Not quite a travel story: A pause, months Later
Back in February, I shared my first post here on BJJ Globetrotters. I was full of excitement and ready to embark on what felt like a dream: traveling through Asia, training BJJ, exploring, writing, repeating. A new chapter was beginning.
But after that first post (and a draft), I went quiet. Not because I had nothing to say but maybe because I had too much.
What I didn’t realize back then is that burnout doesn’t disappear just because you’re doing something exciting. If anything, travel can bring it out more. Your emotional baggage doesn’t get left behind at the airport. It follows you, quietly, persistently.
And now, months later, I’ve come to understand: that’s okay.
So instead of a perfectly detailed description of my trip, this post is a reflection of where I am right now. The stories – from my Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong – will come, slowly, in their own time, as I unpack them.
(Funny how my itinerary changed too. Originally, it was supposed to be Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia.)
When plans change
I started the trip full-on, even though deep down I was already running on empty both mentally and physically. I didn’t slow down and jumped into training, traveling, moving constantly. New gyms, new countries, new people. It was exhilarating… and exhausting.
Eventually, the joy I felt started to turn into pressure. I told myself I had to train in every country to embody the BJJ Globetrotter way of traveling.
Then an infected wound forced me to stop training altogether. But even then, rest didn’t come easily. There was always movement. Always noise.
So finally, I stopped and I went back home.
Coming home (and back to myself)
Now I’m back in Denmark, and honestly, it feels so good. There’s something deeply comforting about being in a familiar place, where the pace is slower, the streets make sense, and I don’t feel like I have to be on all the time.
Training BJJ here feels different too. On the road, it was a way to connect with people, places, and cultures. Each gym was a doorway into a new community. Every roll was a conversation with someone I’d just met.
But back home, BJJ takes on a quieter role. It’s less about discovery and more about grounding. It’s where I come back to myself. Where I move not to meet someone new, but to remember who I am.
Don’t get me wrong, I had some truly incredible experiences out there. There are many stories I want to share, and I will… just not all at once. I’ll let them surface naturally, when I am ready to tell them.
If you’re curious, I also gave an interview where I talked more about my travels in Asia:
👉 Traveller interview: Rui Lin | BJJ Globetrotters
And of course, if you ever want to chat or ask questions, feel free to reach out.
Back to the mat. Back to writing.
