BJJ Globetrotters Iceland Camp 2024

* From July 8th to 13th, 2024 *
* In Reykjavík, Iceland *
* Six-day training camp in the largest grappling and MMA gym in the world *
* Classes all day long *
* Full use of all sauna, hot tub, ice bath and weight-lifting facilities *
* 45 minutes from Keflavik international airport *
* Vikings vs. Tourists Icelandic wrestling competition *
* Optional half day Golden Circle sightseeing trip *
* Final evening barbecue & party *
* Everyone welcome, regardless of experience or affiliation *

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WELCOME

Train all day long in the largest grappling and MMA gym in the world. Choose whether you want to relax in the rejuvenating waters of a natural hot spring or surf the invigoratingly cold waves of the North Atlantic. Wrestle a Viking under the open sky and then retreat to the nearby tavern for a well-earned horn of ale.

Yes, we’re heading back to the Land of Ice and Fire for another week of training, exploring, and partying in one of the most stunningly beautiful places on Earth. Grab your drinking horn and gi (and glíma belt) and meet us there!

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"Mjölnir had been at the top of my bucket list of gyms I wanted to train at and the facility did not disappoint. What a great gym and what an amazing camp!"
- Ferdinand, Germany

ICELAND

The earliest site of Norse settlement in Iceland (dating from the 9th century AD), modern-day Reykjavík is a bustling capital city with a wonderfully eclectic mix of ultra-modern concert halls, colourful old wooden houses, trendy cafes that turn into late-night party pubs, and streets named after Odin and Thor.

It’s also the hub of tourism in Iceland, acting as the main point of entry and the gateway to the rest of this absolutely stunning country. The world-famous Golden Circle tour (a 230km loop featuring the UNESCO World Heritage site Þingvellir National Park, Geysir geothermal area, and the thundering Gulfoss waterfall) is easily doable as a day trip from Reykjavík, as is a visit to the luxurious Blue Lagoon hot springs.

And if you have some more time on your hands either before or after the camp, you can hop in a car and hit the Ring Road that runs around the coast of the entire island for a multi-day road trip of truly otherworldly beauty.

"Iceland was one of the most amazing Jiu Jitsu experiences I have ever had, on and off the mats"
- Sean, United States

FACILITIES

Mjölnir is the largest grappling and MMA gym in the world, with a staggering 3000m2 of floor space dedicated to every conceivable aspect of martial arts training. Six matted halls for Jiu Jitsu and yoga, a full-sized professional MMA cage and boxing ring, weightlifting and strength-and-conditioning studios, and locker rooms with their own sauna and ice-bath areas.

Over the years, everyone from UFC fighters like Conor McGregor and Gunnar Nelson, to multiple Icelandic grappling champions, have walked through these doors to hone their craft. When you bump fists and roll at Mjölnir, you really will be walking in the footsteps of giants.

"...after spending the week after camp driving the circumference of the country I can say that it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen and I’m hoping to return next year!"
- Mira, United States

BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU TRAINING

We’re going to be running classes in three separate matted rooms every day from morning until evening, all taught by a variety of highly experienced instructors who bring their own perspective on Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, sometimes incorporating concepts from other grappling arts such as wrestling, judo, and luta livre. We’ll also schedule frequent open mat sessions at which you can roll, drill technique, or just chat with the instructors and pick their brains. There’ll be locals be dropping by for both classes and open mats, so you’ll have plenty of chances to see what that Viking Jiu Jitsu looks like. All in all, there’ll be more training than you can possibly handle over the course of the week, so make sure to bring your notepad!

All of our camps are renowned for their open and welcoming atmosphere. They’re full of enthusiastic, friendly people from all around the world, who enjoy training in a fun, relaxed, and open-minded environment. So regardless of whether you’re there with a group or travelling solo, you’ll always find someone to slap hands with.

BEGINNERS WELCOME!

