Featured traveller: Nick Daniel – BJJ Globetrotters
Age: 28
Belt: Purple
Profession: Personal trainer
How many years in BJJ: 6 years
Other martial arts: Nope
Where do you live: Currently living in Istanbul, Turkey
Where are you from: Gold Coast, Australia
Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I once heel hooked a fully grown kangaroo
Nick Daniel – BJJ Globetrotters
Tell us what inspired you to travel and train?
The shortness of life, in a nutshell. Everything in life is temporary, and life itself is so damn short, so why the f*** not do everything you want right now? Granted that there can be some definite set-backs, but as humans, we always find a way to pull through when we find the courage to initiate action. Majority of people, including myself, find excuses not to do certain things because we are scared to let go of comfort. We worry about job security. We are worried about the future. Every year the same story. I have worked countless jobs through my lifetime and the majority of my colleagues would run the same story; “Oh I’m over this job…”, “I would love to travel but I just don’t have enough holidays…”, “I wish I could just quit!”. Man, I was so tired of hearing it, but it fuelled me to do something amazing with my life so one day I can look back and smile.
Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
So, I am currently based in Istanbul, Turkey. This was a really random destination for me, because I just came to visit a friend that I met in London. My original plan was to come here for 3 days and then fly to Germany, but partly because of the pandemic and instant attraction to Turkish culture, I have been here for a little over 5 months now. In the time I’ve managed to find an amazing group of mates and awesome training partners at Corvos Combat with the main man Burak Biçer.
I’m just cruising right now, soaking up the summer vibes that are well on their way, and then after that I will head to Ibiza, Spain once again to train with some pals that I met last year.
Nick Daniel – BJJ Globetrotters
What are the things you enjoy about traveling?
The people. The freedom. The spontaneity. The growth. The experiences.
Diving into the unknown is f**king breathtaking. The positive changes that I’ve seen in myself definitely outweigh the temporary waves of fear from not knowing where you’ll end up next. The more you travel, the easier it gets. Man, it’s a rush!
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that makes it worth traveling and training?
Man, the people! Hands down the people you meet are the best thing about travelling and training. Especially through these Globetrotters camps. I can safely say I am confident to travel to several places around the world solely because I know I will be looked after by the amazing people I meet on the mats. It’s crazy to think.
One dude I rolled with in London spends a fair bit of time in Ibiza, Spain. So after absolutely crushing this poor little white belt (ahah love you Paul), he actually invited me to go stay/train on the island with him and his team. The vibes were unreal!
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling?
The most surprising experience is how friendly and accommodating strangers can actually be. I don’t know if it’s because we are Jiu-Jitsu folk or what, but man it’s made my travelling so cruisy.
Nick Daniel – BJJ Globetrotters
Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
Definitely! I think it’s all part of the travel and train lifestyle and it’s something that you should learn how to do. Just don’t buy unnecessary crap. It’s pretty simple.
Money comes and goes, and if you have a Stoic mentality, then those things won’t worry you and it will all just work out. Create a plan, initiate action, buy only what you need, and don’t look back.
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
You’re born with nothing, and you die with nothing – everything else in between is borrowed. So go out and make some sh** happen!
