Guns & Gis Class 008: July 14–16, 2023 (Washington)
Guns & Gis Class 009: August 25–27, 2023 (Washington)
Guns & Gis Class 010: November 3-5, 2023 (Louisiana)
Mark your calendar, put in for vacation at work, and let the family know that all you want for your birthday this year is to go to Guns & Gis Camp. This tactical firearms and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu immersion experience is the only one of its kind. Base camp is three fast-paced, action-packed days of learning defensive carry and pistol gun fighting from the most experienced military and law enforcement instructors as well as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from some of the best in the world and 2.0 is two days of more advanced Jiu-Jitsu and we add in the carbine platform on the range. Your cadre is comprised of men that have dedicated their lives to being the best at what they do and passing that on to others. Camp will not be a walk in the park and is modeled after certain special operations selection courses. There will be minimal breaks, a lot of hard work, and a lot of learning. You will be pushed to your limits and both physically and mentally exhausted, but it will be awesome and the outcome will be worth it. Participants must be in good mental and physical health and physically ready for the demanding two or three days. Nowhere else will you be able to receive this kind of training under one roof. By the end of camp, you will have a solid grasp of the tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) for carrying and utilizing a pistol in a defensive encounter as well as going hands-on and using your body with the best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu self defense techniques.
***The most important thing to note: This is an immersion experience. You must attend each session as the curriculum is cumulative and each session builds on what has been taught. We do not allow people to miss a session then come back and attend a later session of camp. It is perfectly fine to sit out and watch if you physically can’t participate in a session for any reason, but your presence is required. 3-day base camp includes an orientation/in-brief meeting Thursday evening and ends Sunday evening. 2.0 Alumni Only camp kicks off Friday morning and ends Saturday evening.***
We do expect each camp session to sell out. Please note that the 50% deposit is NON-REFUNDABLE, so only sign up if you are positive you can make the dates and secure enough ammunition. The remaining balance will be auto-drafted on the date noted for each class and no refunds will be given after that date.
If you’d like to purchase camp merch: https://www.vidajiujitsu.com/collections/guns-gis
(Guns & Gis Rash Guards are only available to attending registrants and are class numbered. You’ll receive details on how to purchase rash guards in your welcome packet.)
Guns & Gis Base Camp
(3 Days)
All 2023 dates are live and open for registration
The schedule will kick off with an in-brief Thursday evening for everyone to meet the instructors and each other, receive instructions for the range sessions, directions to the range, and to field any questions from the participants. There will be a morning range session Friday, Saturday and Sunday and an afternoon/evening BJJ session Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Dinner will be provided both Friday and Saturday evenings along with a round table discussion with talks from the cadre on leadership and warrior mindset.
Max Class Size: 30
$950 per person
Deadline to get a gi with registration is listed on the registration page for each class date
What You Get:
Three Full Days of World-class Instruction
Three AM Pistol Sessions
Three PM Jiu-Jitsu Sessions
Friday and Saturday Catered Dinners
Custom Class Numbered Moya Brand BJJ Gi
Guns & Gis Camp T-Shirt
You will have the option to purchase a pistol rental package for an additional fee. No Experience Required 50% NON-REFUNDABLE deposit required upon registration. Remaining balance due on the registration deadline for each class.
$950 per person
Deadline to get a gi with registration is listed on the registration page for each class date
What You Get:
Three Full Days of World-class Instruction
Three AM Pistol Sessions
Three PM Jiu-Jitsu Sessions
Friday and Saturday Catered Dinners
Custom Class Numbered Moya Brand BJJ Gi
Guns & Gis Camp T-Shirt
You will have the option to purchase a pistol rental package for an additional fee. No Experience Required 50% NON-REFUNDABLE deposit required upon registration. Remaining balance due on the registration deadline for each class.
Guns & Gis 2.0 Camp
(2 Days)
Next 2.0 Dates TBD
The schedule will kick off with an in-brief meetup Friday morning then we'll all head straight to the range. There will be a morning range session Friday and Saturday and an afternoon/evening BJJ session Friday and Saturday. Dinner will be provided both Friday and Saturday evenings along with a round table discussion both evenings and a closing ceremony Saturday evening. This camp is open to Guns & Gis Base Camp alumni only and will be limited to 16 students.
