Summer training camp @ my place! :)
We welcome everyone to come join our training camp in the beautiful Copenhagen summertime! Action packed camp, special guests, BJJ graduation ceremony and the 10th anniversary party of CSA.dk, all in one week!
I will be teaching several times a day and would love to see some of you book/blog readers on the mat for some rolls :)
Full camp price: €140
Meal plan (3x day): €100
Hostel in walking distance: www.copenhagenhostel.dk/uk
Or sleep in a tent at www.bellahoj-camping.dk :)
REGISTRATION & INFO: www.csa.dk/camp
I started a BJJ team :)
The members doesn’t represent a specific person, academy, instructor or lineage. They are merely a community of people, who share a common set of values:
- - We don’t pay each other any affiliation fees
- - We wear any patches we like on our gis
- - We are free to represent any (or no) team in competition
- - We encourage training with anyone regardless of affiliation
- - We are willing to promote anyone who deserves it—members or not
- - We arrange camps, seminars and visit each other for training and fun
- - We believe everyone is equal both on and off the mats
- - We strive to enjoy life, people and the world through Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
The team is officially registered with the IBJJF, in order for our members (and non-members, for that sake) to compete at those tournaments.
If you or your gym are interested in being a part of the team, shoot me an email on graugart@gmail.com and I’ll hook you up with some sweet gi patches :)
For more information, check out www.BJJglobetrotters.com.
One year in five minutes
If you wonder, what I have been up to, since I returned home from my trip around the world, here is the answer :)
First reviews of “The Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Globetrotter” book
It’s been nerve wrecking to release this book. Both because it has been a good two years of work to finish it, but also because it contains a lot of personal stuff, I have never told anyone before. In the blink of an eye, the whole world knows all of it, and it is both a strange and therapeutic feeling at the same time :)
The book is available at Amazon, Kindle and in the iBookstore. Click here for more information.
Amazing!
“Fantastic book! The message is simple, get out there and love life. Love people, and enjoy everything you do. Genuinely hilarious in parts, and equally deep and philosophical in others. I would recommend this book to anyone. It seems that for Christian, jiu jistu is about people, and nothing more. Belt colour and affiliation mean nothing to him, and in this community I believe that is something to be highly respected.”
The number one book I have read this year
“This book and the stories in it have been the best thing I have read this year. Christian has a great way of story telling which shows in his blog too. You don’t have to be a BJJ fan to appreciate this book and appeals to BJJ practitioners, travellers and anyone who wants a great read. Many things Christian mentions resonate with me which is why I love this book, get yours today and you will love it too!”
Fantastic Journey
“Picked this up last week after following Christian’s travels via his blog, and even though I already knew the basics of his story travelling and training across the world, it’s been highly enjoyable to read about it again in greater detail, both in terms of the journey itself, and in getting to know the writer better. If you enjoyed the Cauliflower Chronicals, then you should love this. In my opinion the story and writing far surpasses the Cauliflower Chronicals, making this a must for any BJJ or travel fans alike.”
Must buy for Jiu Jitsu lovers and travellers a like
“I have followed Christian’s journey through his online blog and a write up in a well known UK BJJ Magazine. So when I found out a book was being wrote I became particularly excited with anticipation for the release date of the book, monitoring updates daily via most social media. The book I ordered on 1st and amazingly it arrived this morning. I am already a chapter or 2 into the book and its engrossing, i have not wanted to put it down. I love jiu jitsu and just as importantly i love travel to so to link the two up in such an informative way is just brilliant. If there is one book you should consider buying this year this is it. Jiu Jitsu is an art that people all over the world can relate to and if you love it you know from deep within that its something to be respected and brings people to together with a common aim to improve and be the best.”
“Part travelogue, part autobiography; “The BJJ Globetrotter” describes two journeys: One is Christian Graugart’s journey travelling around the world, teaching and training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in a variety of well-known and obscure locations, meeting and connecting with hundreds of people. The other is his journey as a martial artist and as a human being. From a prodigious child, to troubled adolescent, on to self-realized man and, finally, BJJ Globetrotter, the author gives us an insight into everything leading up to his decision to take his journey around the world. Both stories are told with a great deal of honesty and introspection, making this book much more than just a travel-book. It’s a story of personal growth through travel, of seizing the day and breaking out of the traditional patterns of society, in order to pursue one’s dreams. This book will inspire you to take a long, hard look at your life and ask yourself: “Am I living my life to the fullest?”"
