Archive for month: March, 2021
Quitting a job to Travel the World with Jake Walton – BJJ Globetrotters
“I’ve shared great food, drinks, rolls, sweat and laughs with so many people the past near 3 months that make the long hours travelling and money spent worth it.”
Jake Walton
Age: 21
Belt: Blue
Profession: I quit my job to travel! But I was a signwriter (designing and fitting signs)
How many years in BJJ: 2 and a half
Other martial arts: Karate for 2 weeks when I was 8 but got bored and quit.
Where do you live: Gosport, England. It’s a small town on the south coast.
Where are you originally from: I was born in Salisbury, England but moved to Gosport when I was a baby so to be honest I count Gosport as my hometown.
Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I train at a small gym in Gosport called Rogers Jiu Jitsu Academy, we have a handful of blue belts, plenty of white belts and a purple belt coach who is super high level and dedicated. It’s been fun coming from a small gym with a purple belt coach and being able to hang with students from the biggest gyms in America with black belt coaches.
Jake Walton BJJ
Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
I left school when I was 16 and went straight into full time work instead of education so I’ve been working non stop for the last 5 years and recently I decided it was now or never if I wanted to travel. All my older friends and training partners say the same thing “I wish I had travelled when I was your age!!”. So it was settled, I would travel. I train at least 4 times a week at home and my life revolves around BJJ so I knew that travelling and not training wasn’t possible, I had to figure out a way to incorporate them. A friend told me about the Globetrotter book and the moment I opened it I realised this was for me! For 7 months I saved every penny from work and spent hours planning my trip.
Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
I decided on the USA because of the language, level of jiu jitsu and variety of lifestyles available. You can literally feel in a different country from state to state! As an Englishman I can visit the states for 3 months with a VISA, which works out the perfect amount of time to travel on a budget. I started in Oakland, CA and went through California stopping at the major cities before flying from San Diego across to Dallas. Spent time in Austin before going up through the midwest to Chicago stopping off at numerous cities. I flew down from Chicago to Atlanta and then spent time in Tennessee and surrounding areas when I then moved onto North Carolina and slowly went up the East Coast ending up in New York. It’s been amazing, the level of jiu jitsu here is astounding and America is such an experience, it’s just so different to anything I’ve seen in the UK and Europe. My whole trip was also built around Matsurfing hosts with the Globetrotter group, I emailed everyone on there before coming out and planned my stay around them, hence the random cities!
Oakland – San Francisco – Long Beach – San Diego – Dallas – Austin – Oklahoma City – Wichita – Kansas City – St Louis – Chicago – Atlanta – Chattanooga – Nashville – Asheville – Raleigh – Philadelphia – New York – Boston – New York
Jake Walton – BJJ Globetrotters
What are the things you enjoy about travelling?
Every state is different to the last, the food, the lifestyle, the sports. It’s been so good for my jiu jitsu to train at different gyms where people want to test their abilities so you get no easy rolls! It’s the best way to see how your jiu jitsu is doing and what needs to be improved. As someone who deals with mental illness travelling for 3 months alone has been fantastic, it’s put me outside my comfort zone so many times that now that is my comfort zone. I have no worries about walking into a gym and chatting to people now. So many people know the benefits of Jiu Jitsu for mental health but travelling is equally as helpful, I hope more people have the courage to step up and travel alone.
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth travelling and training?
There have been a few, getting the chance to train at the competition class with JT Torres at Essential BJJ was the best though. The nicest guy in the world and simultaneously the most intense guy to roll with, an opportunity I’ll be eternally grateful for as a blue belt in a class of black brown and purple belts (plus an 8 minute round with JT Torres!!). Another one was in St Louis when I messaged a gym asking to train but they were closed, however the coach invited me to a block party they were hosting and I spent the afternoon and evening drinking cold beers in the sun with great people in a random city miles away from home.
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when travelling?
