BJJ Globetrotters Zen Camp Spring 2024

* Now a full week training camp *
* New spring edition *
* Monday, April 15th to Sunday, April 21st *
* In the middle of nowhere, Poland *
* Accommodation in traditional Japanese houses *
* Huge mat space *
* Gi laundry service *
* Free use of spa and sauna *
* All meals included *
* Bottled water, tea, and coffee included *
* Daily sauna therapy sessions *
* Board games *
* Daily workshops and lectures *
* Mushroom picking in the forest *
* Morning yoga classes *
* Everyone welcome, regardless of experience and affiliation *

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WELCOME

For a week of unforgettable days, we’re heading off to immerse ourselves in the peaceful atmosphere of the beautiful Dojo Stara Wies, a purpose-built Japanese-style village located in the middle of the Polish countryside. There we’ll lose ourselves in hours of friendly BJJ training, sunset Go matches, and conversations with friends both old and new that last long into the night.

The last camp sold out in three days and the waiting list is the longest we’ve ever had, so we decided to add another one for the spring! This one is always something deeply special, so we’re very excited to invite you back to this truly unique location for the next installment of the Zen Camp.

Hope to see you there. If you can find it.

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"The Zen camp was in one word AMAZING. I had high expectations coming to the camp but the experience exceeded all of them. It's hard to describe how fun it is to meet like minded people from all over the world, making new friends while doing what you love to do. The facilities are superb and the nature surrounding the area is beautiful and really makes you feel like you're in an old school kung fu movie. Definitely coming back next year!"
- Ingolf, Iceland

LOCATION

We really do go off the beaten track for this one. Deep in the heart of a stunning national park, you can train and relax alongside fellow grapplers from all over the world, surrounded by nothing more than trees, hammocks, and the open sky.

The address of the camp is Stara Wieś 1, 97-570 Stara Wieś, Poland. How you’ll get there is up to you. But if you figure it out, we promise you a fantastic experience.

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FACILITIES

Dojo Stara Wieś has been specifically designed for the practice of traditional Japanese martial arts, and as such we have everything we’d ever need for several days of intense Jiu Jitsu training. Classes take place in a large matted hall with a gorgeous view out over the forest, and we have a smaller matted area we can use for drilling and open mat throughout the day.

Included in the price of the camp is access to the on-site sauna. We also offer a free laundry service for training gear, so you’ll always have a fresh gi waiting for you.

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"The Zen Camp 2017 was my first BJJ Globetrotters Camp and I was not sure what to expect. However, what I experienced there, is very difficult to describe with a few words. The atmosphere and vibe of these 5 days were just amazing and breathtaking, both the infrastructure and the training really gave me an excellent opportunity to leave my daily life aside and focus on something completely different. Not only was I able to learn tons of new stuff and make new friends, but came back with my batteries completely recharged. In case you have any doubts to go to another Zen Camp, don’t doubt just go! You will not regret it."
- Daniel, Sweden

FOOD & ACCOMMODATION

Located on the same site as the dojo are 16 high-standard cottages, all built in traditional Japanese style. Each cottage has three double rooms and one single room, and feature beds or futons for sleeping, a kitchen, a fireplace, and private bathrooms. Also available are four VIP houses for either four or two persons, if you prefer extra privacy.

All of the cottages are located less than a minute’s walk from both the dojo and the canteen, and give you the perfect peaceful place to hang up your hakama at the end of the day.

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Depending on your budget and preferences, you have a few different accommodation types to choose from:

Standard house
Holds seven guests total
3x double rooms (two futons)
1x private room (one futon)
Living room with fireplace
Small kitchen with refrigerator
Terrace
3x bathrooms with showers

VIP house 1
Holds two guests total
1x double room (two futons)
Private bathroom with shower
Small kitchen with refrigerator
Living room with fireplace
Terrace
Free snacks, drinks, chocolate, wine, etc.

VIP house 2
Holds four guests total
2x double rooms (two futons)
Two en suite bathrooms with showers
Small kitchen with refrigerator
Living room with fireplace
Terrace
Free snacks, drinks, chocolate, wine, etc.

You can see a floor plan of the standard houses here (three double rooms and one private room).

