Jiutopia Origin Story
Whether you’ve already trained with us or you’re just discovering what Jiutopia is, there’s a story worth knowing. Read how it started: from a Vienna apartment to a global BJJ community.
How did the idea for the very first Brazilian Jiu-jitsu camp in 2021 come about? Where were you, and what was the moment?
One day I met my business partner at the time from More Than Grappling at the MTG HQ. Funny enough, “HQ” was actually his apartment. During COVID, we had turned one of the rooms into a small training space with tatami mats, and people from all over Vienna would secretly come there to train. 😜
While we were talking, he told me that he had spoken with a mutual friend about organizing a BJJ camp. I immediately loved the idea and agreed.
Once we decided to do it, we spent a long time trying to come up with the right name. Then one sunny day, while we were sitting by the river in Vienna, relaxing, it suddenly came to us:
Jiutopia – a combination of Jiu-Jitsu and Utopia.
That was the moment the brand was born.
What was the first destination, and why?
Our first destination was Halkidiki, Greece.
First of all, because we’re Greeks. And secondly, because, as we say in Thessaloniki:
“There’s nothing like Halkidiki.”
Honestly… what could be better than Greece? 😜
How did you choose the first instructors?
From the beginning, we wanted to bring the biggest names in the sport.
My business partner set himself the goal of bringing Felipe Pena, and he made it happen. At that time, Felipe was probably the hottest name in men’s BJJ, while Ffion Davies was dominating the women’s scene.
For our very first edition, we managed to bring together an incredible lineup:
- Felipe Pena
- Ffion Davies
- Leo Vieira
- Romulo Barral
- Marco Canha
Looking back, it’s still hard to believe we pulled that off for a first event.
What was the most nerve-wracking moment before that first edition? What were you most unsure about?
Honestly… nothing.
We were incredibly confident and fully focused on making it happen.
We started with zero money, right in the middle of the COVID period, but we never doubted that we could build something special.
115 participants from all over Europe. Did you expect that number?
At the time, I don’t think we fully understood what we had accomplished.
We knew the event had been a success, but we couldn’t yet see how important those numbers really were.
That first edition put the Jiutopia name on the European BJJ map.
What went well, and what would you never do the same way again?
If I could change one thing, it would probably be the location.
Originally, we wanted to organize the camp at Armenistis Camping, but at the time we thought it was too expensive, so we chose a different venue.
Looking back, though, I believe everything happens for a reason. Every decision brought us to where Jiutopia is today.
Was there a moment during that first camp when you thought, “This is going to become bigger than I imagined”?
To be honest…
I always knew it would become something big.
Why expand to the UK, Portugal, and Brazil?
The UK camp was the natural next step because we already had a strong community there.
We expanded to Portugal because our friend Alex Pereira had opened his academy there, and it also offered an amazing destination that perfectly matched the Jiutopia experience.
Finally, we went to Brazil because that’s the heart of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Organizing a camp there was always one of our biggest dreams.
If there’s one thing you’d want every new participant to understand about why Jiutopia exists, what would it be?
Jiutopia has never been just about seminars or training camps.
It’s about bringing people together through Jiu-Jitsu, creating friendships, unforgettable experiences, and memories that last long after the final training session ends.
The goal has always been to build a community where people from different countries can meet, train, travel, and share the same passion.
What is your dream for Jiutopia?
My ultimate dream is to build a Jiutopia Resort. A place where people from all over the world can come all year round to train, relax, connect, and experience the lifestyle that Jiutopia represents.
Not just a camp.
A permanent home for the global Jiu-Jitsu community.