Rafael Lovato Jr’s Timeless Jiu Jitsu & Surf Seminar 2025

January 13th - 19th, 2025
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SURFSIDE GRAPPLER GETAWAYS PRESENTS:

Rafael Lovato Jr’s Timeless Jiu Jitsu & Surf Seminar 2025

*Jan 13, Arrival to Panama City

*Jan 14, Departure to Playa Venao  

*Jan 19, Return to Panama City

Hello fellow BJJ Enthusiasts,

Come join Surfside Grappler Getaways and Professor Rafael Lovato Jr. in the beautiful tropical destination of Playa Venao, Panama. You will have rare and exclusive access to one of the greatest competitive performers and minds in Jiu Jitsu.

This intimate camp setting is open to a limited number of participants! Be one of 30 people to train Gi and No Gi in an environment that fosters learning and elevates your performance on the mats while giving you a lifetime of memories. This semi-secluded and natural setting will ensure you will be focused complimented by a balance of activities and new experiences.

Jiu Jitsu and Surfing have a long history amongst the community and are known for sharing key concepts both mental and physical, flow and timing, balance and body control, focus and patience, adaptability and a lifelong pursuit of mastery.

Don’t miss out on this once in a lifetime experience! Sign up today for our exclusive camp, January 13th-19th 2025, to ensure your place on the mats and waves of Playa Venao with Surfside Grappler Getaways and Professor Rafael Lovato Jr.

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location
Beach Break Surf Camp, Playa Venao, Panama
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ACTIVITY
Surf & Jiu Jitsu
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accommodation
Beachfront
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SURF CAMP
Full daily surf camp package included
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Duration
6 nights
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GROUP SIZE
Limited Space Available!
Join us & be inspired
sign up now

Itinerary:

Day/Night 1, Jan 13th:

Arrive to Tocumen International Airport, guests can find a simple airport taxi to the Executive Hotel. From there, we will gather in order to leave the next day as a group.  Fun in the city like a tour and dinner in the “old town” of Casco Viejo if guests would like. As well as visit a local academy if anyone would like to sweat out the travel.

Day/Night 2, Jan 14th:

Travel to the beach! After breakfast at the hotel, group transportation with Wif, water, and snacks will leave for the beach around 8:30am. 

*there is an option for a charter flight some days of the week

The shuttle will arrive at the beach around 3pm, guests can relax and jump in the ocean, as well as a brief intro to the camp, surf lessons, and seminar times.

First seminar with Professor Rafael at 5pm!

Day/Night 3, Jan 15th:

Beach time! Each morning guests will have breakfast included, yoga, mobility, and muay thai classes offered daily from 7:30-8:30am and surf lessons usually end before 12pm.

This is one of the best waves in Central America to learn and improve your surfing! Each session is guided and filmed for analysis later to help make fast and lasting improvements.

Second Seminar with Professor Rafael at 12:30pm! Free time to surf and explore in the afternoon! Guests also have the option of joining any of Prof John’s classes with his group of local students throughout the trip. Open Mat times will be posted daily.

Day/Night 4, Jan 16th:

More beach time! Guests will settle into the routine of breakfast, optional yoga, and surf in the mornings. Third Seminar with Professor Rafael at 12:30pm!

At 7pm we will have a group video analysis of our first few surf sessions!

Day/Night 5, Jan 17th:

Third full day at the beach and the Fourth Seminar with Professor Rafael at 11:30am! And in the evening another Fifth and Final Seminar with Professor at 6pm.

We will also enjoy a big bonfire and BBQ on the beach tonight!

Day/Night 6, Jan 18th:

Last full day at the beach! Enjoy the surf, new friends, and a final Open Mat at 10am.

Day 7, Jan 19th:

Several shuttles will depart from Beach Break depending upon if guests are going directly to the airport to make their flights, or to an optional final night at a Panama City Hotel.

There are two (2) options to come and enjoy Ricardo’s very valuable course of Apnea and Surf Survival.
1. Surf & Stay (July 21 – 28)

Spend an entire week getting to know Ricardo here at Beach Break Surf Camp. Daily surfing right out our front door at one of Panama’s most renown and consistent beach breaks, plus 2 day trips to other local breaks.

What's included:

●     1st night, January 13th stay at The Executive Hotel in Panama City

●     5 nights at Beach Break Surf Camp

●     Round Trip Ground Transportation, Panama City - Venao

●     All Breakfasts from our full and delicious menu and beach front restaurant

●     5x Exclusive 2-hour, 30 person maximum Gi/ No Gi Seminars with Professor Raphael Lovato Jr. Get to know Prof Raphael on a different level at the camp’s small group setting right in front of the waves

●     Daily Yoga, Mobility, Muay Thai, and Meditation Classes

●     Daily access to Cold Plunge and Weight Room

●     5x Surf Camp Lessons at one of the best waves in Central America! Including 2 hours of high quality instruction per day including theory, in-water, and video analysis. Open to all levels of experience!

