Featured Traveller: Natalie Shahid – BJJ Globetrotters

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Natalie Shahid - BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 30

Belt: White

Profession: Mechanical Designer

How many years in BJJ: Around 2

Other martial arts: Muay Thai

Where do you live: Wherever my van is

Where are you from: Germany

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I live in a van with my labrador, Cookie.

Natalie Shahid – BJJ Globetrotters

What inspired you to travel and train?
Back in 2020, I went to a BJJ camp and met so many amazing people. That experience made me realize how training is one of the best and easiest ways to connect with others and really get to know a country. You don’t just meet locals and fellow travelers—you also learn from different styles and perspectives. It just felt like a win-win.

Tell us about your most recent trip and what’s next – where have you been and where are you going?
My most recent trip was to the Canary Islands, where I spent about three months, mainly on Fuerteventura. I trained at Sutemi BJJ in Corralejo. It honestly felt like becoming part of a family. The coaches, Matteo and Luis, welcomed me with open arms and even connected me with other gyms across the islands. I trained three times a week in both gi and no-gi and learned a lot.
Since the islands are small and attract a lot of tourists, people came and went constantly—but everyone was welcomed like they’d been part of the gym forever. Unfortunately, I injured my knee while kitesurfing after two months and couldn’t train properly anymore. Still, I was welcomed to join classes, watch, learn, and even try techniques that didn’t stress my injury. That meant a lot.

Natalie Shahid – BJJ Globetrotters

What do you enjoy most about travelling?
Definitely the people. I’m very social and love building real connections. In Germany, things can feel pretty rigid—work, eat, sleep, repeat. In other places, people live with a different mindset. They work to live, not live to work. That energy inspires me.
Traveling also forces me out of my comfort zone. I constantly learn new things, get inspired by people I meet, and sometimes end up trying their hobbies—like kitesurfing because a friend raved about it, or freediving after meeting someone passionate about it. And let’s be honest: warm weather and good food are huge bonuses. I’m a big foodie and I love having fresh fruits and veggies every day—so much better in sunny places.

Any particularly memorable experiences that made it all worth it?
Traveling alone in a van can feel isolating, but BJJ gyms are like built-in communities. You immediately have something in common with the people there. Most practitioners are respectful and genuinely interested in helping each other—not just trying to crush everyone. It’s a privilege to learn from so many people, and sometimes I even get to share something with them in return.

What has surprised you the most while travelling?
Before I hit the road, people warned me that traveling solo—especially as a woman in a van—would be risky. But after more than 1.5 years on the road, including a whole year living in a Skoda Fabia with my dog, I’ve never had a seriously bad experience.

Surprisingly, I’ve found that most people are kind. Sure, some cultures are more open than others, but there’s always someone willing to help if you ask. You’re never really alone, and nothing is impossible.

Natalie Shahid – BJJ Globetrotters

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Yes, I live on a budget. Since I live in a van, I avoid expensive and crowded campgrounds. On the Canary Islands, I only parked in wild spots and used the gyms for showers. Often, people from the gym would suggest safe and quiet areas to park or places to avoid.

Last year in Portugal, I made a friend and ended up staying with them for a couple of weeks. Later, I tried BJJ matsurfing and went to Sicily, where I met Enrico. He let me stay in his empty house for two weeks, showed me around the island, and we later met again at the Heidelberg camp. These kinds of connections are priceless—and they save a lot of money too.

Any advice for your fellow Globetrotters?
If you want to train somewhere, just ask. I usually message the gym or the coach directly on Instagram before arriving—just to introduce myself, ask if visitors are welcome, and check what kind of class it is (gi or no-gi). Out of 27 gyms I’ve visited, 25 welcomed me with open arms. None ever said “no.”

So don’t be shy or lazy. Reaching out can lead to amazing experiences. You’ll get more than just a good roll—you’ll become part of a global community.

Thank you to Natalie Shahid – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

Full Noise Traveller – Intro

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Kia ora, I’m Kiera, I come from Art of Combat (AoC), a small but mighty gym in Aotearoa, New Zealand’s Manawatū. I am a white belt (3 tabs), training for about 2 years now.

Where it began

My intro to combat sport was boxing. I started at the end of high-school, after looking for a sport to fill the void of NZ high-school rowing (iykyk). I loved boxing, I loved the physical push and found peace in the practice, there was always something to learn! But after a head injury following a pretty hearty kite-surfing accident I decided to redirect my focus to something that didn’t risk such frequent head knocks.

A few years later I was really missing combat sport and having watched UFC Sundays with my flat and then watched the boys demonstrate some moves (attack the clothes horse in the living room during the breaks) I thought I’d give BJJ a go. So, I went along to an intro session where I wiggled along a mat in a funny outfit and since then I’ve been hooked.

I travel a lot for work (mostly within NZ, but occasionally I get to go a bit further afield) which is sick but meant that from the start of my Jits training I was often away for weeks – months, so I decided I’d better put on my big girl spats and visit some local gyms.

I’m not gona lie I found it super intimidating to rock up to a random gym as a fresh white belt (especially as I am often one of the only girls in the gym), but I’ve always been made to feel so welcome and after an awkward round of hello’s we’re all happily crushing and choking each other like old friends.

Gym count
NZ – 8
Aus – 1 (Albury/Wodonga),
Fiji – 1 (Nadi)
Tonga – 1 Judo gym (Tongatapu)

But this year I’m taking it up a notch!

I’ve taken the year off work to complete my Masters thesis so once I finish collecting my data in Tonga, I’m going to work online while travelling and training around Europe!

After a quick stop in Malta I’ll be starting my trip in Estonia at the Globetrotters beach camp, where I can’t wait to be humbled both on the mats and in the surf!

From there I’ll be mat surfing, making my way (in no particular order) through Germany, The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, England, Ireland, Scotland … and anywhere that promises good coffee, fun training partners and pretty views – recommendations welcome! 

So let’s go full noise!

Stats
Month – 0
Gyms Visited – 11
Current location – New Zealand
Thesis Progress – 30%
Danger Level Gain – 0%
Practice Packs – 5 (can you tell I’m an A type?)

 

The gym list (in order of visit):

  1. Art of Combat (Palmerston North, NZ) [HOME]
  2. Albury Wodonga Brazillian Jiujitsu (Albury, Australia)
  3. Viti Blacktip Jiujitsu (Nadi, Fiji)
  4. Axis (Rolleston, NZ)
  5. WahiBJJ (Fielding, NZ)
  6. East side (Auckland, NZ)
  7. Upper Hutt BJJ (Upper Hutt, NZ)
  8. Workshop (Wellington, NZ)
  9. Alliance (Auckland, NZ)
  10. Coast BJJ (Albany, NZ)
  11. Tonga Judo Association (Tongatapu, Tonga)

[Tay’sTravels&Trains(6)]Team Legion_Riobamba

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🕰️ [Past Story]

I had made the decision to reach the southern tip of South America to compete.

