First entry

Hello hello to the wonderful world of BJJ Globetrotters!

So I feel an introduction is needed. My name is Graeme and I am a white belt from Ireland. I have been training BJJ for over a year. I started in Checkmat Wimbledon but have managed to hit 30+ academies across Europe and North America since I started. 

For the last 15 years I have lived in the deep south of the USA, Ireland and the UK. I am now on a trip around the world starting in London, passing through North America, hitting up Australasia and finally settling in Melbourne. This blog will be a bit of a chronicle of my adventures and, hopefully, will provide some level of light reading and entertainment for you wonderful people!

 

So I have been away from my flat in London for a total of 3 months now. I will endeavour to cover the time between then and now in the coming blogs and then moving forward will keep everyone updated as I go. 

This entry will likely be quite a sad one. I began writing it on the plane ride back to Canada from the BJJ Globetrotters USA Camp in Maine and will finish it as I pass through Toronto and on to Calgary in the next day or so. 

To say that it was one of the most life changing events I have encountered would be an understatement. 

 

To begin, while I was planning my 9 month trip across the globe I found the USA Camp online. It seemed a little far fetched to think that I would be able to make it but after a few vodkas and a curry it suddenly became a reality. Thanks in part to my long suffering, recently JiuJitsu-widowed girlfriend, Sarah as she encouraged me to go. I will never be sure what her grand plans of Toronto freedom were for this 5 day period but I have to say that I am glad she gave me the kick in the backside to book it. 

 

I was sent the link for the FB group and then we started the carpool plans with fellow campers. 

Ivan, Shawna, David and Justin were all great to meet and incredibly friendly. Team Extreme hit the road to Camp Manitou in our Dodge Caravan and managed to drop ALL of the kids off at soccer practice. 

The camp itself was excellent. I was genuinely expecting the child sized beds and urine smell that Christian described from the first ever USA camp but was sorely disappointed by awesome cabins, friendly staff, great food and, above all else, a ridiculously friendly group of guys and girls who all had the same objective for the week. (to choke me out it seems) :)

 

The training and instruction was great. I benefitted from the workshops in the theatre almost as much as the several hours of rolling each day. 

Having never met him before, the opportunity to join Christian on his holiday was one that I wouldn’t have ever expected to be as amazing as it was but here I am sitting in Calgary with the Post Camp Blues. I will definitely be making every effort to make it to a couple of camps next year. 

 

That is all for this entry so I will bid you all a fond farewell. I am off to try find a bear to armbar in the Canadian wilderness. 

 

G