Despite what the media may convince you, there are still good people in the world! I’m constantly taken aback by the generosity and kindness of the Jiu Jitsu community. I’ve been to 16 different gyms with at least 15 people in every class and maybe 2 people have been rude, out of the minimum 240 people I’ve trained with. I’ve shared great food, drinks, rolls, sweat and laughs with so many people the past near 3 months that make the long hours travelling and money spent worth it, no doubt at all.
Jake Walton BJJ
Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I’m a budget traveller yeah, I saved up all the money I could for this trip from work and didn’t have to do anything crazy like sell my car etc. Use matsurfing for the best travel experience, you train and live with people who are just as passionate about bjj and travel, what more could you want? Couchsurfing has also been great, it’s a website that lets you stay on people’s sofas or spare beds etc for free and like matsurfing the best part is that you get the real experience of living in the area because the host is a local who knows the best places to go and what to avoid. If you are travelling the USA use the Greyhound or Megabus as much as possible. It’s not great, it’s not fun but it is so cheap! It costs usually around $20 instead of a $80 train or $120 flight. Just get some films to watch and some snacks and get on with it.
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
On the flight out I watched the film Yes Man by accident. It’s basically about a guy who doesn’t ever go out and see things but one day he attends a seminar about saying yes to everything and it changes his life. I adopted this mentality for my trip and it really has made a difference. So many opportunities pop up when you just say yes to things and remember what’s the worst that will happen if you don’t like it? You just tick it off and don’t do it again. The other piece of advice would be don’t be nervous about going to other gyms, yes it is harder than training at home and yes you will be pushed but it makes you tough and at the end of the session everyone is friends and will ask 100000 questions about your trip!
Thank you Jake Walton – BJJ Globetrotters for doing this interview!
Featured Camp Instructor: Charles Harriott – BJJ Globetrotters
Charles Harriott – BJJ Globetrotters
Age: 34
Belt: 1st degree blackbelt
Profession: Jiu Jitsu Instructor
Started training (year): 2006
City/country: Gainesville, Florida, USA
Main achievements in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:
BJJ Fanatics Instructor
Visited 98 gyms in 18 countries in 2018 (Globetrotter of the Year 2018)
Lived as a nomadic instructor from 2018 to 2020
Sometimes compete sometimes win
Which BJJ Globetrotters camps have you attended?
Charles Harriott – BJJ Globetrotters
Which camp has been your favorite so far?
Winter Camp 2019
Favorite stories/moments from the camps?
Getting to compete in glima in Iceland against a giant local then having a beer with him after
Learning to poledance at Winter Camp
Maine Camp Talent Show / Stand Up Comedy
Storytime at Arizona Camp
Your favorite class/classes to teach at camp?
Choke theory because it makes jiu jitsu feel like magic and the art of inversion because it helps people realize they can do things they thought were impossible
Anything else you want to add to your profile?
I love to dance and teach breakdancing
I love rolling and answering questions so please ask me to roll and ask me your jiu jitsu questions.
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Charles Harriott – BJJ Globetrotters instructor
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Featured affiliated academy: Whaingaroa BJJ – New Zealand
“There is no ego at our gym, everyone trains with everyone and rolls with everyone with no expectations other than having fun and learning from each other.”
Travis Browne, Coach at Whaingaroa BJJ
Where is the gym located: The gym is located on the Raglan Harbour mouth at 94 Riria Kereopa Memorial Drive, Raglan, New Zealand. Raglan is a small coastal town of approximately 5,000 people and one of the premier surf spots in New Zealand. Whaingaroa is the Maori name for Raglan and means “the long pursuit” which refers to the lengthy search of the Tainui waka (canoe) for a final destination and is an apt description of the BJJ journey as well.
How many people train there: Approx 16 kids and 15 Adults.
Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year: The gym only started in Feb of this year so we have gone from 0 to current numbers. However the gym is growing with more students arriving to give it a go.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training: At the moment 1 black belt, 1 purple belt, 2 blue belts and all the rest white belts.
