Everybody talks about the jiu-jitsu lifestyle, but what is it exactly? For most people, it's traveling, training, and making new friends. 

Every member of the FloGrappling crew is deeply involved in jiu-jitsu. We all train, we travel to events all over the world, and we love meeting new people and making friends wherever we go. 

Chase Smith (light featherweight) gets ready to roll with super heavyweight black belt Gutemberg Pereira while Reid Connell films for the vlog. 

During our recent trip to California for the 2018 IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championship, we made at a stop at the RVCA Gym, an incredible private facility in Costa Mesa not open to the public. The only way to get in is to be invited, and we were fortunate enough to go down the day before Pans began. 

The Vikings.

We walked in and were met by a bunch of top grapplers, some hanging out and some just drilling on the large white mat. A number of the top kids from Art of Jiu-Jitsu were there hanging out, athletes such as Tainan Dalpra and Mateus Rodrigues (who went on to close out the blue belt absolute). 

The "Vikings" were in town, too. Tommy Langaker and Espen Mathiesen brought some countrymen along and they were loosening up before the big weekend. 

Chase rolls with Gutemberg while Mauricio Oliveira watches. 

Two of GF Team's top prospects in black belt Gutemberg Pereira and brown belt Mauricio Oliveira were also on the mat, quietly rolling while music played and the gym filled with chatter from the many visitors who would flow in and out. 

Some of the faces we saw while at the gym included Hunter Ewald from Hawaii, AOJ black belt Zach Neminsky, Checkmat titans Marcus "Buchecha" and Luiza Panza, and many more. 

Espen Mathiesen rolls with FloGrappling team member Will Safford.

The RVCA Gym becomes a hub of activity during the week of Pans, as sponsored athletes, friends, and visitors congregate to train in a place with no thought of politics or team affiliations. The vibe is that of a gathering of like-minded people, all sharing the experience of one of the biggest tournaments in the world. 

All photos by Hywel Teague.

Reid Connell and Chase Smith

Zach Neminsky and Gutemberg Pereira