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| | | BJJ Globetrotters Newsletter // October 2024 | | Dear Globetrotters,
It’s been a much-needed quiet month here after a wild summer of camps. I’ve taken some time to turn off my phone, read books, and do as little as possible. BUT that quickly started to become a bit boring, and the itch to go back to camp is crawling back. Luckily, I’m off to Poland in a few days for the Zen Camp, and I’m looking forward to seeing many of you there. I’ll be on the road for another 3-4 months before moving permanently back to Denmark. The academy in Saint Barth is still running, and you’re still most welcome to visit and train with all my friends there. 🏖️ No longer living on a rock in the middle of the ocean will make it much easier for me to do short trips around Europe to visit people, and I’m hoping to rack up my number of academies visited when I’m there (currently at 157, gunning for 200!). That and the number of competition matches are the most important stats to nourish in a Jiu Jitsu career, in my opinion. 😄
Have a nice day, | | | |
What you'll find in this month's newsletter: - Featured Globetrotter: Shawn Clow
- Globetrotters Academy in Focus: The Farm Association
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| | | | | The towering white heights of the Austrian Alps are welcoming us back for six days of Jiu Jitsu, right in the middle of 210+ km of world-class slopes where you can work up an appetite for après-ski (or après-Open Mat) to your heart’s content.
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| | | | Featured Globetrotter: Shawn Clow |
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| | Age: 35
Belt: Black
Profession: Department manager/valet attendant/kids Jiu Jitsu instructor
How many years in BJJ: 13 years
Other martial arts: Wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, MMA
Where do you live: Waterford, NY, USA
Where are you from: Troy, NY, USA
Other fun or curious information you would like to share: I'm a big fan of the multiverse theory and the universe in general. I have one blurry eye from a tear in my eyeball from an MMA fight. (I won the fight, by the way!) I'm also a fan of dark, mysterious and strange history 🤷🏼♂️ |
| | Tell us what inspired you to travel and train? I always had this pull from inside to travel and seek out new experiences. To connect with people from different cultures and see things from a new perspective. Same for training in martial arts. Once I discovered Brazilian Jiu Jitsu it was only a matter of time before I merged the two.
My first international trip was to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a group from my home academy, Atlas Jiu Jitsu. It was an incredible experience with highs and lows. I originally thought I’d travel to fight, but after a bad eye 👁️ injury, I knew I had to seek a new path. In my final MMA fight, I won, but I also got tagged in my left eyeball as soon as the fight started. I managed to finish the fight via straight ankle lock, but the damage was done. I had a 270° tear in the retina of my left eye, and I wasn’t able to get into surgery until eleven days later.
After three eye surgeries and seven months' recovery, I went to the Castle Camp in Italy (three weeks after my last surgery). Goggles in hand, I went on to attend four BJJ Globetrotters camps that year haha. I had discovered BJJ Globetrotters a few years prior. I can’t remember exactly how, where or when – I was probably scrolling through social media, or perhaps I overheard it mentioned at my academy. Regardless, once I saw all the different camp opportunities, I was sold!
Tell us about your most recent travel and your upcoming travel – where have you been and where are you going?
Most recently I had the pleasure of attending the BJJ Globetrotters Summer Camp in Heidelberg, Germany. It was hands down, my absolute favorite trip to date, partly because it’s my most recent and partly because I’m coming off a breakup haha. This trip was everything I didn’t know I needed. I was left with a feeling of truly being connected with a group of complete strangers, who are now good friends. I’ve had this feeling before, but not quite as strong I guess.
So far I've been to Iceland (‘21 & ’22), Castle Camp in Italy (‘22), Maine (‘22), Zen Camp in Poland (‘22), and Estonia (‘22). As for the other places I’ve traveled, I’ve also been to Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Ireland. My next destination is Denmark for the BJJ Globetrotters camp in Copenhagen! I might try to get something else on the menu before then, but that depends on finances and work schedules.
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| | What are the things you enjoy about travelling? I love traveling for all those cliché, yet very real reasons. Meeting new people, exploring new places, eating different foods, and seeing the benchmark sights. I love the feeling of escaping my hometown and embarking on an adventure into the unknown. It’s a quest! With lots of side missions and places to explore. Usually these places are brand new to me, yet they feel familiar, in a nicely strange way. Almost like I’ve been there before, or I’m supposed to be there.
