FIRST SPRING CAMP - 3 Days of FLINTA* only BJJ
Three Days of Learning, Connection, and Community
From May 1st to 3rd, BeyondMattrix hosted its first three-day FLINTA*-only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu camp at Fightzone in Berlin, bringing together participants from Berlin, a large group from Münster, as well as visitors from Coburg, Munich, Vienna, Marseille, and Brussels for an unforgettable weekend of training, reflection, and community building.
The camp featured world-class coaches Charlotte von Baumgarten and Julia Mæle, who travelled all the way from Norway to teach at the event. Julia taught two NoGi classes, while Charlotte led two Gi seminars. All classes were designed to be accessible and valuable for practitioners of every level.
Two Champions training together!
Both coaches stood out through their extremely precise explanations and thoughtful teaching styles. The seminars encouraged active dialogue, questions, and technical discussions throughout the sessions. Participants particularly appreciated how complementary Charlotte’s and Julia’s approaches were: while each coach brought her own perspective and style to the mats, the techniques and concepts connected naturally and enriched one another. The result was a series of highly valuable seminars that combined technical depth with accessibility and practical application.
The weekend began with a Cuban Salsa class led by Calypso, which immediately helped break the ice and created a fun, warm, and wholesome atmosphere.
Through basic Salsa steps, body isolation, turns, and playful interaction, participants quickly got to know each other. During the class, situations were also simulated to practice setting boundaries and confidently saying “no” — skills that are deeply relevant within everyday BJJ practice and beyond. By the end of the first evening, everyone was already leaving with big smiles, setting the tone for the rest of the weekend.
Throughout the camp, participants gathered regularly in seated discussion circles before training sessions, during breaks, and at the end of the days. These conversations created space to openly exchange positive and negative experiences within Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. For some participants, these discussions were eye-opening, helping them recognize structural imbalances and inequalities within the sport that are often connected to its male-dominated environment.
Calypso acted as a kind of “feel-good manager” throughout the entire weekend, consistently checking in with participants and emphasizing the importance of safety, consent, communication, and emotional well-being on the mats. Participants were encouraged to lower their “radars,” be themselves, open up, and allow genuine connections to form. This atmosphere led to many meaningful encounters and new friendships — including Julia B. and Julia H., who became inseparable from the very first day and continued their friendship beyond the mats.
Charlotte’s GI class
The camp also included a Yoga class led by Julia B., which was highly appreciated. Many participants additionally joined the shared dinner on Saturday evening, where conversations continued outside the training environment.
Discussions ranged from personal BJJ journeys to FLINTA* perspectives within the sport and concrete ideas about how gyms could better respond to the needs of FLINTA* practitioners.
An equally important aspect of the camp was the opportunity to spar with people of similar body types, weights, and experiences — something many participants rarely experience in their regular gyms. The atmosphere during sparring was intense, playful, respectful, and highly collaborative.
The final feedback circle on Sunday was deeply emotional, positive, and encouraging. Many participants shared how seen, safe, and empowered they had felt during the camp. Calypso reminded everyone to listen seriously to their own feelings and intuition — that if something consistently hurts emotionally within a training environment, then something may be wrong and should not simply be accepted as normal. Participants were encouraged not to settle for low standards, but instead to carry the feeling and experience of the camp back into their everyday lives and training spaces, as a reminder of what is actually possible within martial arts communities.
The shy handshakes and hesitant hugs from the first day had transformed by Sunday into long embraces, heartfelt conversations, words of gratitude, and strong connections after a weekend full of what participants jokingly called “violent cuddling.”
The first BeyondMattrix camp showed not only the immense technical value of FLINTA*-centered training spaces, but also their emotional, social, and community-building power. It was a weekend that many participants will carry with them for a long time.
After the camp, approximately 60% of participants answered the feedback survey. All respondents stated that they had felt safe throughout the weekend, would absolutely recommend the camp to others, and would love to participate again in the future.