After successfully wrapping up my first South American stop in Colombia, I headed by bus to a city called Riobamba.

⸻

🥋 [Gym Info]

   •   Date: March 2025

   •   Name: Team Legion Riobamba (MMA Legion Team)

   •   Location: 88W2+6G6, Carr. Panamericana, Licán, Ecuador

   •   BJJ Globetrotters Affiliation: No (I came here through matsurfing)

   •   Facility:

  – Dream-like setup with a large mat space, a cage, drums, old-school workout machines, a hidden garden, a tub, and a broken arcade machine at the entrance

  – Private parking, showers (I never used them so can’t say for sure)

  – Tough and gritty underground vibe

   •   How to get there: By bus (30 cents)

⸻

🧾 About

Through BJJ Globetrotters’ matsurfing, I met Mario — a practitioner from Ecuador who invited me to train in Riobamba.

As soon as we met, we found we had a lot in common.

We both liked the number 12, held purple belts, and had gone through divorces.

Despite the pain in our pasts, we were living a new life through Jiu-Jitsu.

On my first day, I headed straight to his gym.

Located right next to a bus stop, it was incredibly easy to find.

After entering through a large gate, I was greeted by the sight of a wrecked car (from a coach’s drunk accident) and a broken arcade machine at the door.

Inside, the space was huge — with mats, a cage, old workout gear, drums, and even a hidden backyard where people could cool off after hard training.

It had this raw, masculine, underground vibe that I absolutely loved.

The head coach of Team Legion Riobamba, Jamo, welcomed me warmly.

Though he looked like a Hong Kong gangster boss, his charisma was matched by a surprisingly gentle coaching style and smooth Jiu-Jitsu.

Over dinner, I asked him about his background — he had grown up as a top-level boxing athlete in Riobamba and was known for speed and power.

However, in Jiu-Jitsu, he sought to move like water, flowing and accepting, just like Bruce Lee’s philosophy.

That conversation gave me a new perspective on how I want to approach my own Jiu-Jitsu.

Everything about life here felt satisfying.

They offered not only gi training but also no-gi and MMA.

There were a lot of tough athletes in the room, and I was even able to share some techniques in a mini seminar.

Riobamba’s high elevation — one of the highest in the world — made every training session more intense (snow-capped volcanoes were literally visible nearby).

After training, we’d eat at Encebollado spots run by a UFC fighter from Riobamba.

Sometimes, we’d go back to Mario’s spacious house and watch Jiu-Jitsu videos while eating together.

His love for the Bjj was everywhere — a Gracie Barra front plate was displayed in his living room and his body as a tattoo.

His home was incredibly comfortable, and I felt totally at peace.

(I slept same sofa which Roberto Jimenez used to stay)

If it weren’t for the immigration issue when I crossed the border from Colombia to Ecuador without getting an entry stamp, I probably would have stayed much longer.

⸻

🤯 Impressions

   •   The gym had a gritty, macho vibe I really liked

   •   Coach Jamo embodied that energy too — but also had incredible finesse

   •   His approach to Jiu-Jitsu as a soft art really impressed me — especially how he’d absorb my sweep, stay relaxed, and immediately reverse the position

   •   Mario’s lifestyle and passion for BJJ were deeply inspiring

⸻

💡 What I Learned

   •   Entering single leg X from standing

   •   How to stay relaxed even in MMA

   •   Shooting takedowns like a squat-step combo instead of charging

   •   Creating a figure-four grip with my arms to finish takedowns

   •   Holding side control heavy after takedown

   •   Using body movement to generate powerful ground-and-pound

   •   Mixing ground-and-pound angles to force both arms up, then finishing with Americana

   •   Using jab + hook + switch step to close distance and catch the leg

   •   From there, pulling the opponent out using a crucifix-style arm setup

⸻

🤔 Thoughts

   •   I practiced defending leg catches by pushing the head and freeing the foot

   •   Worked on heel hooks — not just twisting but creating tight holds and wait for their reaction

   •   Focused on efficient standing techniques without spend much energy in standing

   •   Kept hand fighting slow but persistent to create openings

   •   Coach’s hand fighting was brutally effective — both in BJJ and MMA

   •   Even during tough warm-ups, everyone followed Coach Jamo without complaint — he led by example

   •   His Jiu-Jitsu was smooth and effortless,

  but his physical conditioning drills were intense

   •   I learned how his charisma united the team

   •   After training, group dinners made me feel oddly safe —

  almost like being part of a gang, especially in Ecuador’s current unstable climate

   •   I invited Coach Jamo to dinner, and his insights on the direction of Jiu-Jitsu left a deep impression on me

   •   During my single leg takedown seminar, he asked the most questions — I was genuinely surprised and inspired by his attitude

 

@teamlegion_riobamba

@Krappling_club_yyc

@tayhoney12

Traveling in Taiwan, training BJJ and swimming with sea turtles

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📍 Tay’s Travels & Trains (5): Zona De Combate

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📍 Tay’s Travels & Trains (5): Zona De Combate

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🕰️ [Past Story]

I decided to reach the end of South America to compete..

Finally, I made it to Colombia from Canada..

I trained at Gracie Colombia, and then headed to another gym in Medellín..

⸻

🥋 [Gym Info]

   •   Date: March 2025

   •   Name: Zona De Combate

   •   Location: Cra. 49 #16-16, El Poblado, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia

   •   BJJ Globetrotters Affiliation: No

   •   Facility:

  – Huge facility with two floors and a cage

  – Parking, showers

  – Great central location

   •   How to get there: Walking distance

⸻

🧾 About

Medellín has heavy traffic during rush hour,

so I was lucky to find this gym in a great location near my new place.

They had a great wrestling class taught by Coach Sebas.

His coaching really helped me at that time.

I was surprised to meet someone from Calgary like me at this gym.

It was great to connect with him — shoutout to #bxbyboy3!

I also met Coach Santiago again here, and I really love his classes.

Follow him at #santtiago9008.

⸻

🤯 Impressions

   •   Not just a BJJ gym — they also offer MMA and striking

   •   Coach Santiago teaches at both here and Gracie Colombia

   •   Santiago’s mouthguard said “NERD” — I loved that 😂

   •   Their warm-up routines made me sweat hard

   •   And they actually do proper cool-downs too — rare and awesome

⸻

💡 What I Learned

   •   New warm-up methods from Coach Sebas & Santiago

   •   Tackle setups

   •   A bit of Williams guard

   •   Details on guard passing — especially using elbow and knee together after the pass

   •   Coaching techniques from Coach Santiago

   •   How to use animal movements for BJJ

⸻

🤔 Thoughts

   •   Since I broke my arm, I hadn’t drilled wrestling —

  but I realized here that I really need it again.

   •   After a shot — especially a double leg —

  I learned that my posture should lean more forward,

  rather than staying in a middle stance.