Max Class Size: 16
$1,250 per person
What You Get:
Two Full Days of World-class Instruction
Two AM Carbine/Pistol Sessions
Two PM Jiu-Jitsu Sessions
Friday and Saturday Catered Dinners
Guns & Gis 2.0 Camp T-Shirt
This camp is open ONLY TO GUNS & GIS ALUMNI 50% NON-REFUNDABLE deposit required upon registration.
$1,250 per person
What You Get:
Two Full Days of World-class Instruction
Two AM Carbine/Pistol Sessions
Two PM Jiu-Jitsu Sessions
Friday and Saturday Catered Dinners
Guns & Gis 2.0 Camp T-Shirt
This camp is open ONLY TO GUNS & GIS ALUMNI 50% NON-REFUNDABLE deposit required upon registration.
Your Instructors
Joao Assis
Joao is the owner of Electric Jiu Jitsu in Huntington Beach, CA. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, ADCC World Champion, 7x IBJJF World Champion, 4x American National Champion, and PAN American Champion.
Greg Anderson
Greg is the owner of Electric Jiu Jitsu North in Lake Stevens, WA. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt, 75th Ranger Regiment Vet, and the host of the Endless Endeavor Podcast. He has over 20 years of Special Operations and Law Enforcement Experience.
Greg Lapin
Greg is the owner of Vida Jiu-Jitsu in Mandeville, LA and VATA Training Center in Slidell, Louisiana. He is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt and has over 20 years of High Threat Protection, Tactical Combatives, Firearms Instruction and Law Enforcement experience.
Base Camp FAQs
1Do I need to have Jiu-Jitsu and/or Firearms experience to attend?
No. All experience levels are welcome at this event.
2What will I learn?
You'll spend three days learning the fundamentals of combat pistol shooting and the manipulation required to utilize a pistol in a self-defense situation, including reloads, malfunction drills, and fighting while wounded techniques. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu training mirrors the pistol training as it focuses on fundamental basics of self-defense grappling and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to be utilized in a real self-defense situation on the street.
3Can I purchase ammo and/or rent gear?
We offer a pistol rental package for an additional charge, which includes a Glock 17 or 19 outfitted with a Vortex Red Dot Optic, a holster, and magazines (for use at camp only, not to keep). You will be responsible for bringing your own belt, ammunition, eye protection, ear protection, range attire, and any other items on the provided gear list. A detailed gear list with specific product recommendations will be provided upon registration.
For your ammo, we do not sell ammo directly, but for Louisiana camps we have partnered with Interstate Guns in Hammond, Louisiana for attendees to get a great deal and we will pick it up and have it camp for you on Friday. Contact info will be provided in your welcome packet.
4What should I pack?
A full suggested pack list will be included with the welcome packet you will receive when you register.
5Where should I stay?
The ideal place to stay for Louisiana camps is Covington, Louisiana. There are a number of hotels in the area and Covington is located between the range and the BJJ gym. We will be securing a block of rooms at the Country Inn & Suites located at 130 Holiday Blvd., Covington, LA 70433 and will let registrants know when that is up and ready to be booked. For Washington camps, the ideal place to stay is Everett, WA at Hotel Indigo, 1028 13th Street, Everett, WA 98201. There are also airbnb type options in the area.
6Where is the camp taking place?
For Louisiana camps, the shooting sessions will be held at an outdoor range in Robert, Louisiana and will be overseen by VATA Training Center. The BJJ sessions will be held at Vida Jiu-Jitsu in Mandeville, Louisiana. If you are flying in, you would want to fly into the New Orleans Airport (MSY). The gym is about a 40-minute drive from the airport. For Washington camps, the range is in Granite Falls, WA and the BJJ sessions will be held at Electric North Jiu Jitsu in Lake Stevens, WA. You'll want to fly into SEA-TAC.
7Are there age restrictions on camp?
