has an English website that you might find helpful.

Tourist Attractions

• Jakarta — Indonesia’s capital is a melting pot of Javanese, European, Malay, Chinese, and Indian culture. Jakarta also is known for its modern buildings and shopping areas, which could provide comfort after spending time in the nature in Indonesia.

• Kawah Ijen — Located in East Java, Kawah Ijen is known for its blue flames due to volcano’s heavy sulfur deposits. Also, its crater lake is green because of the hydrochloric acid in the water. In order to see the sunrise and the blue flames of the volcano, you will need to start hiking around midnight, but the view from the top was one of the most memorable images during my trip.

• Gunung Bromo — This active volcano is one of the most iconic and hiked mountains in Indonesia. The mountain itself is surrounded by a vast plain called “Laut Pasir (Sea of Sand)” of volcanic sand, and walking up to the crater itself was an unforgettable experience.

• Yogyakarta — The city is commonly referred as Jogja. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to visit the city, but it was highly recommended to me for the city’s rich Javanese culture and heritage.

Hyperlinks
– Google Map: WTC Mangga Dua & Impact MMA
– Website (English)

Source
– Indonesian Map
– Yogyakarta
– Jakarta