Featured affiliated academy: Balance Jiu-Jitsu, New Zealand

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Balance Jiu-Jitsu, New Zealand

Where is the gym located?
Nelson, New Zealand.

How many people train there in Balance Jiu-Jitsu, New Zealand?
Including kids, we’ve got about 80 or so regulars that come in.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
Yes, always growing. Lots of new kids coming through at the moment.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
We have three black belts, including myself, as well as lots of brown, purple, blue, and white belts on the mat every night. Super tough room with a lot of experience. Even the lower ranked guys are giving us a hard time at the moment.

When did Balance Jiu-Jitsu, New Zealand open?
We opened early 2020, right before the pandemic hit!

Some facts about you:

Name: David Gordon
Age: 36
Belt: Black
Profession: Coffee roaster
Years in BJJ: 13 or so
Other martial arts: Little bit MMA
Currently living in: Nelson, New Zealand
Originally from: Christchurch

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence? 
I moved to Nelson around 2018, and found a good bunch of people who were really keen. I wanted to open my own place with some different ideas to everyone else. I wanted to get away from a few of the traditions and create a fun atmosphere to train in. So, I took the leap and started Balance in early 2020.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
Like every Jiu-Jitsu team, we have a wide range of people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. We have people from all over the world – Chile, Venezuela, Germany, Japan. Police officers, builders, fishermen, you name it.

I’m very lucky. Everyone is really kind, fun, and friendly.

Why do they train in Balance Jiu-Jitsu, New Zealand?
The most common answer I get when I ask people this is, that they want to improve their mental wellbeing and they want to learn new things. For a lot of us, grappling is a great escape and a lot of fun. We do well in competitions and there’s a lot of hard training, but no one is in here to become world champ.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
There are a lot of challenges. Making time for everyone. As the gym has grown, I don’t get as much 1-on-1 time with everyone as I would like.

I also find it hard when people come and go. Injuries, people moving cities, priorities.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
I think it’s growing all the time, and the standard of Jiu-Jitsu is getting higher. I think if some of these kids keep training, they’ll lift the sport entirely.

What’s the best thing about your gym? 
The vibe.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Abel Tasman National Park.

—-

‘

Thanks for sharing! If you’d like to visit Balance Jiu-Jitsu, New Zealand you can contact them here.

Vanlife and BJJ (Natalie Shahid)

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Age: 30

Belt: White

Profession: Design Engineer

How many years in BJJ: Around 2

Other martial arts: Muay Thai

Where do you live: Wherever my van is – all over Europe

Where are you from: Germany

Luca Anacoreta Seminar Sardegna

Hey, I’m Natalie, and I have way too many hobbies 😄! Besides my love for martial arts, I’m a passionate Bachata and Salsa dancer, I love kitesurfing, and I’ve recently discovered that freediving is even more fun and challenging than scuba diving. I rely on gym and running sessions to clear my head, have a serious cooking and baking addiction, and if the weather’s nice, you’ll probably find me swimming, hiking, or out on a bike tour.

My energy level is somewhere between “restless” and “border collie,” which is why my Labrador, Cookie, usually prefers to nap rather than join me on my adventures.

I started working at 16 and always balanced a main job with side hustles—whether it was waitressing or working as a fitness trainer. But during COVID, I overdid it. A little Burnout hit, and I realized I needed a break. So, I took a sabbatical and hit the road with Cookie in my tiny Skoda Fabia.

Living in a car can be pretty lonely, and I need my sports to stay sane. Since Muay Thai is intense and competitive—and I didn’t want to risk injuries while traveling—I thought, why not get back into BJJ? I had trained for about six months just before COVID, joined Zen Camp once, and then stopped. Picking it up again on the road after so many years of missing it just felt right.

I ended up traveling across Europe—starting in Germany and making my way through France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, then over to Greece and Albania, and back up through Italy to Switzerland. I wrapped up that first chapter of the journey at the 2024 BJJ Summercamp in Heidelberg. I trained in 13 different gyms with hundreds of people, and every single place welcomed me with open arms. I never felt any competitiveness or bad vibes—they treated me like a member of their own team.

Roger Gracie Academy Tarifa

I got so many insights into different ways of teaching martial arts, and loads of local tips—like which places to check out, what to skip because it’s too touristy, and hidden gems I would’ve never found on my own.

Lots of people told me it would be hard or even dangerous to travel alone as a woman living in a car with a dog. But the people I met through BJJ—on and off the mats—made me feel safe and supported. Some gyms even offered me a place to sleep or let me use their facilities overnight. I felt so welcomed and lucky to be part of such a generous and tight-knit community.

That year on the road made it clear: I wasn’t done. I had fallen in love with traveling and training BJJ way too much to return to a conventional life. So I quit my job, moved out of my rented house as soon as I got back, bought a bigger car, and turned it into a campervan. In December 2024, I headed to Fuerteventura to spend the winter on the Canary Islands.

teamrodriguezdavila Corralejo

Right now, I’m back in my hometown. But as soon as I’m able, I’ll be back on the road—exploring more countries and discovering new gyms across Europe.

What I love most about this lifestyle is the freedom—doing whatever I want, whenever I want. Meeting new people, forming connections, and creating little homes in different places has been incredibly fulfilling. The BJJ community has played a huge role in that. No matter where I went, I found warm, welcoming people. Many became close friends I still stay in touch with, and whenever I return, it always feels like coming home—even after years apart.

Training with people from so many different backgrounds has helped me grow, not just technically but mentally. It’s one of the things that makes this lifestyle so meaningful.

But above all, it’s the people that make it truly worth it. BJJ gyms gave me a direct connection to local communities—something that can be hard to find when you’re living on the road. After my knee injury in February, I was still welcomed at gyms just to watch techniques, talk with people, and try little bits here and there. Even while being injured, I was included, supported, and never treated as an outsider.

I’ve learned that BJJ isn’t just a sport—it’s a family, no matter where you go.

And let’s be honest—besides the amazing community, having access to a warm shower is definitely a blessing too 😄.

If you want to follow my journey, you can find me on Instagram @N_t_li4.

Featured Traveller: Taehoney Kim – BJJ Globetrotters

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Taehoney Kim BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 34

Belt: Purple

Profession: Sports coach and personal trainer after majoring in Sports Science; adventurer and writer after last year’s trip.

How many years in BJJ: 10-ish years

Other martial arts: Korean wrestling (Ssireum), Wrestling, MMA, Muay Thai

Where do you live: Canada

Where are you from: South Korea

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I love challenges. I’ve taken some not-so-easy trips, going on hiking trips, road trips, and backpacking adventures. I’ve spent nights in a snow cave or under the stars in -20°C weather. I got stuck on a glacier for 11 hours in the middle of Alaska, and later encountered a cougar. Instead of getting surgery on my right arm, I hiked the West Coast Trail – one of the toughest and most fun trails in the world! Last year, I trained Jiu-Jitsu in a forbidden gym deep in the forests of Ukraine. I’ve had so many awesome experiences like this that always make me smile.

