Featured affiliated academy: Two on One Martial Arts, Romania BJJ
Where is the gym located?
In Iasi, Romania. Specifically on 2 Poitiers Street, 700671, Iasi.
How many people train there?
Approximately 100 across all our classes (BJJ – adults and kids, MMA, kickboxing, strength & conditioning, self-defense, arm-wrestling).
Is the gym growing – if so by how many new members each month or year?
Yes, it’s slowly growing. About 1-2 new people monthly.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training?
The highest is purple belt and the lowest are the white belts.
When did the gym open?
The gym has been in our new/current location since January 7th 2019.
Some facts about you:
Name: Bogdan Toma
Age: 37
Academy: Two on One Martial Arts, Romania BJJ
Belt: Purple
Years in BJJ: 5
Other martial arts: MMA
Currently living in: Iasi, Romania
Originally from: Barlu, Romania
Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence:
I always had the idea in mind. It all began more than 10 years ago, when I started training in MMA with a couple of close friends in my hometown. We had our own gym and we had very good results in MMA competitions with our students. Then, in 2015 I moved to Iasi and I started training here, at a friend’s gym, Absoluto Iasi, run by Mihai Godun, which was focused exclusively on BJJ.
After a while, we started thinking about opening a bigger gym in a new place, but all that fell through when Mihai moved to another country. While teaching in the absence of my friend, I met Tiberiu Popa, a very talented young man who joined the group shortly after. He helped me with the systematization of the training sessions for a good period of time, and so at one point I asked him if he wanted to join me into this new project. So in 2019, we finally did it: Two on One Martial Arts – a 350 square meter full-spectrum combat sports academy, still affiliated with Absoluto in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu segment, which has Tudor Mihaita as head coach.
Overall, I can say that it hasn’t been easy, and we still have a long way to go, but I’m very hopeful and optimistic about the future of our academy and this sport in general.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they?
The people who train in Two on One Martial Arts, Romania BJJ have very different backgrounds: students, engineers, doctors, architects, IT professionals, etc. All brought together by the sport.
Why do they train?
To most of them, it’s a hobby; something they like to do outside their working hours. Whereas some of them come to the gym more frequently and usually participate in competitions.
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general and in your location specifically?
In general, I would say the main challenge is having to deal with the fact that BJJ is still not a very well-known sport here, and in order to enjoy it you have to understand it first.
How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
In my opinion, the future of BJJ in Romania will be down to the effort made by each and every academy, the devotion of the coaches, the organic growth of the community and the dissemination of good quality information in groups. Last but not least, there is a need for more well-organized competitions. I’m quite optimistic about the future of this sport in my country and worldwide, but I’m aware it will take some time to get there.
What’s the best thing about Two on One Martial Arts Romania BJJ?
It’s definitely the team and the fact that we’re a family and good friends outside the gym as well.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym?
Iasi is the second biggest city in Romania, and since it’s a university city you can find friendly people from different parts of the country and the world. The city has a lot to offer: culture, great food, nature, and exciting nightlife. Moreover, approximately 100 km away is the Ceahlau Massif, which is great for hiking or trekking.