Since I started going to Globetrotters camps I’ve mostly gone solo, apart from three times. Both times in Iceland, I went with a couple of buddies from the gym. In Estonia, I went with the girl I was dating at the time. I found myself enjoying the camps more when I was alone, because I had to fully immerse myself into the environment. With no one to lean on or be social with, I’m forced to forge new connections. Connections that happen organically and flow naturally. That’s the magic spark for me. Developing new friendships in strange new places, with people who are different like me haha. Because let’s be honest, you gotta be a little strange to constantly roll around on the ground with other humans.
Can you give us some examples of experiences you had that make it worth traveling and training?
As mentioned before, it’s all about the connections for me. Iceland was my first time at a camp, and I went there with two guys I hadn’t really hung out with since High School, twelve years or so ago. We had a great experience, top tier coaching, tons of new techniques to learn, great rolling at the open mats, friendly people all around, good food, and awesome landscapes. We made friends with countless people. I wouldn’t have made as many friends or actual connections with people without training with them. Sure, I might have some sort conversations with random people in different situations, but I find those events rare. At least for me. The training is a way to have that common ground and respect on both sides.
From Iceland to Germany, I’ve met so many interesting people. I can now honestly say I’ve got friends all over the world. So why travel and train? We train, we talk, we laugh, then we probably get a beer later and laugh a little more. I can’t put a number on how many times I’ve done this exact sequence of events, or try to recall any one or two exact moments, because my memory isn’t that great haha. I just know that rolling at different places with different people makes magic happen. Training will always be a part of my travel plans.
What has so far been the most surprising experience for you when traveling? The most surprising experience while traveling has to be the odd sensation of belonging. At home, it becomes very cut and dry and I often feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day – every day is almost exactly the same, except for when I’m on the mats. When travelling, it’s a whole different experience. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I always get these moments where everything falls into place. A traffic light turns green so you don’t miss that one class, the coffee shop almost ran out of the best pastry but you get the last one, the restaurant is completely booked with reservations but we manage to get a table. You get the idea. It’s the little things like that.
Also, watching my roommate almost die in Germany was pretty surprising… great guy, but I wouldn’t want to relive that experience again!
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| | Are you a budget traveller – and if so how do you plan for a cheap trip?
I thought I was at one point, but now I can see I walk a middle ground between budget and "spare no expense". If my budget is tight, I’ll first look into accommodation. Airbnb, hostels, and such. Flights are kinda set as is. I’ll watch them and wait for the right time to grab a good deal, but I don’t always count on it. Next is food. I like to eat out, but sometimes you gotta hit the grocery stores or local markets to get cheap eats. If I’m on a tight budget then I’m not drinking, or maybe just one or two… or three or four… or blow the budget on booze… in one night haha. For me, I usually have a healthy amount of funds to put into each trip. Or I simply don’t go. Research, research, research!!
If you were to pass on travel advice to your fellow Globetrotters, what would it be?
Travel often and let the wind be your guide at times. The money will return, but your time won’t. If you have an able body, a good heart, and a sense of humor (with a sense of direction haha) you will always find yourself exactly where you need to be. With good friends, warm meals, and strong drinks. Don’t be discouraged or afraid to get lost in a new country. I’ve been lost plenty of times but you take a deep breath and keep going. Ask for directions, look at maps, try to read road signs that are in a completely different language. It’ll all work out. If no one will go with you on your trip, go alone. You know Jiu Jitsu, you’ll be alright! (Unless they have weapons, then you should’ve taken a weapons defense course instead.) Go the road less traveled and get away from the tourist traps. Fall into a deeper trap in the middle of nowhere. You know Jiu Jitsu. You’ll be alright. Seriously though, the world is full of good people and great experiences. I can’t wait to meet you all out there.
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| | | | More than 130 participants already signed up for the 10th anniversary of our USA Camp |
| | This will be our 10th anniversary for the USA Camp! As always, we take care of absolutely everything – food, accommodation, laundry, and Jiu Jitsu. All you need to do is show up, get in your gi or shorts, and get ready for the experience of a lifetime.
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| | | | BJJ Globetrotters Academy in Focus: The Farm Association |
| | Where is the gym located?
The gym is located in the city of Manacor, Mallorca in the Balearic Islands, Spain. It is in a unique setting, located inside a hilltop country villa, with an orchid and animals.
How many people train there?
