Want to go on a jiu jitsu camp? Here’s what to look for
Written by Vicky Beckett, 28th May 2024
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There’s no doubt that you are taking your grappling addiction to the next level by going on a jiu jitsu camp. Immersing yourself in jiu jitsu like this guarantees that you will learn a huge amount and make new friends. But, with an array of camps all over the world, the choice can be dizzying. You can choose from celebrity coaches to trips that also offer surfing, yoga, ice baths and even DMT immersion sessions alongside your mount escapes seminar.
When looking for a camp, size is a key thing to consider. Bigger camps tend to be able to draw more celebrity instructors and offer more classes and experiences. There will be more people to make friends and train with. This can be both good or bad, depending on what you want. Higher profile organisations might be more expensive. And a camp that boasts 10 hours of BJJ a day sounds great, but realistically there’s a finite amount you can learn in one day – even if your body can handle it. Paying through the nose for hours of training is only worth it if you can benefit from that training.
Smaller retreats will have less on, so you can’t be as flexible in the hours that you choose to train and the coaches may be less well-known. However, there’s a greater likelihood that you will attend all, or most of those sessions and instructors will be able to give you more support in smaller classes. With fewer guests, you spend more time getting to know a smaller number of people. In my experience, the social elements in smaller camps rely more heavily on the camp leader or organiser creating a fun atmosphere too.
It’s worth considering whether you want to do other activities outside of jiu jitsu. Perhaps you’re a purist and just want to train. Many people are looking for more than this, whether it’s boozy boat trips or breath work sessions to help you calm down after some heavy training.
Some girls prefer all-female camps (we love them – read about our epic 2024 camp in Cyprus). These allow for training with a wide range of women, which is great preparation for competitions and an experience that is hard to find in gyms. They also build female support and friendships within the jiu jitsu community. But hey, men are great too, and women-only camps are naturally smaller and more exclusive and that’s not always what you’re looking for.
Price and location are obviously important considerations, but above all, word-of-mouth recommendations are key. They can tell you what the atmosphere was like, how socially inclusive it was, what the skill level was like and how patient the main instructor was with newcomers. What have your camp experiences been like? We’d love to hear your views in the comments below!
I love camps, they’re so much fun! I’ve only done one women’s only one but would love to do another. One day I’ll join one of yours for sure!
Globetrotter camps are great because they put a lot of focus on the social aspects but there’s also tons of training available with great instructors. I wish I had the money and time to do at least one a year, if not more, but they aren’t cheap!
Another great new regular on the calendar in the UK is Black Sheep Retreats down in the Isle of Wight. They do a women’s camp and a couple of mixed camps every summer and will add even more in future. Last year I did the Dan Strauss one. Highly recommend 👍