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Food is included in the price of the camp and will be served three times a day in the restaurant. Tea, coffee, and water is available free of charge during the entire camp. We’ll also be providing all the bottled water you need for training.

If you’d like the vegetarian option, or if you have any allergies or dietary restrictions, just give us a shout at [email protected] and let us know :-)

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"I had such a powerful experience at the Zen Camp this year. I met and trained with so many folks from around the world, and tapped in to so much knowledge and experience, jiu-jitsu-related and beyond. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have attended this camp, and I can’t wait to come join another one soon! If you’re unsure about attending, trust me, it is worth it! I came alone to my first camp, and it was truly a beautiful experience!."
- Justin, United States

BRAZILIAN JIU JITSU TRAINING

We have two large matspaces available for the camp, where we’ll host more training than you can handle – both gi and no-gi. Classes and open mat sessions will be running from morning to evening every day, taught by a variety of experienced, friendly, and high-level black belts from around the world who have a genuine interest in sharing their knowledge as well as in participating in the social aspects of the camp.

BJJ Globetrotters camps are known for being full of friendly people from all over the world, who enjoy good training in a fun, relaxed and open-minded environment, with a heavy emphasis on everyone being equal, both on and off the mats. White belts are real people too!

YOGA AND MEDITATION

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 limbre and loose right until the end, we’re bringing in a dedicated instructor to run morning yoga sessions every day of the camp.

Additionally, we’ll be doing evening meditation sessions at the end of every day to wrap up the training and prepare you for a good night’s sleep.

"Zen Camp was the first camp that I went on completely on my own, hoping to find new friends with the same passion about BJJ that I have. And my hopes were fulfilled completely. It’s incredible, that Christian Graugart brings so many different people together and we all feel the same. Especially Zen Camp makes getting to know people in a deeper way possible because everyone is staying at one beautiful remote place for 5 days and the number of participants is not too high. The location is overwhelming. It was hard to decide whether to stay inside and train, to hang in one of the hammocks or to take a walk in the forest. Should you be wondering if a Japanese village in the middle of nowhere in Poland is authentic - it is. The vibe that it created was awesome and the night sky was breathtaking. I arrived and it took me one nap to get into my holiday mood, excited to join all the classes. The side activities like acro-yoga or meditation in the evenings were great as well. The absolute best thing for me is still meeting people that love my sport as much as I do and this camp brought up friendships that really mean a lot to me. New rolling partners to visit all over Europe next year, enlightening moments and conversations at the bonfire. A lot of laughing, shit-talking, playing Go, whirlpool relaxing and love. Be aware, if you join one camp you might get addicted! Post-camp-blues is real - guess I’m hooked."
- Mina, Germany

SAUNA THERAPY

Our professional sauna therapist will be running daily sessions in the camp sauna. They’re usually 15 minutes at a time, followed by a quick cool down outdoors (and a swim in the lake for the brave). Join in for a different sauna experience than you’ve probably ever tried before!

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 don't even know where to start. The houses we stayed in were terrific. Our nights by the fire playing unknown games or just chilling with a drink were amazing. The food was good and there was plenty of it for everyone. The setting of the village was so beautiful. The night sky with the visible milky way was the thing that struck me the most. The whole package of the village, where it was located, how it was built. It was truly magnificent. The classes were extra crazy due to the location of the dojo upon the hill. Yoga with the sun reaching over the woods in the horizon. Classes until the sundown lit up the Dojo. I don't even know where to really start speaking about this camp. If you look at the pictures just realise that in real life, the surroundings were at least twice as beautiful. Book Zen Camp, there is no way in life you will regret this."
- Mike, Belgium

OTHER ACTIVITIES

As befits the nature of the camp, there’s nothing even remotely resembling urban bustle or other modern distractions around. You’re situated right in the middle of the tranquil beauty of Przedbórz National Park, so whenever you need a break from training just pick a direction, wander through the woods, sit beside a river, and listen to the birds. In the evenings, you can unwind in the hot tub, learn the intricacies of the oldest board game in existence, or get to know some new friends over a glass of sake. We’ll also be installing hammocks around the camp grounds for you to use any time you like.