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BJJ Globetrotters is built on a foundation of treating everyone equally, both on and off the mats. We understand that signing up for a week-long training camp as a beginner in the sport can be a very intimidating thought. People often ask us if they are even allowed to join as beginners or if they would somehow be a burden to the instructors or other participants. However, there is absolutely nothing to worry about. We are most happy to have beginners of all levels join us, both for the training and social aspects of the camps.

At many of the camps, we even host a “White Belt Appreciation Hour,” which is a closed event where white belts can have “alone time” with the black belt coaches and ask all the beginner questions they might have.

So, if you’re still inexperienced in BJJ and on the edge about coming, just do it! We’ve all started where you are now, and one day you’ll probably be able to beat us, so we better be nice to you now 😄.

"Viking Camp is until now the most memorable thing I did with the BJJ Globetrotters. You can’t understand how overwhelming the gym is or how beautiful the scenery is by just looking at the pictures"
- Mike, Belgium

BUS SIGHTSEEING TOUR

Come join the other camp participants for a half-day, guided sightseeing tour of the amazing nature of Iceland! We’ve rented a bus exclusively for the camp and will do a trip around the Golden Circle to see some of the most classic and impressive sights that the country has to offer. Since we’ve booked for 100 people, we’re able to keep this super affordable for you campers :)

The bus will pick us up and drop us off right at the camp, and you’ll be back in time for plenty of training in the afternoon / evening!

Take selfies in killer nature with other campers, then head back and choke each other
Wednesday of the camp
Depart 8:00 AM from Mjölnir
Planned destinations: Geysir, Gullfoss, Thingvellir national park, Friðheima
Return around 4:00 PM in the afternoon
Modern 49-seat buses with aircon, toilets, and coolers
English-speaking, professional tour guide
Only €69 per person; book together with your camp ticket!

YOGA

Regardless of the colour of the belt around your waist, six days of 8+ hours on the mats is tough on the body! In order to keep us as limbre and loose right until the end, there will be yoga sessions during the camp.

GLIMA COMPETITION

How many people get to go to Iceland and tick “wrestle a Viking” off their bucket list? In order to ensure that you have just such an opportunity, we’ve assembled a thunderous horde of locals ready to face off against all comers in a Glíma tournament. Glíma is the native Icelandic style of wrestling, and involves grabbing hold of your opponent’s belt and trying to knock him/her off their feet. It’s one of the oldest folk-wrestling traditions in Europe, with a written history dating back to at least the year 1325 AD, and has been proudly practiced by the descendants of the Vikings ever since.

And now you’ll have the unique chance to test your mettle in this ancient art against some of the biggest, most impeccably bearded berserkers that Reykjavík has to offer. Rumors that the Bloodsport soundtrack will be played over loudspeakers at the time cannot be confirmed.

"I've been to a lot of these camps by now and the atmosphere, enthusiasm and general energy is second to none."
- Oliver, United Kingdom

DAY ONE PUBCRAWL

What started off as a really bad, great idea, has become a stable at many of our camps: For those who want to kickstart the social (and sightseeing-) aspect of the week, we are organizing a pub crawl, visiting a handful of local bars, in between having a nice walk through the old streets of town. You’re also most welcome to participate without drinking!

"Just had my very first BJJ Globetrotters training camp, and I loved it. Besides the many technical lessons, new concepts and inspiring stories, it also gave me some insight into where I am as a blue belt. The many sparring sessions with different people all playing their own styles showed me whether my game plan works or if it needs some changes. To me, this was the most valuable part of the camp. Being able to spar with that many people over the course of a week really gives you the reflection you need for your game plan. So to everyone I rolled with – thanks for helping me make my game better. I recommend that anyone – casual hobbyists or competitive fighters – join a camp like this, be it for either the several hours of sparring a day or for the new techniques you will learn."
- Jelle, The Netherlands

ONLINE VIDEO LIBRARY OF CAMP CLASSES

We’ll be professionally filming many of the classes and then hosting them online at our video library: BJJ Globetrotters in Action. They’ll be entirely free to access (as will the videos from all our other camps), so if you want to refresh your memory you can go back and check out the technique as many times as you want.