●     Complete photo and video package of surfing sessions to take home and share with family and friends

Extras:

●    Airfare

●    Lunches, Dinners, and Drinks

●    Optional last night (January 19th) in Panama City

●    Extra Activities (fishing, zip lining, horseback riding, and more!)

RETREAT PRICE

per person

5 nights option:

6 nights option:

Private room,
(one king bed)
$2,151 (limited space)
Double room,
(one queen and one double bed, or one king bed)
$1,942 (limited space)
Dorm room,
(three bunk beds)

7 nights option:

Single room
2-person room
Shared room, 3 or more

Triple Quad room,
(one queen and two singles,
or one queen, one single, one bunk bed)
$1,659
Early Bird Pricing
$1,509
Dorm room,
(three bunk beds)
$1,517
Early Bird Pricing
$1,367
Non-BJJ & Surf Camp,
(participant)
$984
Early Bird Pricing
$884

Add-on Non Surfer/ BJJ Guest: $470 per person
(all taxes and fees included)

(all taxes and fees included)

Add-on Non Surfer/ BJJ Guest: $640 per person
(all taxes and fees included)

sign up NOW

to reserve your space

A woman surfing and smilingA beach side view from the accommodation in beach break surf campA bird's eye view of the waves and surfers riding the oceanA jiu jitsu class in action with two women sparringA man holding a woman on his shoudlers with the sunset in the backgroundA yoga class in action with couple holding their partner in the airA man holding his partner in a yoga posa stretching her spineTwo surfer students and their instructor posing for the camera with their surfboardsA pool side view of the beach break surf camp
2. Apnea & Survival Course Only (July 23 - 24)

Your Retreat Teacher:

Rafael Lovato Jr is arenowned 5th Degree Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Saulo & XandeRibeiro, celebrated for his groundbreaking achievements and deep dedication tothe martial arts. With over two decades of Black Belt experience, he has madehistory as the first American to win the IBJJF Pan & Euros as well asbecoming the first non-Brazilian to win the CBJJ Brazilian NationalChampionship & the first to win a major open weight (absolute) division.Additionally, he is the third American to win the IBJJF World Championship inthe black belt division & first person to ever achieve the Grand Slam.Later in his career he secured the Bellator Middleweight World Championship in2019 with a flawless MMA record of 11-0 and is fresh off a gritty performanceat this years ADCC winning Silver in the -99Kg division.

Rafael is also thecreator of the "Timeless Jiu-Jitsu" philosophy, which focuses onefficiency, longevity, mindset, and the pursuit of mastery. His approach goesbeyond physical techniques, emphasizing mental resilience, strategic thinking,and personal growth. Through his teachings, Rafael inspires students worldwideto view Jiu-Jitsu as a lifelong journey, where the lessons learned on the matlead to excellence in all areas of life.

Main Achievements:

  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship (2007)
  • 1st Place IBJJF World Championship NoGi (2010 / 2011 / 2013)
  • 1st Place CBJJ Brazilian Nationals (2007 / 2013*)
  • 1st Place IBJJF Pan Championship (2007 / 2008)
  • 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2007 / 2022)
  • 1st Place Abu Dhabi World Pro No-Gi (2011)
  • 6 x IBJJF Master World Champion
  • Metamoris Champion
  • Rickson Gracie Budo Challenge Champion
  • F2W Professional Gi & No-Gi Champion
  • 2nd Place ADCC (2013 / 2024)

*Absolute

Retreat teacher #1
Retreat teacher #2
Retreat teacher #1

COURSE INFO & PRICE

price per person

5 nights option:

Single room
$2,151 (limited space)
2-person room
$1,942 (limited space)
Shared room, 3 or more

Spaces are limited!

Have some questions? Here’s our FAQ

How do I get there?

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Panama is an international flight hub with many flights offered to Tocumen International Airport (PTY) just outside of Panama City. From there we will pick you up in private, air-conditioned shuttles and drive the 5 hours through beautiful Panamanian countryside, stopping along the way to enjoy some local food and arriving in Playa Venao.

While I’m doing BJJ or Surfing, will there be childcare?

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Yes! We will have professional, local nanny’s here to help with childcare while parents are surfing, training, or even just relaxing!

Do I need experience to join this camp?

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No experience necessary in either surfing or jiu-jitsu is necessary to join this camp! In fact, we encourage you to try to step out there and try something new. This is a great opportunity to do it!

Any other recommendations while planning this trip?

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Some people have found they enjoy spending an extra night in Panama City before leaving. You can stay a night at an airport hotel to break up the travel and make things easy before flying out the next day, or you could book a place in the “old town” of Casco Viejo to sightsee and enjoy a nice dinner. Either way, your round-trip ground transportation is included in the price and will drop you off where you’d like to.

Any tips on flights?

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Sometimes you can find better prices if you first search for round trip tickets to major hubs that fly direct to Panama City (Houston, Miami, Newark, Denver). Then search for flights from that major hub, round trip to Panama. You may find that buying two separate round trip tickets will be far cheaper than the airline coordinating your layover flight to Panama!

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Or you can reach us at bbplayavenao@gmail.com