2x ZEN GIS €100 OFFER

As you might have noticed from the photos, we really try to get in touch with our bushido roots at this camp. Less Bad Boy and Venum, more Kurosawa and Mifune. Due to environmental reasons —way too many gis go unused after camp—as well as rising production and transportation costs and our decision to add two extra days, we will be offering the white camp gis as an optional extra this year. We’re still heavily subsidizing the production cost for you, so for only €100 (regular price €258), two brand-new, white gis will await you on your bed upon arrival. These are deliberately designed to be as traditional and minimalistic as possible, with only a small embroidered Globetrotters logo on the shoulder.

Just bring your belt!

"Just got back from Zen Camp in Poland. What an amazing vibe and great training with awesome instructors! I went as solo traveler not knowing anyone and was welcomed into great group of people! Training excellent, food excellent, location amazing! Definitely will be back!"
- Scott, United Kingdom

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.

CONFIRMED INSTRUCTORS

Michael Currier

- From Arizona, United States
- 3x Submission Underground winner
- EBI Combat World's vet
- Bullpen Series Quintet champion
- Very eager to show you his backflip

Sebastian Rüling

- From Brussels, Belgium
- BJJ black belt
- Judo black belt
- 30+ years of grappling
- Dungeon Master level 7

Vilhjálmur Arnarsson

- From Akureyri, Iceland
- BJJ black belt
- Silver Icelandic Championships
- Coach at Brimir BJJ
- Knits a sweater for Priit every Christmas

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

Maaria Haltsonen

- From Imatra, Finland
- BJJ black belt
- Bachelor of Sports and Exercise Medicine
- Yoga Alliance Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200)
- Has never, ever tapped to a banana split

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

Alexandra Buch

- From Wuppertal, Germany
- BJJ black belt
- Luta Livre black belt
- Former MMA pro fighter
- Wants ground-and-pound allowed at open mats

Alexander Neufang

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

Tuomas Heiskari

- From Helsinki, Finland
- BJJ black belt
- 10x Finnish Championships medalist
- Instructor at Loop Martial Arts, Helsinki
- Probably spends on average 16 hrs/day in a sauna

Marcin Karczmarczyk

- From Dortmund, Germany
- BJJ black belt
- Luta Livre black belt
- Won some competitions "back in the days"
- Will likely try to footlock you in your sleep

Charles Harriott

- From Florida, United States
- BJJ black belt
- Been matsurfing all of 2018
- Sometimes compete, sometimes win
- Kaohsiung Dance Battle Champion

Aaron Esdon

- From Ontario, Canada
- BJJ black belt
- Head instructor at Platinum BJJ
- IBJJF Pans Nogi Bronze Medalist
- Has small shrine dedicated to Royce in his garage

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.

"Never thought I’d make the trek from my tiny condo in Alaska all the way over to some well built martial arts complex in the middle of nowhere, Poland. But I did, and regret nothing; not even the 30 hours total of ass time in an economy plane seat to get there and back. The opportunities that potential hardships while traveling bring allows for new friendships, and new insights into our personal versions of the human problem-solving nature. Finding a way to get to the Zen Camp through hundreds of kilometers of construction, countryside, foreign language barriers, and crazy drivers became a personal journey highlighting that foray into the unknown, and my deepest yet. I was also lucky enough to have some great people in the Jiu Jitsu community to help out all around, and keep me on track when I needed a hand. Everyone was on point before, during, and after camp to make the experience something I will cherish for quite some time, and the location very much brought out the best of the surrounding country’s beauty. The sunrise and the sunset could be seen giving life to it from the loftier seat of the Dojo, with it’s many doors framing an amazing view out over the country that spilled out before it - a view which you could also catch while soaking in the spa! BJJ Globetrotters kept a pretty full suite of possibilities to keep yourself and others busy with if that’s your style, and you are encouraged to pick and choose at your own pace and make the experience whatever you will. I believe there was even some impromptu, community driven Salsa classes and Danish stickbread roasting, in between some forays into the surrounding forest to pick local mushrooms, which were given to the kitchen and tossed into some dishes at dinner that night! I spent a good amount of time just plucking my shamisen as well as I could out in the sun, on the pond, on the deck... where ever I felt, in between hitting some classes on concepts I felt that my game needed some work with, and the smaller dojo with a constant flow of open mat junkies, like myself. It really is up to your own tastes with how you enjoy the camp itself, and they stress that while giving you the options you need to truly enjoy yourself. I’ve not yet seen a better place to really immerse yourself into the the Jiu Jitsu and great community the BJJ Globetrotters and it’s participants have all built. A wonderful and holistic human experience! Thanks guys!"
- Mike, United States

