The perfect training-vacation, led by the best Jiu Jitsu instructors of our time.

Women’s BJJ Retreat with Nathalie “Tata” Ribeiro

July 15-20, 2024

Private Rooms, Gourmet Meals, and an absolutely Epic Location!

All belt levels welcome. Open to ages 18+ (exceptions can be made for mature and experienced youths, so long as they are accompanied by a parent who is also training… just contact us in advance)

Whether you’re a 50+ year-old Jiu Jitsu hobbyist who simply loves it… or a 23 year-old aspiring competitor… come join us. It’s all about deep learning, connecting with good people, and enjoying the journey.

This is an amazing opportunity to train with one of the best modern-day female Jiu Jitsu athletes, alongside a room full of other women also passionate about Jiu Jitsu!!

While this is a retreat (and not a “hardcore training camp”), prior BJJ experience is required in order to keep a good pace of teaching and training. Advanced belts are encourged to sign up. White belts are also most welcome, but should have minimum 6+ months ‘formal academy training’ before signing up.

An Overview of the Grappler’s Retreat Experience:

• Private bedrooms… so you can check out any time you need to relax in your own personal private space, and recharge on your own (no bunkhouses or “group cabins” here). High speed WiFi is in your bedroom and throughout the property.

• The dojo, the clubhouse, the guest lodge, and all the amenities have been purposefully built within the Grappler’s Retreat training sanctuary… and everything will be taken care of for you during your stay.

• Twice-daily small-group training sessions led by Nathalie Ribeiro (morning Gi session and afternoon No-Gi session). 16 students max, so the learning environment and level of connection is like no other camp out there.

• On a couple of the days, we’ll head out on a gentle coastal hike, a trek to the waterfall, or to the epic Big River estuary — but you’re always welcome to stay put at the forested retreat compound if you’d rather relax on your own between training sessions.

• We’ll have a fire roaring in the club house, a massive hot tub sitting amongst the redwoods, and an outdoor cedar sauna to loosen up the muscles and get us ready for the next day’s training sessions.

• Evenings are chill: pour yourself a drink and dive into stories with the rest of the crew around the bonfire.

• And we’ll be treated to three gourmet chef-prepared meals each day. Get ready for an incredible experience.

Scroll to bottom of the page for detailed schedule, travel logistics, and pricing.

The Grappler’s Retreat is a remote Training Sanctuary, built in the woods on a secluded stretch of the rugged Northern California coast. The Retreat is surrounded by thousands of acres of redwood wilderness, and situated only a mile up the hill from the crashing waves of the Pacific ocean. The area is sparsely developed. The nature is epic.

Post-Training Vibes!!

We take pride in offering an incredible experience centered around world-class training, gathering together for gourmet chef-prepared meals, and connecting in one of America’s most epic natural settings.

While Nathalie and the crew will be happy to roll with everyone, this is not a “hardcore competition camp”.

Instead, expect a relaxed retreat experience, with mat time focused on deep learning and technical growth.

“I loved my time at Grappler's Retreat! It was more than I expected by way of hospitality, training, and camaraderie. The food and accommodations were outstanding, the training was both first-class and intimate, and the people I met there will be friends for the rest of my life. From the moment you step onto the property, you know you are safe and in good hands with Alex leading the way. It will always be one of my favorite memories.”

- Kerry Mosher, BJJ Brown Belt

“Forget expectations! This place blew my mind. Top class training is what I wanted and that is what I got, but it didn’t end there! Alex and his team have created a little slice of paradise that begins with the epic scenery and continues into the magnificent food and accommodations. The limited group size encouraged connection and I met some brilliant people who I now proudly call my friends. Best Vacation Ever!!!”

- Jacqueline McClean, BJJ Purple Belt

We hosted Nathalie in early 2022 and again in 2023, and she proved to be one of the best instructors to ever come through the Grappler’s Retreat! She’s a patient and fun teacher, a phenom on the mats, and a blast to pass the days with!

Meet the Instructor:

Nathalie “Tata” Ribeiro:

Born on November 6, 1992, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Nathalie “Tata” Ribeiro is a BJJ Black Belt World Champion and one of the most inspiring athletes in Jiu Jitsu today!

During her childhood Nathalie was submerged in sports culture, having in both parents two avid sportspeople, as well as jiu-jitsu practitioners (Ribeiro’s father being a black belt and mother a blue belt at the time). Tata practiced and competed in gymnastics, swimming, and trampolining… before also adding BJJ to her weekly activities at the age of 8.

In 2015 Tata Ribeiro traveled to the United States to compete in the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Pan American and World Championships. Her display of skill was incredible, and Nathalie was offered an athletic scholarship, which paved the way for her eventual citizenship in the United States.

Nathalie’s accomplishments in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu are extensive and simply too long to list. But they include Gold medals at the world’s most prestigious tournaments, including: IBJJF Worlds, Pan American Championships, European Championships, and Brazilian National Championships.

She’s among the best of the best.