Taehoney Kim – BJJ Globetrotters

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
I realised that traveling can be just like everyday life – not just a special event, but part of it. Travel and daily life are two sides of the same coin. When you’re at home, you dream of traveling. When you’re traveling, you miss home. I feel the same way, but instead of separating travel and training, I decided to combine them and write about the experience!

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
I’m traveling right now. I started my journey from Canada to the southern tip of South America on 1st January 2025. I’ve already driven 10,000 km from Calgary to Vancouver, passed through the U.S. west coast, and reached Cabo San Lucas, the southernmost point of Baja California. I’m trying to make it all the way to the end of South America. At the same time, I’m training BJJ throughout my journey.

Finally, I plan to compete in the Brazilian National Championship at the end of April. Do you think it’s possible? My van and I are both old, which means we’ve both had a lot of issues. Most of my money went into fixing the van, and now I’m financially struggling. It’s not easy to prepare for a competition while traveling another 10,000 km to Brazil. I don’t speak Spanish or Portuguese, and even my English isn’t perfect.

So, I don’t know.

But I don’t want to give up.

Taehoney Kim – BJJ Globetrotters

What are the things you enjoy about travelling?

  • I get to live life for myself.
  • People. Life is amazing, and there are so many incredible people in the world.
  • Training. Every training session feels like a seminar to me.
  • Experiences. It’s not just about external experiences, but also about discovering more about myself.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that make it worth traveling and training?
I suddenly started a trip last year after my divorce, with no plan, no money, and no timeline. During those 80 days, I traveled through 10 countries and 35 cities, meeting new people, discovering new places, and taking time to reflect on myself. During a conversation in London (thank you Olga), I realised that I want to prioritise training Jiu-Jitsu, as it always makes me feel alive. Once I understood how important Jiu Jitsu was to me, I began training during my travels. I visited many gyms that welcomed me, including Tristar Gym—one of the best gyms in Canada—where they helped me a lot. I also trained in a forbidden gym located in a restricted military area deep in the Ukrainian forest. When there was no gym available, I trained alone on the east coast of Canada or on remote islands. At the end of my journey, I competed in a superfight in Saskatchewan—and I won!

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
My last 80-day trip around the world was an incredible experience. I decided to continue my journey of TTT (Tay + Travel + Training) once again!

While preparing for my second journey, I learned about BJJ Globetrotters from my BJJ mate (thank you, Jerry!). I decided to start van life, which would allow me to both travel and train (thank you Don, Gato, Aggi, Greg, and Rob!). I bought a van and set off on my journey south with my friend Ki, who joined me for a month from South Korea. We had an amazing time exploring places like natural hot springs hidden deep in the mountains, coastal attractions, and deserts. We also encountered wildlife—elk, seals, sea lions, and even whales!

Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. We had a flat tire, got stuck in the desert multiple times, and even had to get towed back to Mexico after struggling to cross the border because my van refused to start again. We visited mechanics six times, including one night when we had to sleep inside a locked mechanic shop just before reaching Las Vegas.

But we made it! We finally reached Cabo San Lucas, the southernmost tip of Baja California.

And this is where my real story begins.

After Ki left, I planned to drive 2000 km to Texas, to focus on BJJ training. Before that, I wanted to get my van checked, because after 10,000 km on the road it had started making strange noises under the hood. Then came the bad news. The mechanic found a serious engine problem. He told me I needed to stop driving immediately before the engine broke down completely. (He even said it wouldn’t be surprising if the engine failed at any moment due to a broken pulley.) Worse, there were no replacement parts in Las Vegas. He assumed there were no parts available in the U.S. at all because my van was too old. The only option was to order the part from Germany, which would take 10 weeks. On top of that, the repair would be expensive because they’d have to remove the entire engine to fix it. (They didn’t even charge me for the diagnosis because the news was so bad.)

I felt completely frustrated.

I had two choices: give up my trip, or give up my van. After thinking it over, I realised I didn’t want to give up either. So I took a third option: going back to Mexico, where repairs would be cheaper and I already had a positive experience. I started driving south again, going no faster than 40 mph (about 65 km/h). It wasn’t easy. On the highway through the Mojave Desert, I feel like a turtle as cars sped past me at over 130 km/h. It was enough to make me go crazy. Then, this crazy Tay had a wild thought…

Just a week earlier, Ki and I had visited the Mojave Desert, and I had lost my right AirPod there. Now, as I was passing through the desert to save my van, I thought: what about my Airpod? Before I even realised it, I found myself heading back into the desert with my still-unfixed van. I pulled over just before the off-road area and prepared a solo run deep into the desert. And unbelievably—I found my AirPod!

That small moment completely changed my mood. It reminded me of Route 66, which I realised would be a safer route for my slow-moving van. Taking that road led me to an old man in an emergency situation. Through that experience, I met two girls (thank you, Erin and Tanya!) who had also helped him, and they gave me a tip about a skilled mechanic. So I drove two days to San Bernardino to find him. And there, he said he had the parts I needed! Even better, he told me they didn’t need to remove my engine to fix the problem!

That was it. This was my most surprising experience.

Taehoney Kim – BJJ Globetrotters

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Of course I am! I believe limitations make everything more fun. But in my case, I’ve been able to handle every problem so far thanks to the amazing people I’ve met. So these days, I don’t worry too much about the budget. I care more about my time and the people I meet. To make that possible, the most important thing is taking care of my body and mind. I’ve learned how to manage my body—I know simple and nutritious recipes to keep myself fuelled. And I use my driving time for stretching or mental training. These habits help me save both time and budget.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
My favourite person told me: “The biggest enemy of the challenge is the advice of those who have not challenged”.

If you want to travel, buy the plane ticket first.

If you want to compete, register for the match first.

Then you are going to move.

Thank you to Taehoney Kim – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

[Tay’sTravels&Trains(3)]GracieColombia

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[Tay’sTravels&Trains(3)]GracieColombia

———

[Past Story]

Decide to reach Southern of tip of America..

Broke down my van after reach end of Baja California..

Keep journey with backpack without give up..

During that Journey,  I had a good training in Guanajuato Mexico..

Coach Hugo introduced this gym in Medellin Colombia..

———

  • Date: March 2025
  • Name: Gracie Columbia
  • Location: Carrera 18sur, 3217216879 #44, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
  • BJJ Globetrotters Affiliation: No
  • Facility:

   •   Good facility with pool and workout area

   •   Two floor

   •   Large Parking

   •   Large Shower

  • How to get there: By taxi or motorcycle

———

[About]

In Medellin,

I contacted coach Kevin who recommended by Hugo

Kevin welcomed me,

I really had a great time with these guys!

