Featured affiliated academy: Anchor BJJ & Fit for Life China
Where is the gym located?
Anchor BJJ & Fit for Life China is located in Haikou, Hainan (aka. the Honolulu of China).
How many people train there?
About 150.
Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
Yes, we went from 20 students originally to about 150 today.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
We have white to black belts at our school.
When did the gym open?
We’ve been open for about three years in our own building.
Some facts about you:
Name: Tim Rodgers
Age: 43
Academy: Anchor BJJ & Fit for Life China
Belt: 1st degree black belt
Profession: Jiu Jitsu school and coffee shop/bakery owner
Years in BJJ: Since 2000
Other martial arts: Krav Maga and Wrestling
Currently living in: Haikou, China
Originally from: Costa Mesa, California
Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
I grew up in southern California. After high school, I moved to Brazil, discovered Jiu Jitsu, and stayed there until I got my black belt (Buchecha’s dad and I got our blue belts together). When I left Brazil and came back to America, I was looking for a new place to go with my family and China is where we ended up. I now run an American bakery/cafe and Jiu-Jitsu school on beautiful Hainan island.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
Anchor BJJ & Fit for Life China is made up of expats, Chinese nationals, and college students from the local university. We also have lots of kids. So many kids.
Why do they train?
English lessons, fitness, and self-defense are just some of the reasons people train, especially the kids. We’re in a nice part of town with lots of families. Our city is a vacation destination and summer home for many mainland Chinese, so we have many people that train seasonally as well. And we’re a haven or port of call for many expats that just want a taste of home.
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
We face the same challenges as any other gym, but we also have some cultural differences to take into account. China is a very different country and we’ve brought a business that is very unique. But we try to integrate the culture of the bakery and the school and create an authentic place that’s an anchor (hence the name) for people who are away from home, traveling through, or are just stressed with life. The biggest challenge is that advertising just isn’t done in China the way it is in the States. Everything is word of mouth. So we just focus on providing quality all around.
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
We’re growing for sure and have a bright future! We spent the first few years helping people figure out what Jiu Jitsu is (we even had a few challenge matches), slowly creating a real Jiu Jitsu culture along the way, and now it’s just blossoming.
What’s the best thing about your gym?
The team meals after training. We have a full cafe and restaurant that serves a meal every night. After the kids class it’s fun to watch all the cute kids eat with their parents and friends. After the adult classes too, everyone gathers for food. On any one evening we might have friends from China, South Africa, America, Russia and more enjoying a meal together after a good session where we’ve all pushed each other.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
On the other side of the island, maybe a day trip to Sanya or down to Wanning (where the world longboarding surf championships are held). Around Haikou itself we have beautiful parks and beaches. Either way, don’t come to China without experiencing the food with a local. The experience of eating with a Chinese family is something else! Both the food and hospitality are unique.
Just think of visiting our island as visiting Hawaii in the South China Sea!!