At the moment we have 80 members who train with us, and we are constantly growing.
Is the gym growing - if so by how many new members each month or year?
We've only been open since November 2023 and seen our gym grow from 12 initial members to 80 within 10 months. This has been a huge achievement.
What are the highest and lowest belt grades training? We have all levels at our gym, from white to black.
When did the gym open?
November 2023.
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| | Some facts about you:
Name: Scott McGuigan Age: 36 Belt: Brown Profession: Educational researcher Years in BJJ: 8 Other martial arts: Muay Thai, wrestling, and BJJ Currently living in: Manacor, Mallorca, Baleàric Islands, Spain. Originally from: Scotland |
| | Please tell us the story of how your gym came into existence Having previously lived in Asia and having travelled around the world training at different gyms, I experienced many different learning or training styles, along with making lots of connections with awesome people in BJJ. After 7 years of travelling and working abroad, I eventually settled in Mallorca, Spain. We wanted to create something completely unique. By choosing a countryside setting, we allowed ourselves to train in the middle of nature. Having access to all that natural light makes a huge difference to your emotions and enhances your training experience. You can smell the freshness of the garden as you enter the gym.
We also wanted to create an academy with a unique methodology for training which we just did not have access to on the island. We structure all of our lessons around a task-based learning approach, with a focus on consistent movement and problem solving in every lesson. This has been inspired by my personal research into educational methodology and the effectiveness of hyper focus in learning. We encourage all of our students to learn through movement and play, with a focus on more intensity when the time comes for a more competitive element. We have seen a significant improvement of skill retention and understanding since implementing these methods of training.
Tell us about the people that train in the gym – who are they? We are a family orientated gym, with most of our students having full time jobs. We have a significant number of guardia civil and police officers that train with us, they make up around 50% of our student population. We are really blessed with a fantastically positive learning environment, where everybody can have a laugh and a joke, whilst getting down to business when the time comes to get more competitive. |
| | Why do they train?
Most people train with us to enhance their everyday lives. We are seeing more and more people having an interest in BJJ and acknowledging the benefits it can have on your quality of life. It pleases me more than anything else to see these people grow. We do also have a good record in competition, having success at European level as well as grappling industries and local Spanish competitions, but again, our students are achieving this whilst working full time and with families, so the focus will always be on personal growth and development as opposed to solely competition. As a coach it pleases me more than anything else to see someone who has never done any sport before come in, try for the first time… enjoy it! Because that is important and becomes extremely resilient through training. The sense of achievement they acquire is like nothing else they have experienced.
What are some of the challenges of running a BJJ gym in general, and in your area specifically?
I have actually been extremely blessed as I have grown at a rapid rate. This however, can come with the challenge of “keeping up”. I have a planned extension of facilities to increase our 70m2 of Fuji tatami to 110m2, as well as previously building changing, toilet, and shower facilities. This all costs a lot of money for initial investment and it can be hard as the money you make might not be so high at first. It is also a challenge to keep the gym grounded and maintain your initial close community values and keep your pricing to an affordable rate with significant extension work. But all of this I have made it my objective to achieve. I always want it to be as affordable as possible for my students.
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| | How do you see the future for BJJ in your area?
The future is bright, I believe Mallorca has a growing community of gyms and students and I hope they can all work together to enhance the community on the island and use BJJ to teach positive human values and morals and not just focus on the competitive element. I see our gym and myself continuing to develop, create and reinvent effective ways of teaching and learning to make BJJ more effective and accessible to all.
What’s the best thing about your gym?The environment for sure, in more than one aspect. The friendliness of our team is just awesome. The people who train here really make this a special place, so to me… this is number one! The second is the way we teach. Tourists and visitors of all levels (some very high level) always comment on the effectiveness and uniqueness of our lessons. And lastly, of course, it's in the countryside, which is just a nice thing to experience when training.
What would you recommend Globetrotters to see in your area apart from the inside of your gym? My dogs!
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Thanks for sharing! If you'd like to visit The Farm Association, you can contact them here. |
| | | * From April 14th to 19th, 2025 *
* In Tallinn, Estonia *
* Less than 20 minutes from Tallinn airport *
* Huge mat space in a beautiful medieval town *
* Six-day training camp *
* Gi and no-gi classes all day long *
* High-level international instructors *
* Yoga every morning *
* All experience levels and affiliations welcome! *
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