"I didn’t know anybody when I arrived, but felt immediately at home."
- Stefan, Germany

WORKSHOPS

Off the mats, we’ll be holding a series of workshops taught by a selection of instructors and highly knowledgeable camp attendees. These will all take place in the camp venue. Generally they focus on Jiu Jitsu and sport-related topics, but we’ve also had presentations on things like improving your photography, making stuff happen, standup comedy and historic grappling arts – basically anything cool that we think might be interesting! You’ll just have to wait for the schedule and see what we’ve got lined up.

"I booked my first Globetrotters camp as a solo traveller. I knew I wouldn’t know anyone there, which was a bit daunting. But when I met everyone, no one felt like a stranger – it was like we were all old friends. I still listen to the music we rolled to, and have applied the moves to my game. I am still friends with the people I met, and those relationships somehow grow despite the geographical distance. I’ve become part of a network of awesome people, and booking that trip was one of the best decision I ever made."
- Gemma, United Kingdom

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Reykjavík is the cultural and social centre of Iceland, being home to almost half the population of the entire country. As such, you’ll find basically everything here – from huge music venues to cosy cafes, Michelin-star cuisine to street-side hotdog stalls, midnight Northern Lights tours to whale-watching cruises, and museums covering things as diverse as the early settlement of Iceland to less historical topics. All within easy walking distance, but also linked by an excellent and easy-to-use bus network.

It’s safe to say you’re never gonna be bored here :-)

ACCOMMODATION

Let’s face it – Reykjavík can be an expensive city to spend time in! There are plenty of Air BnB places within easy reach of the camp venue though, and here are some other affordable accommodation options that should ensure you’ll still be well able to try out the local beer in the evenings.

"One of the most important things about any camp is that you get to spend time with a truly broad spectrum of people from all walks of life, which can only enrich you as a person."
- Giles, Scotland

€120 CUSTOM DESIGNED CAMP GI OFFER

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Book your spot before June 15th and get a special Viking Camp edition of either our light weight travel gi or pearl weave competition gi for just €120. You can pick any color of the gi (blue, white, black, brown, pink or gray) and it will have a special design just for this camp.

Pre-order with your camp registration and you can pick it up at the camp and pay in cash there. Binding, gentleman’s agreement :)

BJJ Globetrotters Travel gi
* Special Iceland Camp design *
* Available in blue, white, black, brown, pink and gray *
* Super light ripstop jacket and pants *
* From just 1.1 kg *
* Perfect to bring for traveling *
* Special camp pre-order price €120 *

BJJ Globetrotters Competition gi
* Special Iceland Camp design *
* Available in blue, white, black and gray *
* High quality, 100% cotton 550GSM pearl weave jacket *
* Ripstop pants *
* IBJJF competition legal *
* Special camp pre-order price €120 *

CONFIRMED INSTRUCTORS

More instructors to be announced!

Gunnar Nelson

- From Reykjavik, Iceland
- BJJ black belt
- UFC welterweight fighter since 2012
- Black belt in 4 years
- Expects camp to finally make him emotional

Gudmundur Gunnarsson

- From Njarðvík, Iceland
- Backhold World Champion
- 2x Icelandic BJJ Champion
- Glima & Celtic Wrestling National Coach
- Favorite pass is pass the potatoes

Bjarni Baldursson

- From Reykjavík, Iceland
- BJJ Black Belt
- Co-founder/owner of Mjölnir MMA
- Pioneer of BJJ in Iceland
- Studies Roombas for sweep options

Arnar Freyr Vigfússon

- From Reykjavik, Iceland
- BJJ black belt
- Iceland's 3rd black belt
- Multiple x Icelandic Champion
- Ask for bodybuilding tips

