Nestled in the pristine wilderness near Whitefish, Montana, this exclusive 6-day retreat offers an extraordinary blend of world-class jiu-jitsu instruction and mountain serenity. Limited to just 24 participants, this intimate gathering brings together 6x World Champion Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes, elite coach Tim Welch (head coach to UFC star Sean O'Malley), and wrestling expert Joey Boardwine in a spectacular 5-acre training paradise carved from protected national forest.
This isn't just a training camp – it's a transformative experience that combines elite-level instruction with the raw beauty of Montana's wilderness. Just minutes from Whitefish Mountain Resort and 45 minutes from Glacier National Park, Budokon Montana provides the perfect setting for deep technical learning and personal growth. Train in a modernized 900-square-foot barn dojo, recover in outdoor saunas and ice baths, and gather around evening campfires under the big sky. The retreat's farm-to-table cuisine, prepared by Holistic Health Educator Melayne Shayne, emphasizes locally sourced organic ingredients, ensuring optimal nutrition for training and recovery.
Nestled in the pristine wilderness near Whitefish, Montana, this exclusive 6-day retreat offers an extraordinary blend of world-class jiu-jitsu instruction and mountain serenity. Limited to just 24 participants, this intimate gathering brings together 6x World Champion Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes, elite coach Tim Welch (head coach to UFC star Sean O'Malley), and wrestling expert Joey Boardwine in a spectacular 5-acre training paradise carved from protected national forest.
This isn't just a training camp – it's a transformative experience that combines elite-level instruction with the raw beauty of Montana's wilderness. Just minutes from Whitefish Mountain Resort and 45 minutes from Glacier National Park, Budokon Montana provides the perfect setting for deep technical learning and personal growth. Train in a modernized 900-square-foot barn dojo, recover in outdoor saunas and ice baths, and gather around evening campfires under the big sky. The retreat's farm-to-table cuisine, prepared by Holistic Health Educator Melayne Shayne, emphasizes locally sourced organic ingredients, ensuring optimal nutrition for training and recovery.
Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes
Tim Welch (Special Guest Instructor)
Joey Boardwine
WHY MONTANA?
This retreat is located at Budokon Montana, near Whitefish on a gorgeous five acre plot of land carved out from surrounding protected national forest. Surrounded only by nature, the site was thoughtfully designed for high level athletic training, retreat, recovery and a deep dive into self, precisely the kind of location Destination Jiu-Jitsu seeks to ensure lifelong memories for its athletes.
The retreat facility is just five miles from the prestigious ski destination of Whitefish Mountain Resort. And if that is not enough we are only forty five minutes from the world renown Glacier National Park. We are only ten minutes from Downtown Whitefish and surrounded by the beauty of several secluded lakes and hiking trails!
WHAT IS IT LIKE?
You will learn from ADCC and IBJJF Black-Belt World Champions & elite, professional grappling professors. This camp is NOT a fight training camp for an upcoming World Title but rather an educational retreat experience for anyone inspired to learn world champion systems of technique, mind and movement.
This one of a kind experience places you in a select group of only 24 participants who will spend 6 days training (including arrival and departure day) with amazing minds, good people and stunning natural beauty.
This unique retreat camp is uniquely designed to expose you to elite level concepts in order to build an extraordinary foundation in your technique, strength, mobility, mindset, diet and recovery and transform you and your BJJ into something extraordinary.
Come and learn from world champions, eat amazing food, explore nature, enjoy dynamic recovery sessions, commune with the champs and like-minded people, and learn the subtle secrets that only a world champion can know from experience.
WHAT ARE THE ACCOMMODATIONS LIKE?
You will join this experience as a tribe member – we train, eat, hang and
share rooms. Community, team work and contribution are an essential part
of the experience with us at Budokon, Montana living as a tribal community.
GUEST HOUSE
Our cozy student’s guest cottage offers housing for a total of 10 students in 3
separate bedrooms with spacious bunk beds and 2 bathrooms as well as a fully equipped kitchen, lounge area, outdoor showers and green house.
GLAMPING TENTS
Our three bohemian canvas tents comfortably sleep 3-4 glampers each. The
glamping tents are nicely decorated and come with Twin mattresses and bedding. The tents can also be set up for our couples with a Queen mattress.
WHAT ABOUT RECOVERY TIME? ANYTHING SPECIAL?
Yes! Enjoy some down time and connection on our tiger wood deck with a stunning mountain view, enjoy the healing benefits of our sauna and ice bath and an invigorating ice cold outdoor shower.
WHERE WILL WE TRAIN?
