Champions Camp 2025: Five Days of Intense Competition Training

What a week it's been. Champions Camp wrapped up on Friday after five intense days of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competition training at Studio Galera in Bandon, West Cork, and the energy from these young athletes has been absolutely class.

This camp was built for kids aged 7-14 who already have their grey-white belt or higher, the ones who are serious about taking their BJJ to the next level. From 10am to 2pm each day, they pushed themselves through competition drills, sparring sessions, and technique work that'd test even the most experienced grapplers.

Competition BJJ Meets Movement Arts

The focus this week was proper competition training. We covered the rules, strategies, and technical details that make the difference when you're on the mats in a tournament setting. But we didn't just stick to BJJ, we mixed in capoeira and gymnastics throughout the week to keep things fresh and build that all-around athleticism.

The cross-training approach isn't just about having variety (though the kids loved it). Movement from capoeira and gymnastics builds body awareness, flexibility, and coordination that translates directly back to their jiu-jitsu. You could see the difference by day three.

A Special Visit to Bandon Fire Station

The absolute highlight came at the end of the week with our visit to Bandon Fire Station. Coach Galera, along with Station Officer Johno, gave the kids a proper tour of the station and the fire trucks, taught them about fire safety, and best of all, they got hands-on experience trying out the water hose.

The excitement was unreal. You could see the kids' eyes light up when they walked into the station, and Johno was brilliant with them, taking time to explain the equipment, answer questions, and make it an experience they'll remember.

Fair play to the Bandon Fire Service for hosting us. As many of ye know, Coach Galera serves as a retained firefighter in Bandon, so being able to share that part of the community with the kids made the visit extra special. It's moments like these that remind us we're not just building better grapplers, we're helping develop well-rounded young people who understand their community and respect the work that goes into keeping everyone safe.

Growth and Grit

The thing that stood out most this week wasn't just the technical improvement (though that was impressive). It was watching these kids support each other. They pushed themselves when it got tough, they cheered on their training partners, and they showed up every single day with proper commitment.

The atmosphere was brilliant. You could feel the growth happening in real time.

What's Next

Keep your eyes peeled for most of these kids at the European Championships No-Gi in November. After a week like this, they're going to be ready to represent Studio Galera on the international stage. We can't wait to see what they do.

Looking Ahead

We've got Fusion Camp coming up next, running from 11-15 August. That one's for the younger kids (ages 6-14) who want to try out gymnastics, capoeira, and get an intro to self-defense. Perfect for beginners who want to see what martial arts training is all about.

To all the Champions Camp kids and their families, thanks for an incredible week. You are all legends.