SCHEDULE & GUIDEBOOK

Will be sent out approximately one week before camp

* Check in is Monday from 14:00 *
* Camp welcome meeting is Monday 15:00 *
* Daily training, activities and open mat sessions from morning to evening *
* Check out is Sunday at noon latest *

Take a look at a guidebook for a Zen Camp here

BOOK YOUR SPOT

Full week training camp
25+ gi and no-gi lessons
20+ hours of open mat
Daily morning yoga lessons
Daily off-the-mats workshops
Guided sauna sessions
Mushroom picking in the forest
All meals and drinks included
Accommodation in traditional Japanese houses
Shared double room

€1199
Private room +€200
VIP house (4 people) +€225
VIP house (2 people) +€275
* ALL PRICES ARE PER PERSON *

AVAILABILITY (STANDARD): SOLD OUT
AVAILABILITY (PRIVATE): SOLD OUT
AVAILABILITY (VIP4): SOLD OUT
AVAILABILITY (VIP2): SOLD OUT

Terms and conditions

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]

"Participating in the BJJ Globetrotters Zen Camp was an amazing experience both from a Jiu Jitsu and as a travel experience. Travel to Poland and then drive 3 hours in the middle of nowhere to find a beautiful Japanese village so you can train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu for 5 days was something I never thought I’d say, let alone actually do. But I’m genuinely glad I decided to go. Christian and his team have truly come up with a unique BJJ and travel experience. Not only are the classes world class and suitable for both beginners and seasoned veterans, but just as important; the Globetrotters team are able to create a friendly, fun and relaxed atmosphere where your ego is truly left at the door. I made good friends, had amazing training and also managed to get some well needed relaxation. I couldn’t have asked for more, and yet I felt I left with more than I could’ve imagined. I will make it a point to join at least one camp a year. I am now back at work counting days till when I’ll be able to go on my next BJJ Globetrotters camp."
- Wesley, Denmark

ALL UPCOMING CAMPS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR ZEN CAMP

Where is the camp?
Dojo Stara Wies in Poland, a few hours south of Warsaw. The exact address is Stara Wieś 1, 97-570 Stara Wieś, Poland.

How do I get there?
Despite the camp being in the middle of the Polish countryside, there are a few international airports somewhat close by. Emphasis on the somewhat.

The easiest way is to fly to either Warsaw (two airports – Chopin and Modlin) or Krakow, and then either hire a car or hitch a ride with another camper from there; most people organize that in our Facebook group for participants. Alternatively, you can get the train or the bus from either of those cities.

What day do I need to arrive / leave?
Check in opens Monday early afternoon and we’ll have our welcome meeting and first training in the late afternoon. Last training will be Sunday morning so you could leave around noon or in the afternoon.

Is there a supermarket or ATM near the camp?
Well, kinda near! There’s a supermarket, an ATM, and a gas station in Przedbórz, about a 25-min drive from the camp venue.

You mentioned that we’ll be getting two white camp gis for free. Can I bring my own gi as well?
Ideally we’d like everyone to just train in the camp gis (let’s face it, those photos just look cool), but you are of course allowed to bring a spare gi if you want. However, we do ask that you please try and make it a white gi with as few patches as possible.

Where can I wash my training clothes?
There will be a laundry service at the camp.

Please note that this covers training gear only (i.e. gis, rashguards, shorts, spats, and underwear). In addition, you can wash a max. of one gi and one set of no-gi gear per day. We’d love to be able to offer to wash everything, but tackling the training laundry of 100+ people in such a remote location will already prove tricky. And adding the logistics of trying to keep track of individual pieces of street clothes would just be too much. As such, please be sure to pack enough tshirts, pants, socks etc. for the entire camp!

What kind of food are you serving?
Different food every day, but basic stuff like meat, rice, vegetables, salad, bread, etc.

Is there an option for vegetarian food?
Yes, please let us know on [email protected].

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 :)