The perfect training-vacation, led by the best Jiu Jitsu instructors of our time.
July 7-12, 2025: with Roy Dean & Ben Dyson
Private Rooms, Gourmet Meals, and an absolutely Epic Location!
Come solo or come with a friend. In case you’re wondering, 90% come solo... Once you get here, you’re part of the family.
All belt levels welcome. Ages 18+.
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.
With Roy and Ben and the Grappler’s Retreat crew, there will be a little over 20 of us. This isn’t a huge training camp. Expect a relaxed vibe and a world-class BJJ training experience.
We cap all of our retreats at 16 sign-ups… so the learning environment is like no other camp out there, and the level of connection among the instructor and our small group is simple and genuine.
click the Video below for a glimpse of what it’s like to spend a week at the Grappler’s Retreat:
An Overview of the Grappler’s Retreat Experience:
Twice-daily small-group training sessions led by Roy Dean and Ben Dyson (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.
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.
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.
Ben Dyson teaching at the Grappler’s Retreat, summer 2022.
Training will be both Gi and No-Gi. Open to all belts (we get white belts through black belts), ages 18+
Come solo or come with a friend.
In case you’re wondering, 90% come solo... Once you get here, you’re part of the family.
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.
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.
Expect a relaxed retreat experience, with mat time focused on deep learning and technical growth.
Meet the Instructors
Roy Dean:
Roy is one of the most inspiring martial arts instructors alive today.
His education is exceptionally deep and well rounded. He holds Black Belts in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kodokan Judo, Aikikai Aikido, and Japanese Ju Jitsu.
As one of BJJ’s most sought after instructors, Roy travels the world as an ambassador for the art, exposing others to the warrior's way that is the foundation of his Jiu Jitsu.
He is a compelling storyteller and author, and has written about his adventures in two best-selling books, "Martial Apprentice" and "Becoming the Black Belt".
He continues to be a student of the legendary Roy Harris, and is recognized as a 4th degree Black Belt by the International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Federation (IBJJF).
With over 25 years of experience and a masterful approach to sharing his knowledge, Roy is known for conveying insights into the art that revolutionize the understanding of even seasoned practitioners. He is truly one of a kind, and we’re immensely grateful for his visits to the Grappler’s Retreat!
Ben Dyson:
Ben Dyson is among the sport’s most most cutting-edge grapplers. He is a world-class BJJ black belt under the legendary Roy Dean, and is one of the best Jiu Jitsu competitors to come out of Europe.
Ben took Gold at the ADCC European trials in 2017, and again had an absolutely smashing performance at the 2022 trials!! He holds a tremendous competition history and is currently ranked among the top competition black belts out of Europe.
More importantly, Ben is an incredible instructor with years of experience teaching and mentoring students — while originally from England, Ben is now the head BJJ coach at Kuzushi Grappling in Vancouver, Canada.
His love of the sport carries over in his teaching. Ben first visited the Grappler’s Retreat in April 2022, and the experience of training and learning from him was absolutely phenomenal. We’re always excited to host such rare individuals who possess an incredible competition ability alongside a natural gift of connecting with students. And beyond his prowess, Ben is simply a genuine guy and an awesome person to pass the days with.
Ben will be teaching everyday, and we’ll have the opportunity to spend the week learning from him in a small-group setting. Sparring is of course optional, but for those who enjoy rolling, Ben loves to go live and is absolutely awesome to roll with!
It will be a truly immersive experience, in which we’ll be learning the grappling style that has taken to Ben to the greatest heights of the modern competition scene.
By the end of the camp, you will have a deep and clear understanding of Ben’s favorite entries, controls, and finishes - you’ll be among a very small group to learn under the guidance of this caring and methodical teacher who has tested himself (and excelled!) at the highest levels of modern Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
Watch the video below for a glimpse into the teaching philosophies of these two incredible men:
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.
Gourmet Dining - this isn’t just a Training Camp, it’s a proper Vacation
Schedule (July 7-12, 2025):
Arrive July 7 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. Plus, between training sessions, we keep the dojo open during the day 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 coastal hike or a trek to the waterfall (the scenery is absolutely epic on the Mendocino coast!)
Every morning we’ll have coffee brewing in the clubhouse, with fresh breakfasts “made to order”. And we prepare delicious lunches every day after the first training session, and gather together for dinner feasts in the evenings… with bonfires most nights.
Depart Saturday July 12 by 12pm 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)
Getting to the Retreat:
click here for details and travel tips: https://www.grapplersretreat.com/travel
Pricing
And from $2,500 all inclusive… your booking fee includes:
Your own private, modern bedroom… comfortably furnished with fresh beddings, in-room heat, and high-speed wi-fi.
Our own private sanctuary for the week: there will be no one else here except for our small group. 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 :)
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!
Twice daily training sessions (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday) led by Roy Dean and Ben Dyson. 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.
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.
Continue to the Booking Page to see available room options:
Epic Training Camp Location: the Rugged Mendocino Coast
The Mendocino coast, just 1-mile down the hill from the Grappler’s Retreat.
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, pubs and roadhouse taverns, and a very well-stocked local grocer and butcher. Mendocino offers everything you’ll need to ensure a comfortable experience on this remote stretch of the northern California coast.
