You’ve dreamed of traveling somewhere exotic in order to learn from and train BJJ with people from distant locales. You want to know what it’s like to hike through tropical rainforests and sip cold beers on the beach, with people with whom you’ve built comradery through the long training session you put in together that morning. Throw in a little top notch black belt instruction, maybe some five-star chef-prepared meals, and perhaps even some ocean adventures, and you’ve got yourself a one of a kind vacation. You may think this kind of trip is only for the other half, but I’m going to show you how easy it is to make your BJJ training vacation a reality. Welcome to the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Cruise Vacation!
MMA Travel Adventures is one company that wants to take you on such an adventure. It’s
headed by a BJJ practitioner who loves vacationing as much as she does BJJ. The next
adventure the company is creating came together as she decided to merge her favorite type of travel -cruising, with her favorite sport-BJJ. Out of this came to the coolest seminar idea ever: MMA Travel Adventures’ Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Cruise.
The cruise sets sail October 6-13th of 2019 from Orlando, Florida. If you’ve ever been on a cruise before, you know that a ship is the absolute perfect venue
for a BJJ vacation event such as this. If you’re not a past cruiser, by the time you finish reading this article, you will look forward to becoming one. First, though, let’s talk about the most important part: training Jiu-Jitsu.
Introducing The Instructors
Participants in this Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Cruise adventure will have exclusive access to a private training area, where top-notch black belt instructors will conduct daily seminars. In that sense, the four black belts leading the training include:
Shawn Hammonds, head Instructor for Nashville MMA, 3rd degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo Black Belt, 2 time Gold Medalist Pan Am Championship, and 8 time Silver; Bronze Medalist in World Championships;- Kenny Degenhardt who trains under Shawn Hammonds, and holds an undefeated MMA record.
- Nick Albin, better know as Chewy, a BJJ superstar in real life and online, head instructor of Derby City MMA, who has achieved multiple tournaments victories for himself and his students;
- Chad “The Beast” Hardy a practitioner with over thirteen years of experience under his belt, and recent victories as a black belt competitor in IBJJF Washington, DC and Las Vegas;
Shawn Hammonds, head Instructor for Nashville MMA, 3rd degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Judo Black Belt, 2 time Gold Medalist Pan Am Championship, and 8 time Silver; Bronze Medalist in World Championships;The training will include both Gi and No-Gi sessions, and plenty of opportunity for open
mat time. Private lessons will also be available. These instructors have tons of experience putting on an awesome seminar over several days time. You are sure to leave with a massively improved grappling game.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Cruise – The Best “Traincation”
So, now let’s talk about why a cruise is a perfect venue for this type of “traincation.” Cruise ships of the new millennium, and especially the one chosen for this adventure, are
loaded with activities for every type of traveler. It’s literally impossible to get bored. There’s rock climbing, zip lining, a mega slide that drops you ten whole stories, wild water slides and more. The image of old folks playing shuffleboard has long been shattered.
But that’s not all of it. Want to go surfing? Check out the FlowRider. It’s basically a wave machine on steroids. In particular, it offers the fun of surfing and/or boogie boarding right there on the ship, without having to worry about massive wipeouts. And it’s 100 % shark-free as well.
Oh, and by the way, almost everything is included. I’m talking about entertainment, food,
the sports activities mentioned above, full gym, lodging, transportation from port to port, and more. There are a few extras available for purchase, but all your necessities are completely taken care of.
Who Can Come?
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Cruise is open to everyone. People from early white all the way through black belt can participate. Furthermore, families are also welcome as well as solo travelers, groups of friends, youth participants, men; women, and even people who don’t intend to train. For those looking to skip the training, there’s a reduced rate to enjoy a great experience. And, there will be PLENTY for everybody to do on and off the ship. In addition to all the activities mentioned above, there is a relaxing spa that offers professional services. This includes facials, hair and nail treatments, hot stone massages, and several other experiences to make you feel like you are at a fabulous spa retreat.
But What About The Kids?
