Training report: BJJ Lab Zürich (Zürich, Switzerland)

After spending 6 months in Asia, I planned an impromptu trip to Zurich. To be honest, I barely knew anything about Switzerland before my visit. However, I quickly fell in love with the scenic Swiss Alps and its variety of cheese offerings. Over the course of my 3 separate visits, I ended up spending over a month in Switzerland. Whenever I visited the city, I was always welcomed by the BJJ Lab Zürich crew.

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City
Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland, is a global center for banking and finance institutions despite having a relatively small population. The city lies at the north end of Lake Zurich, and buildings reflect pre-medieval style architecture with modern influence. From Altstadt to Langstrasse, the city offers a variety of day and night activities. Also, incredible Swiss mountains and smaller cities are accessible from Zurich Hauptbahnhof (Main station) in less than an hour. It is definitely a city worth a visit, but note that it is one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Overview
BJJ Lab Zurich was founded in 2013 by JB who is a black belt in Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. The gym is under the Caio Terra Association and a member of the BJJ Globetrotters. As the club is a non-profit oriented gym, the academy had an open and laid back vibe. With a big BJJ Globetrotters’ flag on the wall, the academy and instructors dedicate themselves to promoting a healthy and welcoming training environment to everyone and sharing the art of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu regardless of affiliation.

The academy is affiliated with the 12-time world champion Caio Terra, and the curriculum is focused on the association’s motto “Technique Conquers All”. The classes are focused on fundamentals, and the instructions are extremely detailed-oriented. Prior to every fundamental class, BJJ Lab offers an hour of an open mat to encourage students to drill and improve their technical details.

After continuing to grow as a successful Jiu-Jitsu academy in Zurich, BJJ Lab recently expanded to a new location with additional classes. If you are in Zurich either for business or leisure, I cannot recommend enough for you to visit BJJ Lab Zurich. Thank you to JB, Sevi, Joonas, Andrew, Eddy, and Laura for making my training in Zurich an unforgettable experience!

Location
The academy is located in between the Zurich Oerlikon and Zurich Seebach stations. Although it is not located in the city center, you can reach the gym easily via public transportation in less than 10 minutes from the city center. There are trains from the main station to Oerlikon every 10 minutes. (Google Map: Link)

Schedule
BJJ Lab Zürich’s most recent schedule is posted below:

Visitor Fee
BJJ Lab is one of the BJJ Globetrotters affiliated academies, and there is no charge for visitors. However, it is always courteous to reach out to the gym prior to your visit.

Miscellaneous
BJJ Lab has an English website that you might find helpful.

Tourist Attractions

Uetliberg- The mountain, located on the north border of the city of Zurich, offers a panoramic view of Lake Zurich and the entire city. As this easy hike is only about an hour, it is a quick way to get away from the city to nature.

Lake Zurich — Lake Zurich, a popular destination among locals and tourists alike, offers a variety of activities ranging from swimming and picnicking by the lake to sailing and a boat cruise. The lake itself is surrounded by cafes and restaurants that treat their guests to regional specialties while enjoying the beautiful view of the Lake.

Ebenalp (Seealpsee/Saxer Lücke) —Ebenalp is the northernmost summit of the Appenzell Alps. Hiking trails near Seealpsee and Saxer Lücke are my absolute favorites. These trails are approximately two hours away from Zurich, but it is a must visit if you have time. Make sure you go up and enjoy your beer and lunch at Berggasthaus Aescher.

Lindenhof — This Hill is a public square in the center of Zurich’s old town. Lindenhof is a popular viewpoint looking over the city of Zurich and the Limmat river.

Bahnhofstrasse — The famous shopping boulevard stretches about 1.5km from the Zurich Main Station. The street is filled with luxury boutiques and department stores. It is a popular destination for both locals and tourists.