When did the gym open: Feb 2017
Whaingaroa BJJ – New Zealand
Who founded it: Travis Browne, Andrew Higgins, Rakai Rewherawha, Dai Jenkins and Nate Marshall
Some facts about you:
Name: Travis Browne
Age: 39
Belt: Black
Profession: Primary School Teacher
How many years in BJJ: On and off 14 years
Other martial arts: Previously Kickboxing, MMA, Ninjitsu, Taekwondo, Balintawak
Where do you live: Waitetuna, New Zealand
Where are you originally from: Wainui, New Zealand
Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence: Rakai Rewherewha (Blue belt) and Dr Nate Marshall (Brown Belt) had been having casual trainings as Raglan Rollers from May 2016. Rakai had purchased some mats with no place to train and by chance, met Nate at West Coast Health. I shifted to the area from Hamilton where I had been assistant coaching for Ground Control Hamilton and also met Nate. A friend from my old club Andrew Higgins (purple) also shifted out there so we all got together along with Dai Jenkins (Blue). After several months of garage training Rakai engaged with Tangata Whenua to use the space at Whaingaroa ki te whenua and so Whaingaroa BJJ was born as a space with no politics for any and all BJJ practitioners to come and have some fun and for people with no experience to come learn in a safe training environment.
Whaingaroa BJJ – New Zealand
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they? We have a variety of people at our gym, from school teachers to electricians, but all good people. We are all there to have fun and learn from each other, though the mat tends to empty out when there is a swell running.
Why do they train? Some of us had trained before and wanted a venue to continue, others heard and wanted to give something different a go. There are plenty of adventure options in Raglan so we get a few people trying something new. Most just want to get on the mat and have some fun.
What are some of the challenges running a BJJ gym? Obviously keeping a roof over our heads to train under but we have the support of the local community and as we all have other jobs we do not have to rely on the academy for income. The other challenge is ensuring that the culture remains consistent and welcoming for all and is modelled by all those on the mat, not just the leadership.
Whaingaroa BJJ – New Zealand
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area? It’s growing and will continue to do so as the population base grows.
What’s the best thing about your gym? Definitely the location. Harbour 5 steps away from the door and one of NZ’s best surf beaches five minutes drive away. Also the culture, we are nice and relaxed and welcoming with nothing to prove. We are also steadily increasing classes from starting with a single class when first opening to classes 4 x per week including Gi, No Gi, kids and open mat.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from Whaingaroa BJJ – New Zealand? So much. Go for a surf at Manu Bay, climb Mount Karioi, visit Bridal Veil falls, stand up paddle down the Harbour and explore the estuary, go to Mount Pirongia and do the walks and caves at Kaniwhaniwha. Drive into Hamilton and visit the world famous Hamilton Gardens or watch the Chiefs Super Rugby team play. Raglan also has a bunch of adventure activities such as hang gliding and parasailing along with some very good cafes and organic food stores.
Any other comments, you are welcome to write them here. There is no ego at our gym, everyone trains with everyone and rolls with everyone with no expectations other than having fun and learning from each other. Check us out and like us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, we’d appreciate it and hope to see you on the mat one day.
Thanks for sharing this with us! Whaingaroa BJJ – New Zealand sounds like a great place to visit. If any Globetrotters are in the area, you can find more information here.
Featured Travellers: Marcus and Alessia – BJJ Globetrotters
“Don’t be afraid to put everything else on hold for a bit and do something you’ll love. It’s easier and less scary than you think.”
Marcus Tan
Marcus and Alessia – BJJ Globetrotters
Age:
29 and 32
Belt:
Brown belt and blue belt
Profession: We both have been working in Marketing/Social Media, but are both hoping to make a change in our careers soon (e.g. Alessia has recently received her 500hrs Yoga Teacher certification and is hoping to pursue that).
How many years in BJJ:
Marcus 8 years, Alessia 2 years
Other martial arts:
M: Some kickboxing a long time ago.