The Globetrotter has feelings too!
“Very impressive book. Not only a story of a man training Jiu-Jitsu but a man discovering along the way who he is and the things that made him that way until now. Christian really strips away any ego and paints a very candid picture of himself is as a person all the while while enjoying an amazing round-the-world trip training the art he loves. If only all of us could be this honest with ourselves, the awesome Jiu-Jitsu experiences are only a bonus! Dont sleep on this one.”
I am jealous of the experiences in this book!
“Christian brings his experiences to life in so many ways in this book. Who hasn’t wanted to head out and travel the world doing what they love. Even if I am not able to do it on my own I gladly will share Christian’s experiences.”
“As a 56 year old BJJ competitor, avid surfer, and traveler, I totally enjoyed the BJJ Globetrotter. Christian’s experiences always left me with a smile on my face and a deeper connection to my BJJ brothers and sisters throughout the world. Christian really illustrates how BJJ has united people of all races and nationalities worldwide and how we share a common bond that few can understand. I especially enjoyed the last chapter and how Christian teaches us that everyone that shares the mats is another friend just waiting to be made.”
Excellent book
“Well written and well balanced between travel and BJJ stories. What a trip!
Do not hesitate to order it, it is worth reading even for non BJJ fans.”
Book about my around-the-world BJJ trip is finally released :)
After two years of planning, writing and editing, the book about my around-the-world Brazilian Jiu Jitsu adventure is now available as paperback and eBook.
Both the trip and the writing process was quite a ride for me and in case you decide to read the book, I hope you’ll enjoy what came out of it.
Thanks for your patience!!
Click here for more info on how to get your hands on it :)
-Christian
Open training camp in my gym, November 5-11 :)
For anyone interested, we are doing a training camp in my gym in Copenhagen, Denmark on November 5-11. Everyone is welcome, regardless of affiliation, team, nationality, gender or experience. I met so much hospitality out in the world on my round the world trip, so now it is time to pay some of it back :)
I think we have a pretty good line up with instructors and it will be one hell of an action packed week for everyone.
Check out www.csa.dk/camp for more information or sign up on the Facebook event.
Help me pick final cover design for book!
Hey everyone, I am in the final phases of my book project from the trip and is currently trying to decide which cover design I’ll use for it. I have basically boiled it down to two different designs, and could really use your help to pick which one should be the winner. So please comment on this post with your vote!! :)
BJJ Globetrotter wins “Best BJJ blog of 2011″ award… twice.
Recently found out, that BJJ Globetrotter won best blog of the year awards with both GiReviews.net (tied) and Jiu Jitsu Laboratory.
Man, I miss writing this blog :)
Final article in Jiu Jitsu Style
In the newly published issue 4 of Jiu Jitsu Style magazine, I have the final article about my trip printed. It’s a really nice and professional magazine, I recommend you check it out :)
Secret BJJ move that cannot be defended
It’s been a while since I wrote, that if I got 1000 likes on my FaceBook page, I would post a video of a technique that cannot be defended. I reached the 1000 likes a while back, but the video took a while to get online. It is finally here, and you can enjoy a move, that I still haven’t found any defense for.
Me and my friend have actually pulled this off in competition a few times. Depends on the mood of the referee, his nationality and your nationality, but sometimes we have gotten away with it. I don’t think it states anywhere in the rules that you cannot do this?
(All credit goes to my good friend Chris Haueter, who demonstrated this move on one of the first VHS instructional tapes I ever saw)
Updated my (other) blog
I finally found the time to give my “normal” BJJ blog a makeover, and it is finally starting to take shape. Visit version 2.0 of Zhoozhitzu do Graugardo on www.ShogunHQ.com! :)
Give a gi!
Please visit my project www.giveagi.com and look in your closet for used equipment you don’t need anymore :)
Fightworks podcast episode about my trip today
The Fightworks Podcast has published an episode about my trip today.
You can catch it on iTunes or download it directly as an MP3 file.
Please like my Facebook page
…because I think it would be cool to have 1000 likes and I am so close now LOL
http://www.facebook.com/pages/BJJ-Globetrotter/136649549710503
At 1000 likes, I will reveal a secret BJJ technique here on the blog, that there is no defense to.