Halldór Valsson

- From Reykjavik, Iceland
- BJJ black belt
- 2x Icelandic Nationals champion
- Silver IBJJF Europeans brown
- Farts on airplanes

Will Dorman

- From Florida, United States
- BJJ black belt
- Won some stuff, drank a lot of beer
- Golden Croissant Surf Champ 2023
- Once armbarred a moose in Alaska

Barbara Ruiken

- From Bergen, Norway
- BJJ black belt
- Coach at Bergen Grappling
- IBJJF World & European medalist
- Bronze at Norwegian Sumo Championships

Priit Mihkelson

- From Tallinn, Estonia
- BJJ black belt
- Head coach Estum Jiu Jitsu, Estonia
- Creator of DefensiveBJJ.com
- Once stopped drone strike w/ turtle defense

Laura Rättyä

- From Helsinki, Finland
- BJJ black belt
- Gold No-Gi Finnish Nationals '22
- Mostly rocking the 2nd or 3rd place
- Former Finnish curling pro

Christian Graugart

- From Saint Barthélemy, F.W.I.
- Author of The BJJ Globetrotter
- 2nd place IBJJF Europeans brown belt
- IBJJF London Open black belt champion
- Multiple x IBJJF default bronze medalist

Daði Steinn

- From Reykjavik, Iceland
- BJJ black belt
- Multiple x Icelandic National champion
- Head coach at VBC Iceland
- Has kept a Tamagotchi alive since 1996

Raoul Audhoe

- From Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- 15+ years no-gi experience
- Head coach at Tribe Grappling
- Won a few medals here and there
- Once broke the internet with a turtle

Bobby McMasters

- From Asheville, North Carolina, USA
- Co-owns and operates Open Source Jiu-Jitsu
- Won a sheep in a Moldova wrestling tournament
- Lives in a BJJ-themed campground
- Has never won a goat

Alexander Neufang

- From Braunschweig, Germany
- BJJ black belt
- 380+ competition matches
- 150 medals won
- Very close to reaching his final form

Bryan White

- From Pennsylvania, United States
- BJJ black belt
- 18 years police officer
- Law enforcement self defense instructor
- Once arrested someone for pulling guard

Tobias Löffler

- From Bochum, Germany
- BJJ black belt
- Luta Livre black belt
- Instructor at Metagame Jiu Jitsu
- Germany's leading guacamole expert

Bernd Röske

- From Bochum, Germany
- BJJ black belt
- ADCC German Open 2x Champion
- Coach at Metagame Jiu Jitsu
- Capture the Flag Heidelberg veteran

Gareth McNamara

- From Dublin, Ireland
- Judo & BJJ black belt
- Former Irish Judo Champion
- IBJJF World, European & Asian medalist
- Will footsweep you using beer only

Bernie Antle

- From Newfoundland, Canada
- BJJ black belt
- Owner of Kempe Fitness & Fighting
- In Canadian Airforce (could be just a janitor though)
- Insists his blood type is 'Açaí Positive'

Kieran Davern

- From Tullamore, Ireland
- IBJJF Ireland Heavyweight Champ. '19
- 3x Grapplefest Winner
- Polaris Pro winner
- Ostrich farm owner

Sigurgeir Heiðarsson

- From Reykjavik, Iceland
- BJJ black belt
- Coach at RVK MMA
- Won lots of bronze medals
- Mispronounce his name & win Icelandic licorice

Tom Dowdall

- From Ontario, Canada
- BJJ black belt
- 6 times European no champion
- 30+ years of Jiu Jitsu
- Has a meme for every question in class

"This is hands-down one of the most memorable experiences in my BJJ career. "
- Jay, United States

INSTRUCTORS’ CODE OF CONDUCT

All instructors at the BJJ Globetrotters camps have agreed to:

Respect and treat everyone at the camp equally, regardless of gender, sexuality, age, belt level, and skill; on and off the mats.
Behave respectfully and with the integrity to be expected of an instructor, role model, and representative of BJJ Globetrotters; on and off the mats.
Be a team player and support their fellow instructors.
Treat neither rolling nor teaching as a competition.