A: No previous experience. I was always more into dancing and yoga and would have never thought that I would fall in love with a martial art.
Where do you live: Most recently London, now we are on the road kind of permanently and we aren’t sure where we will settle down yet.
Where are you originally from:
Australia and Italy
Other fun or curious information you would like to share:
Marcus: It’s not my first time travelling the world with a gi. I previously cycled 4,000km across Europe from Sweden to Romania carrying my gear on my bike, got badly injured in Hungary while training, and then after travelled across Asia training BJJ.
Alessia: I was the lead singer of a band during my time living in Beijing, I can speak 5 languages including Mandarin and I am a Yoga teacher and love dancing salsa
Marcus and Alessia – BJJ Globetrotters
Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
To be honest we were simply a bit fed up with the grind and the weather in London and wanted a change. Training with the guys at Roger Gracie Farringdon was one of the things we loved the most about London, so we decided to hit the road and keep training as much as possible, visit the motherland of BJJ and meet some of our grappling heroes on the way.
Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
We’ve been to NYC, San Diego, LA, San Francisco, Colombia, Peru and Brazil so far, training everywhere we can find a gym, or sometimes some impromptu rolling just the two of us if we can’t. We’ve been trying to balance training hard with taking time to explore the country we’re in and experience the culture, which can be a bit difficult/tiring to manage at times.
We are currently in beautiful Rio and planning on staying in Brazil till the end of November when our visas run out. Next year we would love to go to Japan, Bali and the Phillipines to train and chill if we still have money left!
What are the things you enjoy about travelling?
Just waking up and thinking ‘I could be at a desk right now’ and feeling immense relief. We’re able to train as much as we want, because even if we are tired, we don’t have to go to work the next day!
Also we love just having the time and freedom to do what to we want, without a set routine, enjoying the little things like being outside sipping coffee in the sun and not worrying about a million little things other than what time is training.
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth travelling and training?
Training at Atos HQ in San Diego and at Renzo Gracie’s in NYC were definitely two of the highlights of our trip. To be able to train alongside BJJ legends and to experience some of the passion and commitment they put into their students was really inspirational and we can’t wait to go back someday. High altitude training in Peru was also an interesting experience – just walking up the stairs can kick your ass, so it adds a new element of challenge to training but vastly improved our cardio.
Marcus and Alessia – BJJ Globetrotters
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when travelling?
Safety in South America (especially Colombia and Brazil) was a really pleasant surprise, after all the overcautious warnings we heard from family and friends before leaving on the trip. Also, we knew the BJJ community is very friendly worldwide but people turned out to be even nicer than we had expected – we’ve met some incredible people at almost every gym we’ve visited, who had gone out of their way for us on several occasions.
Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
We are definitely travelling on budget! First advice, if you’re headed to South America, many things are cheaper at home than buying locally – contact lenses, supplements (protein and pre-workout etc), but most other things you can pick up on the way.
Secondly, get a travel credit/debit card cause you really don’t want to be charged every time you take money out. Before leaving the UK we got the Barclaycard platinum travel card which has no fees on foreign transaction or withdrawals (for now). Lastly, if you’re staying in one place for a while, get an Airbnb with a kitchen and most importantly a washing machine – it’s often cheaper than hostel dorms or hotels and you can save more money cooking simple meals at home rather than eating out all the time and save yourself a ton of hassle with your daily gi washing!
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Pack light and get used to wearing the same things over and over! If you’re lugging around a gi or two plus rash guards and all the rest, you’re not going to have much space for ‘normal clothes’. Besides that, the most important thing is just to go – don’t be afraid to put everything else on hold for a bit and do something you’ll love. It’s easier and less scary than you think.
Thank you to Marcus and Alessia – BJJ Globetrotters for doing this interview!
Travelling, Teaching and Training with Jeremy Loflin – BJJ Globetrotters
“I like to see how other people do things differently than the way I do them and see how other people think differently than the way I think.”