The gym located in the top of the hill which is little bit fat from centre

But many good guys come and train here

It means they have great coach who had a high level technic

Not only coach but also a lot of good athlete train here

I never use pool or workout equipment next to gym but I eat hamburger near gym which is so delicous

⸻

[Impressed]

   •   Head Coach Kevin – competitor of world.

   •   A lot of good coachs here

   •   A lot of good athleth here

   •   During Coach head to fight world, they had a seminar Kyle Chamber who black belt 10th planet

⸻

[What I learned]

   •   Good way to warm up by

   •   How to approach deep harf guard

   •   Escape single leg x with counter

   •   Leglock set up from RDHB

   •   How busy in Medeiin and how good with motorcycle in rush hour

   •   How to count 1-10 use spanish

⸻

Thoughts

   •   We can meet a good friends in a short time with Jujitsu

   •   Sometimes Distance and location doesn’t matter If there is a good gym

 

Featured Camp Instructor: Tobias Huber – BJJ Globetrotters

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Tobias Huber - BJJ Globetrotters

Tobias Huber – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 42
Belt: Black Belt
Profession: Fraud Prevention Analyst & BJJ/MMA Coach at TeamXtreme Karlsruhe/Grind Gang MMA
Started training (year): 2008
City/country: Karlsruhe, Germany

 

Main achievements in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:

-AJP Germany/Swiss/Netherlands Winner Master Brownbelt

-NAGA German Champion Elite

-Former Pro MMA Fighter (German Shooto Champion)

-Combat BJJ Competitor

 

Which Globetrotters camps have you attended:

Winter Camp 3 Times

Heidelberg

Talinn

Beach Camp

 

Which camp has been your favorite so far?

Winter Camp

 

Favorite stories/moments from the camps?

Still remember the very first Open Mat at my first Camp ever (Wintercamp). It felt like home immediately.

 

Your favorite class/classes to teach at camp? 

Everything Closed and Half Guard, preferably No-G. While still improving my Gi stuff :)

 

Anything else you want to add to your profile:

I will do three more camps this year and hope so see everybody there. If you ever come to the south of Germany, drop me a message (tobiasthiagohuber_bjj) and we will train together

 

***

Tobias Huber – BJJ Globetrotters instructor

Featured affiliated academy: Universal Judo Academies, BJJ UK

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BJJ UK

Where is the gym located?
Universal Judo & Taekwon-Do Academies, 9 Sovereign Way, Wallasey, Wirral, United Kingdom.

How many people train there?
Judo – 30, Taekwondo – 800.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
1 – 2 per month.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
Lowest – white belt, Highest – 4th Dan.

When did the gym open?
January 2023.

Some facts about you:

Name: James Thompson
Age: 36
Belt: 4th Dan Judo
Profession: Retail
Years in BJJ: 20+ in Judo
Other martial arts: Japanese Jujitsu, Submission Wrestling, Catch Wrestling, Self Defence
Currently living in: Wirral, United Kingdom
Originally from: Wirral

 

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence
I was approached by Master Richard Saunders of Universal Taekwondo to aid and assist in Grappling elements of his taekwondo program and it grew from there. I was about ready to leave Judo and take up drinking but starting the classes has reinvigorated my life.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
Young, old, recreational players.

Why do they train in Universal Judo Academies, BJJ UK?
Self defence, fitness, arts & crafts, laughs.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
Balancing the books and attaining new equipment.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
Hopefully it will slowly increase in yield with a strong base of lifetime students who then pass on their learnings to others.

What’s the best thing about Universal Judo Academies, BJJ UK?
The laughs and humility. Watching people grow and develop from the first day they walk in then a year later are part of the furniture and developing strong friendships and respect for each other.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Birkenhead Park.

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Thanks for sharing! If you’d like to visit Universal Judo Academies, BJJ UK you can contact them here.

Featured Traveller: Erin McGee – BJJ Globetrotters

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Erin McGee - BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 29

Belt: Purple

Profession: Content Strategist & Copywriter

How many years in BJJ: 7

Other martial arts: I had a very short foray into MMA, but after one fight on an amateur card I decided to stick with BJJ. It was mighty fun though. I also accidentally joined the “wrong” Jiu Jitsu just prior to this and ended up with a yellow belt from some McDojo. We live and we learn.

Where do you live: In picturesque Vantaa, Finland.

Where are you from: The Northern Beaches of Sydney, Australia.

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: My arms are very different “lengths” due to a pesky snowboarding injury that left the left one hanging on by basically a few tendons and some skin. At least there’s enough scar tissue to prevent armbars from reaching full extension though.

Erin McGee – BJJ Globetrotters

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
The first experience I had in combat sports at all was at a tiny Muay Thai gym in Krabi, Thailand. It was the first place I witnessed strangers from all walks of life that were brought together by a shared love of travel and a willingness to get punched in the face.

I wouldn’t find BJJ for a while after that trip, but I developed that familiar (I assume, since you’re here reading this) itch that only combat sports would scratch. Once I did start BJJ, however, travelling and training became synonymous with each other. If there was a gym I could get to, I’d try and get to it. I always bring no-gi gear with me wherever I go.

Travelling and training is also what brought my husband and I together, and since then we’ve trained and competed across Asia, Australia, and Europe.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
Earlier this month I headed back to China to catch up with old friends in Chengdu and eat the best food on Earth (fight me about it), then popped over to Australia for my best mate’s wedding.

Next up… nothing is set in stone yet — but in our household, spontaneous trips can happen at any time. Maybe a competition trip inside Europe if I can put my big girl pants on (or small girl pants, considering the inevitable weight cut) and train properly.

Erin McGee – BJJ Globetrotters

What are the things you enjoy about travelling?
Honestly? Mostly eating.

But aside from that, the feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you’re just slightly out of your depth. Not quite at the level of panic, but enough that the adrenaline is humming just beneath your skin.

That and a cold beverage on a blisteringly hot day. Or a warm beverage on a very cold day.

So I guess in one word: contrast.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that make it worth traveling and training?
Chengdu, 2018 – a trip that was supposed to be just another stamp in my passport. Instead, it quite literally changed the course of my life. One random gym visit followed by a conversation over the spiciest hotpot I’d had in my life, and within a couple of months I was packing up my entire life in Sydney to move there and study Mandarin. I haven’t lived in Australia since then.

In more recent years, I’ve made friends on competition mats around the world that I’ve kept in close contact with for years to come.

And of course, all of the wonderfully weird and wickedly fun people I’ve met at Globetrotters camps who make travelling and training worth it, every time.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the lengths total strangers will go to to help you out.

From motorbike rides through night markets to borrowed training gear, shared meals and cups of tea, airport pickups and couches to rest a tired head, the generosity of strangers — connected only by being human — will never cease to amaze me.