SCHEDULE & GUIDEBOOK

Will be sent out roughly a week prior to camp

* Camp starts Monday around noon *
* Daily training and open mat sessions from around 9 am to 8 pm *
* Last training will be a long open mat session on Saturday until around 4 pm *
* Don’t leave Saturday unless you want to miss the camp party! (don’t miss the party) *
* We are trying to make an equal amount of gi and no-gi classes *
* You can arrive/leave early or late as you like *

Take a look at the guidebook for last year’s Iceland camp here

"...the Globetrotters team have mastered the balance of offering both superior training and an enjoyable, relaxing vacation in one package. The instructors were all highly skilled, not only in the practice of Jiu Jitsu but also the capacity to teach it."
- Noah, United States

BOOK YOUR SPOT

* Six days unlimited training camp *
* 15+ black belt instructors *
* 40+ gi and no-gi classes *
* Yoga/mobility morning classes *
* Daily off-the-mats workshops *
* 4+ hours of daily open mats *
* Full use of Mjölnir’s facilities *
* Access to all local MMA, Muay Thai, Fitness classes *
* Traditional Glima competition vs. locals *
* (Food, flight and accommodation not included) *

€299

AVAILABILITY: SOLD OUT

ANY QUESTIONS?

Christian Graugart

Camp organizer

Vara Poorisrisak

Camp organizer

Hi there, we are Christian and Vara!

We run the BJJ Globetrotters camps behind the scenes and are always happy to answer any questions you might have. Click below to get directly in touch with us any time!

Facebook Messenger

Whatsapp +44 7452 345006

[email protected]

"The week was full of positive vibes from amazing people. Everybody was so generous in sharing their time, experiences, and knowledge, that it began to feel real comfortable, real quick. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will morph into a lifetime of opportunities. "
- Jeff, United States

ALL UPCOMING CAMPS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR ICELAND CAMP

Where is the camp?
The camp will be held at Mjölnir MMA, Flugvallarvegur 3-3a, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland.

How do I get there?
Unless you really feel like hopping on one of those 3-day ferries from mainland Europe, the best way to get to Iceland is to fly to Keflavik international airport (KEF). From there it’s only a 45-minute bus ride to Reykjavík city centre.

Travel tip: Icelandair offers transatlantic flights with free stopovers of up to 7 days in Iceland. So you could fly from North America to Iceland, stay for the camp, and then head onwards to another destination in Europe very easily. Or vice versa. Perfect way to kick off your Jiu Jitsu world tour?

When can I arrive/leave?
Any day you like, really.

Is there a minimum age for participation?
You have to be at least 18 years old in order to attend the camp. The only exception is our family friendly camp in Austria, where kids can participate together with at least one adult. Our minimum age required to participate in the camp without an adult is 18 years.

I'm not sure if I'm free on those dates yet and/or can't afford to buy a ticket right now. Can I reserve a spot at the camp and pay later once I've made my decision/ saved enough money?
Sorry, but we can't bookmark spots for people in advance. It would make it far too difficult to accurately determine how many spots are still available, and would cause additional confusion if people then cancel their reserved spots on short notice. To make it fair for everyone, we only secure camp spots for people who have bought a ticket.

I'll be nearby during the dates of the camp. Can I drop in for just one day / one class / one open mat?
Unfortunately, this isn't possible. The logistics of trying to keep track of day tickets for these camps would be a nightmare. Not to mention that if we allow one person to drop by, we have to allow everyone to drop by, and then we'd risk not having enough mat space for the people who actually paid for the full camp. Also, we often have a long waiting list for camp tickets, and it wouldn't be fair to those people if we let someone skip the list and come for a day. Same deal for everyone!:-)

Can I bring my kids to sit around/on the mats during the camp?
In order to create a quiet and focused training environment for the camp classes, we ask you to not bring your kids to the training area during camp. It would not be much of an issue with one or two, but if we allow one, we have to allow all and then we could risk suddenly having way too many babies and children there. Thank you for your understanding of this.