Article in Jiu Jitsu Style magazine
One of the stories from my trip, that I haven’t written much about here on the blog, was my experiences with the team in the Dominican Republic. It was a very interesting story, that I promised Jiu Jitsu Style to save for their magazine, and it was just published today.
You can buy the magazine on www.bjjstyle.com or if you have an iPad then in the app store. Alternatively, you can wait for the BJJ globetrotter book to come out ;)
For your reading pleasure…
…and because I am really bored, waiting in Quito airport for my flight to Guayaquil, I have just made all the destinations in my little itinerary here to the right on the front page, clickable.
Go ahead and click any destination to bring up all the posts from that place. In case you are also bored in an airport and have nothing to do :)
Podcast interview on BJJweekly.com today
BJJweekly.com posted a podcast interview with me today, check it out here :)
I have decided to take a few days off from training, just to get my mind on something else and heal my body a little bit. I have five sprained fingers from competing last weekend and they hadn’t really had any time to recover yet. Two days should do it :)
Tonight, I am going to Ecuador. I have a flight to Guayaquil, where there supposedly is lots of really high level BJJ. I might also head to the Galapagos islands to train. From there, I will go to Brazil, perhaps with a stop in Peru on the way, if I can find the right plane ticket.
Leaving California for The Big South American Adventure ™
It has been a hectic week here in California, visiting three cities and competing at the Worlds. It was a week of seeing old friends, Søren in San Francisco, Martin in Las Vegas and Chris here in Los Angeles. I also got a short visit from my old friend Adam Blake, who was the first guy I stayed with on one of my first BJJ globetrotting trips to New York back in 2004.
I was really glad I came back to the US for a week, even though it was quite a detour from Costa Rica. Tonight, I am flying to Panama, where I will be staying until thursday, then head to Medellin in Colombia.
Vamos!
Location:Avenue C,Redondo Beach,United States
Can’t decide on travel pace
I am sitting outside Xtreme Couture, trying to decide on where to go next week. I have been traveling at a very high pace since New York, visiting more than ten places in the last two weeks. It has been really fun and interesting, but I don’t know if I should keep going like this or slow down a little bit.
I have the option of getting a cheap ticket directly to Panama on Monday. One of my options is to spend the next month only in Panama, Colombia, Paraguay and Brazil. But I could also squeeze in a couple of more destinations, such as San Diego, Mexicali, Ciudad Obregon and Mexico city. It would take some time from my visit to Brazil and also demand a lot more from me in planning and finding the right tickets. Not to mention the extra costs of going to these many places.
Suggestions?
100 days on the road today!
Today was my 100th day on the road. Looking back, it is weird to think that I have traveled for so long. In some way it feels like it has been a short trip and in other ways like I have been going for years.
One thing is for sure though, the trip has exceeded all my expectations. I have been to 35 places so far and met a ridiculous amount of fantastic people. Still over a month to go and I can’t wait to see what it will bring.
I have become extremely comfortable and confident in traveling. Moving around, meeting people, talking to strangers and figuring things out in far away countries has all become second nature. In some strange way, I don’t feel like I am away from home. Where ever I am at a given point, feels like where I want to be.
More training in Vegas tomorrow, rest Friday, worlds Saturday and Sunday, then on to the big South American adventure!
Article in newspaper about trip
The Danish newspaper “Ekstra Bladet” has published an article about my trip today. It is in Danish, so most of you probably can’t understand it though :) Basically, the headline is that I pay for a trip around the world by getting beat up LOL
Check it out on http://ekstrabladet.dk/ferie/udland/article1551164.ece.
Looking for BJJ gyms in Latin America
I have about two months left of my trip and is trying to figure out where to go. I like it here in the US, but I have been here several timed before, and it is not much different from the world I already know.
It is important to me on this trip to push myself to visit places, that I don’t know anything about. Places, that are different from what I have seen before.
I haven’t travelled much south of the United States. In fact, I have only been to Jamanica, Cuba and Mexico, so this is an area I would really like to spend some time in.
Brazil is an obvious destination for my trip, but where else can I go?
If you train anywhere in Latin America, or know someone who does, please feel free to contact me on graugart@gmail.com asap. Size of gym, level or location does not matter, I am interested in training or teaching any place I can. All I need is a gym, couch or floor to sleep on :)
Article in Jiu Jitsu Style magazine
Check out the feature about my trip in latest issue of Jiu Jitsu Style magazine. Subscriptions are available both in print and for iPad!