Jeremy Loflin
Name: Jeremy Loflin
Age: 44
Belt: Black under Paul Thomas Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
Profession: I own and run a window covering installation company. My second business is the Fight Lab in Katy, Texas. It’s a small Jiu Jitsu school.
How many years in BJJ: I’ve been in Jiu Jitsu since 2005.
Other martial arts: I’ve done no other martial arts except wrestling when I was a freshman in high school.
Where do you live: I live in Katy Texas that is just on the outskirts of Houston.
Where are you originally from: I’m originally from Houston but I grew up in Southern California and left there in 2005.
Fun fact: I was lucky enough to live next door to a girl in high school who I started dating married and we just celebrated our 20 year anniversary.
Jeremy Loflin BJJ Globetrotters
Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
I like to see how the other half lives, whether it be how they live in their lives or how their gyms operate. I like to see how other people do things differently than the way I do them and see how other people think differently than the way I think. Hopefully I’ll learn something and maybe I can share something that keeps it fun.
Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
I’m going to Mexico for Christmas unfortunately I will not be training. I will be going to the Globetrotters Caribbean Island Camp to learn as much as I can in February. In January I will be cornering an MMA fighter in Louisiana and hopefully I will have an opportunity to go and train while I’m down there. In May I will be going to the Maine camp.
Jeremy Loflin BJJ Globetrotters
What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
I love seeing new destinations as much as possible. I personally like to cruise – I’ve been on 30 cruises. None of them were Jiu Jitsu cruises but while on ships I’ve been fortunate enough to find gyms that do BJJ and have some fun rolls.
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
I was in Spain sitting outside of a gym that look like it had been closed down for years and I was starting to think I was given some bad information. Slowly people started showing up one by one – the place came to life and we rolled for hours. At the end of it all we all hung out and I caught a ride on the back of a moped to the hotel to meet my wife and share some of the stories.
Jeremy Loflin BJJ Globetrotters
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
Another great experience I’ve had was while working down south near the border of Mexico I was wanting to train real bad but no gyms were nearby. I drove an hour one way and found a gym where nobody spoke English except one kid. We rolled and I was invited back. I came back, we rolled some more and I started coaching every time I went down that way and sharing Jiu Jitsu.
The most fun part of that was the delayed response in jokes and the wave of smiles and expression as we understood each other through delayed translation. I still talk to those guys today my Spanish has not gotten any better but thank goodness their English has!
Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Unfortunately I am not a budget traveller. I should be but I like to be comfortable. I usually rent my own car and get my own hotel – that way I can come and go as I please.
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Always have training gear with you and always be up for the unexpected opportunity to train!
Thank you Jeremy Loflin BJJ Globetrotters for sharing your travel stories with us! I’m sure a lot of our readers will bump into you at upcoming camps!
Featured Traveller: Silas Proton – BJJ Globetrotters
“Look for a place/town with a volunteer job and a BJJ school and mix these two!”
Silas Proton, Jiu Jitsu traveller
Silas Proton – BJJ Globetrotters
Age: 30
Belt: White
Profession: Restorer for stone (architecture & sculptures)
How many years in BJJ: 3.5
Other martial arts: 5yrs traditional TaekwonDo, 3yrs K1 & MuayThai
Where do you live: Basically Berlin, but always on the road
Where are you originally from: Berlin, Germany
Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
First was the wish to travel. I travelled a lot with my girlfriend, but mostly shorter trips for holidays. Now we both want to use a `gap´ in our working life to take one year off and experience different living conditions. Also moving out of Germany is a big topic for us right now, so we wanted to explore other places and opportunities more deeply and first hand. Also, because training is an essential part of my existence, it just naturally followed!
Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
We just finished one constant year on the road. We started in November 2016, went to Israel for 4 months to live in a kibbutz near the Red Sea. There i trained in the nearest town and we went diving a lot. After this, we got our car ready – a 30 year old Volkswagen van, and just started driving in the direction of south-east. We went all the way from Germany via Eastern Europe, Greece, Turkey into Georgia and Azerbaijan and back.
