Around the World Jiu-Jitsu (sort of)

As a sort of exercise, I decided to map out all of the places where I've trained. Some gyms I visited only for a day, others I spent a considerable amount of time in, but it's interesting to see just how wide (and in many ways, narrow) my grappling experience is.  Jiu-jitsu is a journey, and that journey has been the major defining factor of my writing career.  This sport is full of heroes and villains, of comedians and tragic figures.  Jiu-jitsu culture, like any subculture, is diverse and varied.  In actuality, there are many jiu-jitsu travel writers that took the idea of a jiu-jitsu odyssey in a completely different direction from what I did in the Cauliflower Chronicles.

Christian Graugert, for example, saw much of the world.  The map that I made, pictured below, is humbling in a lot of ways.  I have a lot to see, and I have a lot to learn.


View Training in a larger map


Also, I am collecting the locations of gyms where people I have met on and offline train with the hope that I can someday do a grappling road trip.  Want your gym added to the map?  Comment on this with your gmail address (or email me privately) and I will give you permission to add your gym!  You can see the progress thus far in the map below.


View The Cauliflower Chronicles Road Trip in a larger map

How do you add your map to the gym once you have access?  Search for your gym in Google Maps, and click the pin or marker that represents your gym.  Then, click "Save to Map," and select "The Cauliflower Chronicles Road Trip."  Next, click "my places" in the upper left hand corner, select "The Cauliflower Chronicles Road Trip," and click the "Edit" button to add your name and Twitter handle (or email) to your gyms pin.

It's All About the Reals, Baby -- Or How a Pro Grappler Earns a Living

"I don’t think it is fair to train as hard as we do … dedicate our lives and, when we win, we receive a medal, an article or a photo in a magazine – It is not enough.  We deserve much more than that."
- Rodolfo Vieira, 2011 HW and Absolute IBJJF World, Pan and World Pro Cup Champion

The above video features quote, taken from a video that has since been removed (originally posted by Hillary Williams here), is from Rodolfo Vieira, a talented jiu-jitsu competitor.  He argues that jiu-jitsu champions deserve bigger pay days.  They work hard.  They train hard.  They put their bodies through tremendous duress to reach peak physical performance and endure the demands of a championship match.  Vieira speaks the truth.  Jiu-jitsu is a demanding sport, and the top jiu-jitsu athletes certainly deserve compensation on par with that of other athletes, both combat and ball-chasing alike.