What are the terms and conditions of the booking?
Here you go.

Is it safe?
Yes :)

How many gis should I bring?
It depends on how much you want to train and if you also train nogi. We recommend two gis, that's enough for most people. Some people switch their days between gi and no-gi, and can do with a single gi.

Will I be allowed to film during the camp?
Yes, but always check with the instructor beforehand.

I only train with/without the gi, will there be enough training for me?
Yes! We promise there'll be more classes than you can possibly handle.

Where do the participants come from?
Our camps are usually attended by happy people from all over the world.

What language will the classes be taught in?
All classes are in English.

Is it possible to buy private lessons at camp?
We don't allow selling of any kind of services or products at the camp, including private lessons, massages, therapy, treatment, merchandise etc. This applies to both instructors and participants. So the answer is yes, but it has to be free :)

Is this just a BJJ camp?
Yes.

Will I receive a ticket in the mail?
There are no physical tickets for the camps. Your name is on our list when you arrive and check in.

When will there be training?
Training is running all day, every day!

I'm a complete beginner, can I still join?
Yes!! We have many hundreds beginners participate in our camps, every year.

I have booked a spot but have to cancel. Can I get a refund?
All bookings are non-refundable. You are most welcome to sell your spot to someone else, just let us know about it. In case the camp is sold out, we might have a waiting list you can obtain by emailing us. Click here for more information

Where do the participants come from?
All over the world.

What other camps are you hosting?
See our full schedule of camps here!

Is it possible to test for belt promotion?
The Council of Traveling Black Belts can offer a brutally honest evaluations of skill level at our camps – no belt promotion guaranteed, naturally. If you’re interested in the opinion of the instructors at a camp, shoot us an email with a description of your training career as well as link to a verified profile on www.beltchecker.com and we’ll catch you on the mats for a few rolls and some feedback. We do not consider anyone for promotion who already have an instructor or are in between gyms.

ANYTHING ELSE?

Feel free to email us if you have any questions!! We will get back to you right away :)

WELCOME

Yes, we’re heading back to the Land of Ice and Fire for another week of training, exploring, and partying in one of the most stunningly beautiful places on Earth. Grab your drinking horn and gi (and glíma belt) and meet us there!

ICELAND

FACILITIES

BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU TRAINING

BEGINNERS WELCOME!

BUS SIGHTSEEING TOUR

YOGA

GLIMA COMPETITION

DAY ONE PUBCRAWL

ONLINE VIDEO LIBRARY OF CAMP CLASSES

WORKSHOPS

OTHER ACTIVITIES

ACCOMMODATION

€120 CUSTOM DESIGNED CAMP GI OFFER

CONFIRMED INSTRUCTORS

INSTRUCTORS’ CODE OF CONDUCT

SCHEDULE & GUIDEBOOK

BOOK YOUR SPOT

AVAILABILITY: SOLD OUT

ANY QUESTIONS?

Christian Graugart

Vara Poorisrisak

Hi there, we are Christian and Vara!

ALL UPCOMING CAMPS

USA Camp 2024 180×240

Camp 100 180px SOLD OUT

Iceland Camp 2024 – 180×240 SOLD OUT

Summer Camp 2024 – 180×240 SOLD OUT

Beach Camp 2024 – 180×240

Austria Camp 2024 – 180×240 SOLD OUT

Zen Camp October 2024 – 180×240

Arizona Camp 2024 – 180×240

Winter Camp 2025 180×240

caribbean island camp 2025 – 180×240

Spring Camp 2025 180×240

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR ICELAND CAMP

ANYTHING ELSE?

OUR BJJ CAMPS 2024 & 2025

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