Right now we are home to fill up the cash reserves. The next project is to do a similar tour but this time starting in Asia…
Silas Proton – BJJ Globetrotters
What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
Everything! I enjoy the way we travel, I enjoy that everything has its time. The day is divided into the natural needs. I wake up with the sun and go to bed by dusk. Driving, washing stuff, cleaning, cooking, training – that all fills your day completely. There are no `artificial´ actions, separated from your everyday needs. And I become peaceful with myself as a result.
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
I experienced how differently you get connected with people. If you arrive in a remote city on the Turkish Black Sea coast, you don’t know where to sleep. You are tired and feel a bit lonely. And then you just Google the local BJJ club and within an hour you are welcomed, you have a connection, a place to sleep. You instantly start to be thankful for human support, materially and psychologically! I am always very grateful for that.
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
The most surprising thing is that in 8 months on the road neither the car has broken down, nor did we get robbed or had just one single bad experience. I don’t know how this happened but I´m still surprised that literally NOTHING bad happened to us. Not even a BJJ common injury!
Silas Proton – BJJ Globetrotters
Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I think every traveller is a budget traveller – it just depends on the amount! Our plan (which worked) – was to travel and sleep in the car, so the only expenses were fuel, food, luxury and (sometimes) laundry or a commercial camping place for showers etc. We also tried to mix in longer stays of volunteer work, so we could stay longer at one place, build up deeper connections with the people there and work for food and accommodation. That keeps your expenses really low. I would recommend that for people with a small budget: look for a place/town with a volunteer job and a BJJ school and mix these two!
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Go to remote areas. They are the best!
Sounds like you are having a brilliant time Silas Proton – BJJ Globetrotters! All the best for the rest of your travels and thank you for sharing your stories with us.
Featured Camp Instructor: Alexander Neufang – BJJ Globetrotters
Alexander Neufang – BJJ Globetrotters
Age: I am 33 years old
Belt: BJJ Blackbelt
Profession: Currently working as a fulltime instructor for Gi/Nogi and MMA in Braunschweig, Germany
Started training (year): I started training Jiu Jitsu 1. January 2009 and have committed my life fully to the Art since then. I have competed all over the world in various rulesets with roughly half a thousand matches in Grappling, BJJ and MMA accumulated.
City/country: Braunschweig, Germany
Alexander Neufang BJJ
Main achievements in BJJ:
While I have fought some of the Worlds best and still sometimes step up on the elite competition scene if the chance presents itself, my focus was always on exploring and developing the Art of Jiu Jitsu more than just trying to win.
Before going full time in BJJ I was working as a Tattoo Artist and have a lot of experience with Manga/Comic Illustration.
Regarding achievements I have roughly 150 medals with over 100 of them being gold and several of those being European Titles in Gi and Nogi, also a submission of the year award in German Pro MMA and having fought the Legend Rodolfo Vieira in MMA at ACB in Brazil. But to cut it short, probably my single most outstanding feat was submitting Adam Wardzinski once with an Armbar at CBJJF Europeans in 2015.
Alexander Neufang BJJ
Which BJJ Globetrotters camps have you attended?
I attended 10 Globetrotters Camps yet, once Zen Camp and several times Belgium, Austria and Heidelberg.
Which camp has been your favorite so far?
I enjoyed Belgium and Heidelberg the most because of the sheer amount of rolls and other high level grapplers I met.
Favorite stories/moments from the camps?
Honestly there are too many great moments to pick, it’s like half of my life happened at globetrotters.
Your favorite class/classes to teach at camp?
My favorite classes to teach are my Inverted Backmount System and my Hardcore Lapel Bondage because they are both competition proven systems I developed myself.
Anything else you want to add to your profile?
I’m always open for seminars if anyone is interested in stuff they probably never seen before ;)
Anyone is welcome to visit me and train together.
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Alexander Neufang – BJJ Globetrotters instructor
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