What truly sets Nathalie apart is that she’s not only a black belt world champion, but also an incredible instructor with years of teaching experience. Her ability to break down and communicate techniques and concepts is phenomenal. She has traveled the country teaching seminars at some fo the country’s top academies, and has received the praise of many of the sports leading figures. What an honor it is to host her at the Grappler’s Retreat!

Gourmet Dining - this isn’t just a Training Camp, it’s a proper Vacation

Your Own Private Bedroom (no shared bunk-houses)

Forest Views at the Retreat, or stay in the Village for Ocean Views

The Jiu Jitsu Experience will be absolutely incredible, but there’s so much more :)

You’ll be visiting one of the most beautiful places in North America, experiencing nature at its purest, connecting with like-minded individuals striving to better themselves in all things, and resting from the stresses of your daily routine. You’ll be surrounded by incredible people at a once in a lifetime gathering, yet you’ll have the sanctuary of your own private comfortable space at the Retreat.

It’s a different world out here. Come join us.

Epic Training Camp Location: the Rugged Mendocino Coast

Nestled in the woods only a mile from the coast, the Grappler’s Retreat training sanctuary is incredible, and features a beautiful outdoor cedar sauna and a massive luxury hot tub—both sitting among towering redwoods with epic views of the surrounding wilderness.

With our newly built Dojo, clubhouse, and guest cottage, the sprawling forested compound offers modern luxury combined with raw Pacific Northwest wilderness. If you’re looking to get away from the city and experience nature, you’ll love it here… the setting is absolutely awesome!

About a mile walk from The Retreat, you find yourself in the historic village of Mendocino, built in the mid-1800s on a rugged coastal headland overlooking the Pacific. The cliffs surrounding the village remain undeveloped, covered in wildflowers, and offer an awesome vista from which to view the sunset. Today, this historically preserved village is a traveler’s outpost, scattered with unique restaurants and cafes, vibrant coffee shops, a quaint Irish pub, and a very well-stocked local grocer.

If you plan on extending your trip beyond the retreat, Mendocino offers everything you’ll need to ensure a comfortable experience on this remote stretch of the northern California coast. 

Schedule:

• Monday July 15 - Saturday July 20, 2024.

• Arrive July 15 any time between 4:00pm and 10:00pm... check into your room and make yourself at home! Explore the grounds of the retreat, enjoy a soak in the hot tub, get some sun on the deck, chill with a book in the club house, have a beer around the bonfire, and get to know the rest of the crew as you settle in for an incredible week of training and relaxing in paradise!

• Twice daily training sessions Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (morning Gi session, afternoon No-Gi session). Plus, between training sessions, we keep the dojo open during the day (9:00am - 8:00pm) for anyone interested in spending some extra time on the mat for stretching, drilling, or sparring.

• In addition to all the dojo sessions, we’ll mix it up on some of the days and head down the hill for a beach workout or a coastal hike (the scenery is absolutely epic on the Mendocino coast!)

• Depart Saturday July 20 by 11am after having a gourmet breakfast and taking your time to chill out at the retreat and say your goodbyes!

Where: Mendocino, Northern California at the Grappler’s Retreat Training Compound (about 1-mile from the town of Mendocino)

Send us a message if you have any questions.

Getting to the Retreat:

click here for details and travel tips: https://www.grapplersretreat.com/travel

Pricing

As low as $1,400 if staying off-site, or

from $2,050 all inclusive. Your booking fee includes:

1. Your own private, modern bedroom… comfortably furnished with fresh beddings, in-room heat, and high-speed wi-fi.

2. Our own private sanctuary for the week: there will be no one else here except for the women’s group and the Grappler’s Retreat crew. The forested retreat compound features: a huge luxury hot tub and outdoor cedar sauna nestled in the woods, a spacious clubhouse, newly built dojo, hillside terraces with awesome wilderness views, private luxurious outdoor and indoor showers with epic views of the surrounding redwood forest, etc. The property is magical… you’re gonna love it here :)

3. Arrival dinner followed by three chef-prepared meals per day (we use only the best ingredients and have tapped into some incredible cooking talent), plus a constant spread of fresh-baked homemade pastries and snacks, and unlimited coconut waters, juices, sodas, coffees, teas, etc. We’ll keep you very well fed and comfortable! And for those who enjoy wine, Mendocino produces some of the world’s best Pinot Noir!

4. Twice daily training sessions (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) led by Nathalie. We cap our registration at 16, so you can expect some deep learning and hands-on coaching. The learning environment is extremely personal, and infinitely better than that of a packed seminar or large training camp.

5. Aside from the costs of lodging, fresh gourmet meals, and bringing in world-class instructors who give their best — look forward to us organizing a couple amazing hikes throughout the week, and expect some heartfelt connection and storytelling around the bonfire after our nightly dinners. Rest assured that our approach is easy and flexible to the needs of everyone who joins us. We fully put our hearts into every camp, and we’ve been blessed by so many new friends as a result.

Training will be limited to a very small group of women: only 12-16 spots… exact number depends on if we have “doubles” sign up. With instructors and staff, there will be around 20 of us. This isn’t a huge training camp… we’ll be a family for the week :)

Let us know if you have any questions, or if you’d like to be notified about future retreats

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