Participants must be at least 18 years old.
8Can I bring my family?
We definitely welcome couples who would like to attend camp together. We are just outside of New Orleans and Seattle, so our locations could make for a great family vacation, BUT...this is an immersion camp. You will be tied up literally all day/evening for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Children are not allowed at any of the camp activities. Only registered attendees are allowed at camp events, so no spouses, friends, coaches, etc. can tag along. If you are planning to bring your family for a longer trip and just have them do activities without you for the 3 days of camp, Casey from Vida Jiu-Jitsu is a native to New Orleans and Jenny from Electric North is native to Washington and they would be happy to send you some cool activities to look into in the area. Just make sure your family knows that they will not see you much from Thursday evening through Sunday evening.
9How will I handle laundering my BJJ attire?
As a part of your registration fee, you will receive one BJJ gi. If you do not already train BJJ and do not have your own gi(s), one gi is not ideal for the 3-day camp if you aren't staying somewhere that has access to laundry facilities. Vida Jiu-Jitsu will be offering gi laundering for camp attendees for Louisiana camps. You will leave your gi with Casey from Vida after the Friday evening session, she will launder it for you and have it back to you for the Sunday evening session. We will be doing No Gi on the Saturday session to give everyone the middle day to get their gis laundered. This laundry service will be $10.00 per person and can include your gi (top and bottom) and a rash guard or shirt. You will need to mark your initials in all items with a permanent marker.
10Will I be able to purchase gear at camp?
For Louisiana camps, Vida Jiu-Jitsu offers a wide range of gear in-stock at the gym, including t-shirts, rash guards, fight shorts and gis. Mouth guards are available, but they are boil and form Sisu brand mouth guards, so you do have to boil water and custom mold them before you can wear them.
We will not be selling ammo or any firearms equipment on-site at the range. You can ship your ammo directly to us and we will have it at the range for you on Day 1 or you can order through Interstate Guns in Hammond, LA and we will pick it up for you. Their contact info will be provided in the welcome packet.
11Do I need to bring food?
You should definitely pack snacks and drinks each day for the range session. Vida Jiu-Jitsu does have a concessions fridge stocked with water, Gatorade, protein shakes, energy drinks, bars, etc., so bring cash if you'd like to make concessions purchases. If you are coming from out of town, there are plenty of grocery stores and convenience stores in the area to make a run to stock up once you arrive. We are located in a suburban area with tons of restaurants for meals. We will take a lunch break each day where everyone can grab a lunch of their choosing. Friday night dinner will be provided.
12When do I need to arrive and leave?
You need to arrive in time to attend the Thursday evening orientation meeting to meet the instructors and each other, to go over range instructions, to make sure everyone has directions to the range, and for us to field any questions. The BJJ session on Sunday will end around 4:30 and we will then have a closing ceremony where you will receive a completion certificate and challenge coin. Please plan to stay for the entirety of Sunday so you don't miss out on closing ceremonies. We should finish up between 5:00-5:30.
13Can I attend only part of camp?
The price will not be adjusted for anyone who does not attend all sessions of camp.
For all sessions of camp, you MUST attend the previous session to attend the next session. This camp is as much about creating a tribe as it is about learning new skills.
Please also don't miss the evening dinners/fireside chats. Most attendees end up saying that's the best part of camp.
14Can I video and/or photograph camp sessions?
We will be taking lots of video and photos of camp and will post a link for everyone who attends to access. We ask that attendees not video any portions of camp. Photos will be allowed, but we ask that attendees not take photos during instruction to avoid disturbing the session. You are highly encouraged to bring a notebook and take notes.
15What is the camp refund policy?
The 50% deposit required at registration is NON-REFUNDABLE. Please only register if you know you can make the dates and secure enough pistol ammunition.
Remaining 50% balance will be auto-drafted on the registration deadline date. No refunds will be given after that date.
If something out of your control causes you to no longer be able to attend camp, you always have the option to sell your spot to someone else. If we have a wait list for your class we will contact those individuals for you. Otherwise, you may sell your spot to anyone who is interested.
