Training in Hawaii Waikiki Beach - An Unexpected Journey

I had every intention of training BJJ during our family trip to Hawaii in August. I just didn’t end up training where I originally planned.

On our first day, I was sitting by the beach when I got an Instagram message from one of my students, Teddy.

“Are you gonna go train at Marcelo Garaciaa's Gym?  I heard it's now based in Hawaii."

I was like..."Oh S%^t, I didn't know that.  I was actually thinking of another gym?!"

Teddy replied, "I think Marcelo's gym is near you.  I googled Waikiki ni relation to Marcelo Garcia Hawaii and I think it said it was only 12km or something.”

I thought to myself, god bless you, Teddy.

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I had no idea he had a gym in Hawaii!  A little research later, I learned that he was living and teaching in Hawaii after going through his battle with cancer. Suddenly, my previous training plans changed.

Marcelo has been one of my favourite grapplers since before I even started BJJ. I still remember sitting in my room on Smallville Street in Waterloo, watching his ADCC highlights on YouTube while knowing nothing about the sport.  I was simply in awe to see how impressive he moved and how easily he manhandled his opponents.  

In 2017 I started training BJJ and those who know my game will recognize the influence Marcelo has had on me. Butterfly guard, arm drags, X-guard, single-leg X, dummy sweeps...a lot of those moves started with me watching Marcelo and trying to figure out how to do what he was doing. I emulated him in my early days of training, and his influence has stayed with me ever since.

Now I was on the same island as him, with an opportunity to learn in person.

Day 1: A Community Before You Even Walk In

The drive from the Sheraton Waikiki Beach to Marcelo’s gym took me about 30 minutes.

The academy was in an unassuming building. As I drove by looking for the unit, what caught my attention was the people outside. Cars parked out front, teammates chatting, parents hanging around, people waiting for their kids or the next class.

It already felt like a great community.

When I pulled up and got out, people greeted me with smiles. I looked up at the Marcelo Garcia Jiu-Jitsu Hawaii sign, then through the window.

There he was. Marcelo, in a gi, teaching a class with white belts all over the mats.

That stuck with me.

Here’s someone I consider one of the greatest grapplers of all time, spending his evening teaching people at the beginning of their journey. With everything he’s accomplished, he was right there doing the everyday work of a coach.

As someone who runs a gym and teaches, I really admire that. His humility was something I have always respected.

Inside, I met Kevin at the front desk. The drop-in was $50 for the session during my visit. Perfectly fine by me.

We chatted about Marcelo, his family, and the academy. Kevin spoke about how much Marcelo came to Hawaii for treatment for her battle with cancer (he won), and stayed because his son loved it there.

I was there for the 7 p.m. advanced no-gi class. Marcelo was supposed to teach, but unfortunately had to leave after the gi session that day. I still got to introduce myself, say hello, and grab a photo.

I figured I’d catch him later in the week.

One of his coaches took us through the class, and there was plenty of good training ahead.

How the First Class Ran

There were roughly 25–30 people, with a good mix of ages, men and women, and younger students.

We started with calisthenics and traditional BJJ warmups, then moved into two-minute drilling rounds. One partner worked through a takedown-to-submission sequence (you chose whatever sequence you wanted) for the full two minutes, then the other partner took over.

After that came situational rounds. We split into three groups based on weight, and I went with the roughly 150–160 lb group.

What I liked was that the situations had a clear purpose. For example:

• One minute left. The bottom player is ahead by an advantage, and the top player needs to pass to win.

• The top player is ahead by an advantage, and the bottom player needs to sweep or submit to win.

• One player starts on the back, he is down in points and has a limited amount time to win only be submission.

The score and clock gave you a reason to act. You had to understand what you needed, recognize the opportunity, and make something happen before time ran out.

As a coach, I always pay attention to how another gym structures its training. These rounds were simple to understand and gave everyone a specific problem to solve. You could feel how the urgency changed depending on whether you were ahead or behind.

We finished with five times five-minute rounds of rolling.

I got to train with several of their competition team members who were preparing for IBJJf Worlds in Las Vegas the following week. Good rounds, good people, and some really solid guard playing. At least from the people I trained with that evening, their guard work was one of the things that stood out.

It was also interesting to feel a mix of traditional and modern BJJ coming from Marcelo’s students. You could recognize parts of his influence while seeing people developing their own games.

That’s one of the things I enjoy about visiting other academies. You get to test your game against people who don’t already know what you’re trying to do. You find out what carries over and what still needs work.

I left that first session feeling good about the training and excited to come back.

First arriving at Marcelo's gym and creeping him through the windows.

Meeting Marcelo for the first time.

Enjoyed the rounds with some of his guys.

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Day 2: Getting Called Over by Marcelo

On my second visit, Marcelo taught.  And during the sparring rounds, he looked over and called me to roll.

I’ve travelled and trained at quite a few gyms. When an instructor with that level of skill and recognition makes the effort to invite you for a round, it means something. I was visiting his academy from afar, not as a student, but as a guest - and he made me feel welcome on his mats.

Then I got to feel the jiu-jitsu I had spent years watching.

Butterfly sweeps. Tomoe nage. Dummy sweeps. Two-on-one controls.