But on a deeper level, the resilience I’ve built through unusual, dangerous, and borderline unbelievable situations reminds me that I can do anything if I really have (or want) to. Traveling strips you down to your essence, and shows you exactly what you’re made of.

Erin McGee – BJJ Globetrotters

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I’m the worst person to ask this question to. I don’t budget and somehow everything just works out.

I can be a budget traveller (and honestly, the best food is almost always the cheapest) but these days I splurge on comfort more than I used to.

If you had asked me before I had kids, I’d say overnight flghts/buses/trains, hitchhiking, homestays, or filling up on whatever breakfast is included at your hotel. Also, asking locals what they do for fun (it’s usually cheaper than paying an entry fee to a tourist attraction).

My best tip, however, is to work remotely and get the best of both worlds: money and the opportunity to travel.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Learn a few words of the local language. A handful of phrases can transform your entire experience and help you make connections you wouldn’t otherwise.

Don’t be afraid of looking silly. Embrace being a beginner. I wish I took this advice a long time ago.

 

Thank you to Erin McGee – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

[Tay’sTravels&Trains(2)]Roosters fight team

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[Tay’sTravels&Trains(2)]roostersfightteam

———

  • Date: 2025-03
  • Name: Roosters fight team
  • Location: Ashland 12, Municipio Libre, 36000 Guanajuato, Gto., Mexico
  • BJJ Globetrotters Affiliation: No
  • Facility:

   •   Good location

   •   Two mat, bags and a wash room

  • How to get there: By walk

———

– Story

 

In Guanajuato,

There was no bjj globetrotters Affiliation(info is old)

I contacted coach Hugo and I really had a great time there

The location was perfect for me

His gym looks like a secret fight place which is my flavor

He has a great skills from the standing

Not only he is nice but also his teammates are great!

⸻

Impressed

   •   Coach Hugo – Sambo base(olympic experience).

   •   Do MMA, boxing

   •   Good teammates who compete next week that time

   •   A lot of network in South America(Columbia, Argentina)

⸻

What I learned

   •   How to deal people

   •   How to approach from standing

   •   Gi uchi mata step drills.

   •   Standing counters

   •  Tomoe Nage sweep using my back

⸻

Thoughts

   •   We can meet a good friend in a short time with Jujitsu

   •   Hugo changed class to gi for me, I appreciate it

   •   He introduced other gym which is locate in my destination

Tay’s Travels & Trains (1)

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Insight BJJ

Date: 2025-02-26, 28, 03

At the beginning of this year’s BJJ journey, I used the BJJ Globetrotters affiliation for the first time.

They welcomed me warmly and helped my Jiu-Jitsu a lot.

It was a great start to an amazing experience.

Name: Insight BJJ

Location: Bastrop, Texas; in the middle of Houston, San Antonio, and Austin

BJJ Globetrotters Affiliation: Yes

Facility:

   •   Good mats

   •   Warm-up mat with exercise space

   •   Good shower

   •   Big parking lot shared with a mall

How to get there: By my vehicle

⸻

Impressed

   •   Coach Alex – Huge guy, but incredibly flexible.

   •   MMA, striking, and Judo are also practiced.

      •   Judo drills were like step dancing, smooth and well-connected to BJJ.

   •   A lot of “Old Gangs” –

      •   Black belt grandma, JB, and more experienced older practitioners.

   •   Kids’ class has a lot of coaches helping.

⸻

What I learned

   •   Close guard control: When controlling with one hand, gripping the armpit is better than the elbow.

   •   Turtle position: Basic cradle details.

   •   Three judo step drills.

   •   Uchi mata variations:

      •   Gi uchi mata

      •   Underhook uchi mata

      •   Uchi mata follow-up techniques

⸻

Thoughts

   •   BJJ practitioners are truly good people.

   •   JB took the time to fix my car.

   •   It took me 10 years to figure out how to train BJJ without getting injured.

⸻

Featured affiliated academy: East York BJJ, USA

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East York BJJ, USA

Where is the gym located?
241 Pauline Dr, York, PA 17402, United States

How many people train there?
We currently have over 150 students.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
Our official grand opening was on March 1st. Little early to say how many we’ll grow each month, but I’m expecting to be around 10-15 students per month, the 1st year. Many of our current students came with us from a few different schools in the area.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
We have every belt color represented; from white to black.

When did East York BJJ, USA open?
March 1, 2025.

Owners
Front: 3rd degree black belt, Tom Fleming
Back (L>R): Aaron Fillman, Richard Keever, Chris Stillwagner, Brian McKee

Some facts about you:

Name: Richard Keever
Age: 42
Belt: Black
Profession: Financial technology
Years in BJJ: 14
Other martial arts: Judo
Currently living in: Maryland, United States
Originally from: Portage, IN

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence
Where do I begin???

My friends & I co-own 2 BJJ gyms. Our 1st opened in Jan. 2025 (Hereford BJJ, located in Parkton, MD). Our 2nd BJJ gym opened on Mar. 1, 2025. We all trained at a different affiliation, leaders of these schools, and in some cases fellow owners. However, we saw some things from other owners that made us feel we could do things better. So we decided to leave and start our own gyms. Hereford had been in the works even before we left, but everything accelerated once we decided to leave the affiliation.

Tell us about the people that train in East York BJJ, USA – who are they?
I love my training partners. Some of my best friends were made through BJJ. Our mat room will have wrestlers to accountants, and everything in between. We have competitors and hobbyists all cheering each other on. Everyone defines success differently and it’s important to celebrate other people’s wins. The truly is an ego-free training environment.

Why do they train?
Some train because their life may depend on it, while others train to bond with their kids. Most use the mat space to de-stress from life.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
I think most people go into this thinking primarily about the coaching aspect of being an owner. There’s just so much more to it – manufacturing leads, creating enough value that makes the prospect want to spend their time with you, then closing the deal. The biggest challenge is when a prospective is unresponsive for several days or even weeks… or we never get a response at all.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
We’re changing the game in our area. Righting a lot of wrongs we felt were important to students. The future is bright.

What’s the best thing about East York BJJ, USA?
The people. Hands down. Not even close. Oh… and we’re installing a pit wall.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
There are a lot of historical places in our area. Put on a good pair of hiking shoes and check out Gettysburg, Annapolis Rock (Appalachian Trail), or go into Baltimore to walk along the harbour.

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Thanks for sharing! If you’d like to visit East York BJJ, USA you can contact them here.

Featured affiliated academy: Simrishamns Muay Thai & BJJ, Sweden

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Simrishamns Muay Thai & BJJ, Sweden

Where is the gym located?
The gym is near the train station in Simrishamn, Sweden, a small, typical old fishing town with a history going back to the Viking era. We’re surrounded by history, old runestones, rock carvings and much more. The town is dead during winter, but in summer it’s full of tourists.

How many people train there?
We started up in October 2024, so we’re still a pretty small gym with around 30 members.

Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
We’re getting new members every month, and a lot of people have come and gone during the first two weeks. We had over 40 unique visitors in the first two weeks, and most of them came back again.

What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
Andres Taylor is the highest-ranked, and he’s a black belt. He runs the ecological grappling classes. I’m a brown belt, and there are some purple belts and blue belts too.

When did Simrishamns Muay Thai & BJJ, Sweden open?
We started the grappling classes in our new location on 13/1 2025. Previously we had a temporary arrangement at a Dance academy. Unfortunately the floor was hard and unsuitable for grappling, so we could only do Muay Thai. During the summer we were also able to do weekly open mats on the beach.

Some facts about you:

Name: Pär Berg
Age: 45
Belt: Brown
Profession: At university studying archaeology
Years in BJJ: 18
Other martial arts: MMA, Muay Thai & Boxing
Currently living in: Simrishamn, Sweden
Originally from: Östersund

Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence
My wife and I lived in Malmö, where we trained with Peter Blackwell (Checkmat). We are both small city kids and decided to move to the country. Simrishamn only had Shotokan Karate and old school Jujutsu, so we had to start our own dojo. We looked around and found some locals who wanted to train something different from what the city had to offer. With Andres’ black belt and long experience as a coach, and my background as a Muay Thai coach and BJJ brown belt it was a no-brainer.

Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
It is a mix of people from all walks of life and all ages, but the atmosphere is good and the people are nice.

Why do they train in Simrishamns Muay Thai & BJJ, Sweden?
I think it is mainly social; it is not easy to meet new people as an adult, and then there is the health part.

What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
Money – it is all about the money. We are a non-profit gym, but we still invest private money and hope to get it back one day. We still have to pay for the mat, the equipment and the rent. It’s hard to get sponsors and we have to survive the first year before we can get any help from the government.

How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
I think it will grow. The closest gym is in Ystad – 45 minutes by train from here. It’s a nice gym called Mañana and they have a lot of members.

What’s the best thing about Simrishamns Muay Thai & BJJ, Sweden?
The people. It’s a friendly atmosphere. We’re not a tough-guy gym.

What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
OMG! There’s so much to see, all the history from the Stone Age through the Viking Age to more recent times. The surrounding nature is beautiful with beaches and nature reserves.

—-

Thanks for sharing! If you’d like to visit Simrishamns Muay Thai & BJJ, Sweden you can contact them here.

Featured Traveller: Riley Dedio – BJJ Globetrotters

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Riley Dedio - BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 43

Belt: Blue

Profession: Filmmaker

How many years in BJJ: 9-ish years

Other martial arts: Some Muay Thai in a past life

Where do you live: Leipzig, Germany

Where are you from: Rostock, Germany

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: This is my second feature here; the first one was before I received a massive name and gender update. I did a lot of Jits and travel before transitioning and now get to navigate those things as a trans woman… and let me just say: there are a lot of things we as a sport can and should work on.

Riley Dedio – BJJ Globetrotters

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
I’m a documentary filmmaker. I travel a lot, or did before Covid. Back then, I always looked up clubs wherever I was going. 6am classes in Cape Town, Paris, Nagasaki, Tunis, Vancouver? Sign me up! I loved the camaraderie that comes with our sport, being welcomed at gyms around the world. It was a privilege in more ways than one (since I was presenting as a middle-aged white dude).

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
Much of that privilege went away when I transitioned. I’m lucky that the coach of my home club is not just accepting but absolutely supportive, so I still have a home there.

I started travelling more again in recent years, but I haven’t trained anywhere that’s not Globetrotter camps or my home gym since coming out. The sad truth is: It’s simply not safe.

Sure, I could message clubs in cities I’m going to and ask if they will let me train, but that puts a huge mental burden on me for something that should be self-evident. If I am in a town where I know other Jits folx who will take me with, I’ll be so happy to go. Same if I come across clubs that are openly queer/trans supportive.

Riley Dedio – BJJ Globetrotters Winter Camp

What are the things you enjoy about travelling?
Being welcomed into new groups of people was always an amazing feeling. Like, I’ve never seen these people before, we sometimes don’t even share a common spoken language, but our expression on the mats is all that matters. I always felt part of something bigger… sadly, that was because I didn’t see the less savory side of that. I didn’t check my privilege. I didn’t have to worry about whether or not I’d be accepted as a human being, or, say, whether I would be sexually harassed.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that make it worth traveling and training?
Where do I start… Walking into a Coral Belt’s club and getting to spontaneously roll with someone who’s been doing Jits since my parents were children… Attending class without understanding a word that’s being said and having to learn 100% visually… Sweating buckets on the mats under a tin roof at the edge of the Sahara in summer… Walking off the mats and meditating in the ancient Viking temple right outside…

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
Spontaneously getting three stripes on my white belt one afternoon when I had absolutely no idea that was coming.

Riley Dedio – BJJ Globetrotters Camp 100

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
I’d like to make this one a piece of advice for clubs hosting Globetrotters instead. I’m not going to ask you to be accepting of trans people; if you don’t support basic human rights, I don’t think there’s a point. I will ask this, though: Be vocal about it. Advertise. Be seen as an ally (and help us be seen). Put (Progress) Pride flags in your social media posts, on your doors. Sign posts with a simple “Our team is LGBTQ friendly”, or equivalent. Do those things – and then live by them.

If you’re worried that supporting a threatened and marginalized minority may cost you members, it may be time to check your privileges. Or, as we say in Germany: If you wonder what you would have done to stop fascism and genocide in the 1930s, you have the chance to do so now.

 

 

Thank you to Riley Dedio – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

Featured Traveller: Can Sömnez – BJJ Globetrotters

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Can Sömnez - BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 43

Belt: Black

Profession: Full time BJJ instructor at Artemis BJJ

How many years in BJJ: Since 2006, so 19 at the time of writing

Other martial arts: First one was fencing as a teenager for a year, then a weird TKD/kickboxing/kung fu hybrid at uni called Zhuan Shu Kuan, for about 8 years. I’ve dipped into lots of others over the decades (judo, MMA, etc), but very intermittent.

Where do you live: Bristol, UK

Where are you from: Always a difficult question. I was born in Belgium to a German mother and Turkish father. We then moved to the UK, bouncing around the country due to my father’s job. I have a German passport and a British one. I usually just say I’m European.

Other fun or curious information you would like to share: Outside of BJJ, I am a massive geek, so I love stuff like Warhammer 40k, DnD, anime, comics, etc. I’ve been salsa dancing for years (I’m still rubbish, but it’s fun and my teacher is awesome). I also have shared my home with a variety of adorable guinea pigs for the last 20+ years.

Can Sömnez – BJJ Globetrotters

Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
Blogs, pretty much, back when those were a thing (at this point, I’ve largely switched to my ArtemisBJJ Instagram instead). I started blogging about my martial arts training in the early 2000s. Initially that was in posts sharing my training experiences with like-minded martial arts nerds on message boards, such as Tung-Fu, Cyberkwoon and most importantly, Bullshido.