Kids are more than welcome to join in training. For those that haven’t yet caught the BJJ
bug, Royal Caribbean’s “Harmony of the Seas” has a complete youth program. There are daily activities to keep them busy while you enjoy your training. These include movies, games, art projects, ping pong tournaments, and more. As expected, you’ll also want to spend time with the little ones as well. In that sense, there is an arcade aboard, a merry go round, and of course, kids love the flow rider, rock climbing wall, and zip line as well.
Speaking of Zip Lines, one of the destinations features the longest over-water zip line in
the world. It’s called “Dragon’s Breath” and it is the daredevil’s dream. Video of it can be seen on MMA Travel Adventures website and Facebook page. There is never a shortage of activities for any cruiser.
Beautiful Ports of Call
The ship will be heading to several breathtaking destinations including San Juan, Puerto Rico, Labadee, Haiti, and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
Puerto Rico is a great destination for several reasons. The nature it features is beyond
belief. Regarding this, one of the key offerings of this island paradise is El Yunque, a rainforest and national park. It boasts waterfalls, scenic views, and lush landscaping. If libations are more your speed, the Bacardi rum factory has just what you need. There you will find historical tours, a waterfront bar pavilion, and even rum tastings.
At the same time, Puerto Rico also has the standard offerings of traditional local foods to try such as habichuelas, mofongo, flan, and tostones. You can enjoy great shopping and amazing historical sites including the largest Spanish built forts in the New World.
Another outstanding destination, Labadee, Haiti is owned by Royal Caribbean cruise
lines. Guests of the cruise line have exclusive use of the facilities. Cabanas, kayaks, snorkeling gear, wave runners, paddle boards, and more are available to rent. Furthermore, a complimentary buffet lunch is provided on the island. Labadee’s biggest claim to fame is the aforementioned longest over-water zipline in the world. Guests of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Cruise 2019 have the option to book this zip line as an excursion. All those days ziplining on the ship are sure to prepare you for this adventure.
The half Dutch and half French Island of St. Maarten/St. Martin offers participants the
unique experience of visiting two countries on the same island. Miles of shopping and
restaurants are just off the pier. Moreover, St. Maarten features some of the most spectacular underwater experiences such as Sea Trek, St. Maarten. This incredible excursion takes you twenty feet below the surface of the water with no need for diving certification. You can get a picture with live sea urchin, a close-up view of lobsters, and even scope out some interesting treasures that surely didn’t get there naturally.
The Food And Entertainment
I can’t write an entire article about a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu cruise and not include information on the insane cuisine offerings. On that note, the food on this ship is absolutely exquisite. It is also available 24 hours a day. There are specialty restaurants that offer sushi, teppanyaki, and even the unique magical dining experience of the ships Wonderland restaurant. The specialty restaurants charge a nominal fee but offer great experiences. However, the majority of the food aboard is included in the cost of your cruise and is spectacularly crafted.
Some of the dinner choices in the free main dining room include Waldorf Salad, Escargots a la Bourguignonne, Slow Roasted Prime Rib, and Horseradish Crusted Salmon.
You already know about the ship’s main attractions, but “Harmony of the Seas” is one of the only ships at sea to feature an aqua theater. This is where they put on their nightly water show entitled The Fine Line. No spoilers here, but it is an amazing must see show featuring acrobatics, high dives, and other experiences you don’t want to miss!
How to secure a spot
MMA Travel has amazing rates for the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Cruise that beat the pricing of other events hands down. If you’re afraid you can’t book because you don’t have anybody to go with, don’t worry. Solo travelers can take advantage of the option to book a room with other solo travelers. Family members don’t want to train? Don’t worry, as mentioned above they’ll have plenty of activities to enjoy. Friends want to travel, but don’t want to train? Once again, no problem. Everybody is sure to have a good time on this once in a lifetime training vacation. Likewise, large groups are also welcome. Get a large group from your gym and there may be special promotional rates available.
Contact MMA Travel Adventures directly for more information. You can submit your booking request under the “book now” link on their website www.mmaTravelAdventures.com. See you onboard!
Additional trip information can be found at www.MMATravelAdventures.com.