Our entire 5 acre property is a diverse playground and training facility. From our outdoor BJJ training site and calisthenics bars, the tiger-wood deck and front yard with mountain view, ape-swings in our forest, running trail and slack line, this stunning area of Montana offers a diversity of opportunities to explore and experience movement.
JIU-JITSU TRAINING
Our 900sq ft dojo is a modernized charming barn with wooden interior, fully matted floor, and view to our surrounding nature.
THE OUTDOORS
Enjoy meditation or a movement practice on our tiger wood deck with mountain view, strength and conditioning training in our outdoor calisthenics area equipped with bars, kettlebells and parallettes as well as a run or walk on our private trail.
WHAT SHOULD I BRING?
Our experienced team of seasoned travelers, well-versed in optimizing trips, will assist you. In addition to what you see below, we are here to help you with helpful suggestions. Upon your airport arrival, it’s time to relax, train, enjoy good people and good food and enjoy the incredible setting!
Temperatures in this most beautiful region of Montana can fluctuate greatly in August with very warm days in the 80-90s and cool nights in the 50’s. Dressing in layers is a must. Pack light though. We suggest one suitcase and carry on item per person. We have a no-shoe policy in our houses and tents.
DETAILED SUGGESTIONS on WHAT TO BRING:
WHO IS THE INSTRUCTOR?
Augusto “Tanquinho” Mendes, 6x Black-Belt World Champion, ADCC Champion, UFC Fighter, Academy Owner and Head Coach of Soul Fighters HQ. 20+ years teaching Jiu-Jitsu
Tim Welch, BJJ Black Belt Tim Welch fuelled the meteoric rise of current UFC SuperStar “Suga” Sean O’Malley with his unquestionable coaching talent. Tim is often described as one of the greatest minds in MMA. Tim is a BJJ/Wrestling expert and former pro fighter with UFC and Bellator who also hosts the wildly popular, TimboSugaShow Podcast, with Sean O’Malley where they talk about BJJ, MMA, health, mindset, psychology, training, and comedy.
Joey Boardwine, 5x World Champion (Masters) and NCAA D1 Head Wrestling Coach, will share with you the most important techniques and tactics from elite-level wrestling that you must integrate into your Jiu-Jitsu to elevate your game immediately.
ARE MEALS PROVIDED?
Yes! Our nourishing FARM TO TABLE menu is curated by Holistic Health Educator Melayne Shayne and primarily locally sourced or home grown and organic. We serve a variety of plant based meals with ethically raised grass fed chicken, red meats, eggs and dairy. We serve a small breakfast assortment in the early morning, a wholesome brunch, afternoon snack and nourishing dinner. The schedule is customized to meet the needs of the retreat experience.The menu offers a variety of options for omnivores, vegetarians and vegans. You will receive a detailed menu from which you can chose. One of our highlights are our TacoTuesdays, Burger Nights and Homemade Pizza Party. All meals will be prepared by our team and served buffet style in our beautiful garden and Wolf’s Den.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
Everything is included except your flight. Our goal is to create an unforgettable experience for you and support you in your journey. We handle all behind the scenes logistics so that you can focus on being present to the experience.
There will be world-class Jiu-Jitsu instruction, engaging Q&A sessions with our legendary professors, and ample free time to enjoy a great tribe of like-minded people, and soak up one of the world’s most stunningly beautiful locations.
There will be extra activities to complement your retreat experience. From a trip to Glacier National Park or close by lakes and hikes, S’mores by a campfire, to movie night in the dojo,we plan to fully enjoy Big Sky country in a way that you will remember forever.
IS TRANSPORTATION INCLUDED?
Yes! We offer to arrange ONE pick up from FCA airport the day of arrival between 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM and ONE drop off the day of departure between 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM.
WHAT AIRPORT SHOULD I FLY INTO?
FLY TO GLACIER PARK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (FCA) in Kalispell. We ask our guests to NOT book arrival flights to land after 6pm and departure flights to leave earlier than 9am MST. If the guest does, we can arrange individual transportation for the extra fee of 80USD.
TRAVEL BY TRAIN. The train station is called Whitefish Depot. We offer individual pick ups for 40USD or the guest waits for the group pick up from airport in the afternoon. Same counts for the drop off on departure day.
TRAVEL BY CAR. Rental cars are not needed. We handle ground transportation. If the guest prefers to be independent a car is necessary as there is no public transportation. If a guest is driving to the retreat side in Montana or wants to park an RV please communicate with us early and often to confirm as there is only limited parking available: info@destinatonjj.com