I transferred those posts to a blogger site a little later, which became slideyfoot.com. Once I began posting on there about BJJ in 2006, that made it one of the very few BJJ blogs around at the time. The main BJJ bloggers I remember from those days were Seymour (of Meerkatsu fame), Val Worthington, and a certain Christian Graugart.

BJJ blogs got increasingly popular over the years, with numerous interesting writers getting involved. I would spend hours reading and commenting on as many as possible, which built up a friendly network. Lots of these bloggers lived outside the UK: I decided I would like to meet them in person. There were also the many contacts I’d made via sites like Bullshido. When I finally made it out to the US for the first time in 2012, I therefore had loads of people I wanted to visit.

I was blown away by the hospitality. Georgette was especially amazing: thanks to her generosity and kindness, I had a fantastic time in Texas, staying at her beautiful home. John (who I knew through Bullshido as simply jnp) was another wonderful person I hung out with on that trip. He gave me some excellent BJJ advice I use to this day, about a control point framework. That experience sparked off repeat trips to the US to meet more bloggers, demonstrating to me what an incredible community BJJ can be.

Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
I travel often: looking at the last few months, I was in Spain in January 2025, along with teaching at the BJJ Globetrotters Winter Camp earlier that month, plus a seminar I taught in Munich. Last November I ran an Artemis BJJ Camp in Berlin, headed to my parent’s second home near Bodrum in October, visited my good friend Mike V in Madison, Wi during September and I taught in Heidelberg last August. I count myself very fortunate to be able to travel as much as I do.

Coming up this year so far, I’ll be teaching at my friend’s camp in Wales in April, then it’s the first iteration of the Artemis BJJ London Camp in May, a trip to Portugal in July, along with a return to Berlin in October to run another camp there. I’d love to somehow squeeze in Heidelberg again, but we’ll see if I can make that work.

Can Sömnez – BJJ Globetrotters

What are the things you enjoy about travelling?
I love visiting my friends, many of whom I first met at BJJ Globetrotters Camps. That’s the primary reason I travel, as most of my close friends live outside of the UK. I also enjoy art and history, along with trying out the food. I’m not really a foodie (I’m pretty bad at savouring food, I usually eat it too fast), but an interesting local dish tends to be a travel highlight.

Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that make it worth traveling and training?
I’ve already mentioned a few, but as those were from quite a while ago, I’ll share some more recent examples.

Exploring the cheese market in Madison, WI with Mike, my student Dan, a black belt friend from London and a new friend from the North of England was cool, before we then all trained together at Mike’s gym. The day finished with a gloriously indulgent feast featuring those famous US portion sizes.

Sparring in Munich with some Globetrotters friends on Halloween, then heading out dressed as a squirrel. We continued on to the restaurant, enjoying our food still in costume, before promoting my close friend Eva to blue belt at the end of the meal.

Hanging out with my old student Erin in Melbourne, then jumping on the train to Ballarat, where I met up with another BJJ friend that breeds horses. I spent the rest of the afternoon getting riding tips from her and learning about gaited horses, before heading back to Melbourne for a class with Liv and Lachlan Giles at Absolute MMA.

What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
Probably in Nepal in 2004, during a fabulous round the world trip (when there were still comparatively cheap student offers, allowing a certain number of stops per continent). While I sat outside eating at a restaurant, a baby rhino appeared, took a fancy to me and laid its head on my lap. That was one heavy baby, so I just had to wait until it got bored and wandered off.

Can Sömnez – BJJ Globetrotters

Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I am fairly budget, so I’ve done the FlixBus thing before. That’s probably the cheapest way to get around Europe, especially with airlines charging so much for luggage now. In terms of planning for a trip, the biggest concern for me isn’t usually cost, it’s my mental health.

I have a mild form of bipolar called cyclothymia. With that, the manic and depressive phases switch over in a fairly regular pattern. In my case, it is usually every 7 to 16 days. Although I don’t have control over when the phases switch, I can at least track them, which enables me to take an educated guess.

If my travel falls on a depressive phase, that can have a big impact, especially if I’m travelling to teach at a camp. I therefore try to be very careful about which camps I select. I aim to pick (or organise) camps where I have good friends going too, who I know I can depend on for support if I do happen to slip into a depressive phase.

Letting people know you’re struggling is important, which is why I wanted to make a point of mentioning it on here, for readers who might be in the same boat. I’m lucky that my condition is mild. Many people have it a lot worse. A strong support network makes such a huge difference.

If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
To go with something mundane, vacuum compression bags to maximise your luggage space. You don’t need an actual vacuum: the bags usually come with a simple handpump. Be careful though, as the airlines are getting strict on hand luggage. It used to be I could just wander through with a bulging backpack, but they check more regularly now. I have fit two gis, five full sets of rashguard and spats plus non-training clothes into hand luggage before thanks to those vacuum compression bags, but to be sure to avoid any extra fees, I would recommend cutting that amount in half.

Thank you to Can Sömnez – BJJ Globetrotters for making this interview!

Featured Camp Instructor: Daniël Bertina – BJJ Globetrotters

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Daniël Bertina BJJ

Daniël Bertina – BJJ Globetrotters

Age: 44
Belt: Black belt, third degree
Profession: Journalist, creative translator, teacher, dad
Started training (year): I think around 2000
City/country: Vietnamsterdam / Culemborg, The Netherlands

 

Main achievements in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu:

Mostly bronze & the occasional silver at a few comps here and there. I’m the first black belt awarded by Marcos ‘Flexa’ Neves, which I guess makes me the first Dutch black belt in the Carlson Gracie lineage.

 

Which Globetrotters camps have you attended:

I’ve been involved with BJJ Globetrotters since pretty much its inception, and usually I teach at one camp a year – because I have a life. So multiple visits to Copenhagen, Leuven, Heidelberg, Tallinn, Pärnu.

 

Which camp has been your favorite so far?

They’ve all been wonderful. It’s the people that make the camps great. Doesn’t really matter where we end up. Could be a shack in Zimbabwe & we’d make it a fun time.

 

Favorite stories/moments from the camps?

The surreal heat of the Leuven Sauna Bunker combined with free camp kimonos with faulty blue dye, that everyone who wore one into smurfs. Glorious, gluttonous meals in Heidelberg & Estonia with good folks. Building long-lasting friendships with people from all walks of life. Realizing jiu-jitsu can be a great tool for self-improvement and building a positive community.

 

Your favorite class/classes to teach at camp? 

Anything that involves maximum efficiency, minimal effort for mutual welfare & benefit. And massive, ungodly pressure.

 

Anything else you want to add to your profile:

I enjoy sport climbing, ecstatic dance and yoga. My aim is to be able to train until the day I die.

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Daniël Bertina – BJJ Globetrotters instructor