These moves I recognized from his ADCC footage were now happening to me, and he made them feel so easy.

There’s a big difference between watching someone do something and feeling it yourself. I knew those movements. Some of them have been part of my own game for years. But feeling his timing and control gave me a completely different appreciation for them.

I left that round inspired. It made me want to keep learning, keep refining, and get back to work. After so many years of martial arts, I still love having experiences that remind me how much there is left to discover.

Pretty cool where martial arts can take you, and the experiences it can give you.

Post workout photo with the Goat.  I contemplated on getting some personal training with him.  But at 700USD I'll pass for now ;).

What Meant Just as Much as the Roll

After training, Marcelo spent time with my family.

He talked with my wife and kids, let the little ones entertain him, took photos with us, and signed some of our new Baby Brawlers gear (a baby combat brand created by my wife, recently launched www.babybrawlers.com).

He took his time.

He didn’t have to call me over for a round. He didn’t have to stay and chat with us or sign anything. But he did all that.  Marcelo left me with even more respect for him.

Marcel signing my wife's new Baby Brawler GI.  Those are my 2 kids Isaac and Evelyn.

One photo with the fam.

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Accommodations and Recovery: Sheraton Waikiki Beach

Outside the academy, we were staying at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach. Between training and exploring with the family, it was our place to settle down and recharge.

The hotel itself was beautiful. With my Marriott Ambassador status, we were upgraded to a suite of around 1,300 square feet. Easily the biggest hotel room our family has stayed in.

The fitness centre, though, was pretty average.

It was on the bottom floor and had some free weights, the usual treadmills, and plenty of machines. Enough to get a workout in, but for a hotel that size, I expected a better setup for lifting. A squat rack or bench station would have been nice. 

My favourite part of the suite was actually the bathroom.

There was a huge bathtub connected to an overhead shower, all inside an enclosed, tiled area. You could step straight out of the bath and into the shower. I made good use of that setup.  One day I did an ice bath. Another day, I filled the tub with hot water and alternated between the bath and a cold shower. In and out, in and out.

Personally, I felt refreshed afterwards, especially following training. At 42, I appreciate having the time and space to let my body relax. 

Not the best hotel fitness gym, but I got the work done.

At the heart of Waikiki Beach, can't complain where we stayed.

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Eating Around Waikiki

Those who know me know I enjoy my food. Training was part of this trip, but so was eating and spending time with the family.

A few convenient options around Waikiki made it easier to fit everything in.

Honolulu Coffee

Honolulu Coffee has a poolside location at the Sheraton Waikiki, so you don’t have to go far for your morning coffee.

For me, coffee fits nicely into a morning before training or heading out with the family. A little pick-me-up, a few minutes to sit, and then we’re off. Having it right at the hotel makes that easy.

There’s also something about having a coffee near the beach when you know you have a day of Hawaii ahead of you. I could get used to that.

A little coffee and work by the beach this morning.

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Lawson Station

Lawson Station at the Sheraton was another convenient option for quick snacks and drinks.  Think the Hawaii 7/11!

When you’re juggling the beach, training, and two kids, being able to grab something quickly matters. Every meal doesn’t need to become a whole outing. Sometimes you just need something to eat, water for the day, and to keep moving.

Poke Bar

Poke Bar is a restaurant just around the corner from the Sheraton.  This was just one of many around, there was no shortage of Poke in Hawaii.  Fish, rice, and vegetables give you a straightforward combination of protein, carbs, and something fresh.

For someone trying to eat reasonably well while still enjoying vacation food, a poke bowl is a practical option. You get a nutritious and tasty meal quickly and easily.

We had over fair share of Poke Bowls this trip.  Tasty and healthy!

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Attractions - Jurassic Park, the North Shore, and Dole Plantation

Of course, the trip also gave us time to explore Hawaii together.

We did a Jurassic Park tour, which was especially cool for me because I grew up watching those movies. Seeing that landscape in person was real cool.

Kualoa Ranch is home to filming locations from the Jurassic movies, with those huge green mountains and valleys that look incredible even without the movie connection. 

We also headed to the North Shore. Getting away from the busy hotel area and seeing another side of the island was a nice change of pace. Home to many local food trucks, small surf towns, lush scenery, and some of Hawaii’s most incredible sunsets. 

We stopped at Da Bald Guy for a shrimp and rice dish on the North Shore.  The Hawaiians love their shrimp and rice.

Dole Plantation was another stop on the trip. It’s known for its pineapple theme, with attractions including the Pineapple Express train, plantation gardens, and a large maze. There are a few different ways for families to explore it depending on how much time they want to spend there. Dole Plantation attractions

PHOTO DUMP!

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Would I go again!?

Hell ya! Hawaii is a beautiful place. There’s such a deep, rich culture and a strong sense of community that makes the islands feel special. The scenery is incredible, the food is fresh, and there’s definitely a healthier, outdoor lifestyle.

My only downsides are the distance - it’s roughly a 10–11 hour direct flight from Toronto to Honolulu and things can get pretty expensive once you’re on the islands, especially food.

But with some proper planning and budgeting, it was quite manageable and well worth it.

Overall, Hawaii is definitely a place I’d visit again. The training, culture, people, food, beaches, and overall island vibe make the long trip worth it. 🌺🤙