How BJJ Camp XP Was Born:
A Raw Jiu-Jitsu Vision Forged in Calima World

It started with a one-way ticket and a broken plan. Not in a boardroom. Not on a mat. But on an epic Colombian mountainside, where answers don’t come easy, but they come honest.

In 2022, Nico Orrego was 32, rethinking everything. He found himself in Manizales after a climb to the Nevado de Santa Isabel, living in a humble house with a friend’s family, looking over the city in silence. That’s where it hit him. The things that moved him, adventure, community, and Jiu-Jitsu, could actually be one thing. XP was born from that clarity.

If you’re more the type to feel something
by watching it, hit play.
We captured this story during one of our
camps in Calima.

See where it all started. Hear it from Nico
himself.
This is more than just a story. It’s the
energy that started it all.

The First Camp: Chaos, Faith, and Velcro Mats

At the time, Nico was a blue belt. No clue if BJJ camps existed. No brand deck. Just a conviction. Back in Miami, a friend offered his family’s house in Calima, said he didn’t know Jiu-Jitsu, but he was in. Nico flew to check it out with his son. It was raw, beautiful, perfect.

Finding mats wasn’t. No one wanted to rent. So they had white mats made locally, tied together with Velcro, picked up in Cali during a rainstorm. When they arrived, they were too soft. They added foam. The Velcro scratched skin. Still, everyone rolled. No complaints. Just energy. That was the spark.

XP wasn’t built for brochures. It was built for people who want more than a break, they want a shift. The service? On point. The food? Dialed in. But the setting? Raw. Not a resort. Not polished. Purposeful. We built it to feel like your friend’s place, if your friend was a savage host with a black belt and a killer view. When the numbers didn’t line up, we didn’t flinch. We still went big. Because the mission always comes first.

Built by Locals. Rooted in Calima.

Calima isn’t just a location, it’s a statement. The largest man-made reservoir in South America, perched 1,200 meters in the Andes. One side of the mountain faces the Pacific, the other the Cauca Valley. Hot air meets cold wind, 18 to 20-knot winds form almost every afternoon.

The weather’s perfect. The views? Unreal. Clouds settle on the lake like smoke. The town is 15 minutes away. Waterfalls are nearby. And the identity of XP, the forest green, the rhythm, the grit, is born from this place.

XP started with the people of Calima. Jeank, Cheo, Hector, and the Calima Combat crew were there from the beginning. We didn’t just build in Calima, we built with them.

A Team Effort From Day One

From the beginning, XP has only been possible thanks to the people who believed early and gave their time, energy, and hearts.

• Chavo has been there since day one, booking flights, managing logistics, and making sure the operation runs smooth. He’s the guy who’ll mop mats in a downpour if that’s what it takes, and he has. XP wouldn’t be the same without him.
•  Mickey anchored our first camps, offering his house in Calima and helping shape the menu. His chill energy and steady partnership made things possible.
• Camesagi gave XP a visual identity from the start, handling graphics, content, and creative direction before we even had a name. He was one of the first believers.
• Manu keeps our systems tight and our team aligned. She solves problems before they happen and makes sure the experience is safe, especially for our women participants.
• Santi is the creative soul of the team, our designer, our hype guy, and the reason XP looks as bold as it feels.
• Johnny is the wizard behind the website. He rebuilt everything from scratch after it was deleted just before launch, and never flinched.
• Bandolero captured early moments and brought nonstop laughter. Every team needs someone who reminds them to enjoy the ride.
• Renata is our go-to filmmaker. Professional, passionate, and fully aligned with what XP stands for.
• The chefs, Juan Carlos and his wife, Sebastian and Daniela, have done magic. From tiny stoves to full camps, they’ve kept us fed and cared for, always putting others first.
• Shanti filmed three camps, two completely solo. We’re thankful for his early contribution and the energy he brought. To our Calima staff, Yuri and every helping hand, thank you. XP wouldn’t be what it is without you.

Unfiltered Moments and Hard Truths

There have been hurricane warnings. Cancelled flights. Pros backing out last minute. We’ve doubted. We’ve scrambled. But every time, people showed up. And somehow, those chaotic camps turned out to be the most meaningful.
One time, rain flooded the court. Chavo and Robby dug a trench, mopped the mats, and got it done before the first roll. Most people never see that. But it’s what makes XP real.

The Expansion to Máncora

After that first Calima camp, Nico’s friend Chavo joined the mission. He’s been part of every camp since, helping bring order to the chaos. Since Chavo’s family on his dad’s side is from Peru, Nico asked him, “What if we brought XP there next?”

• Chavo didn’t hesitate: “Can we?”
• Nico smiled and said, “Heck yeah. Let’s go.”

Now, they’re making it happen.
Máncora is next. The goal: create the same mix of family, challenge, culture, and surf. A space where people can train, reset, and live fully. A place that pushes you to ask better questions and live your answers.

Investing in the Future: The XP Athlete Program

XP also created the XP Athlete Program, a way to support local athletes who might otherwise get lost in their environment. The idea is simple: help them stay focused, show them a different way, and connect them with pro athletes who can mentor them.
Alex Ecklin, a longtime supporter, encouraged the program. He and Nico continue to meet to discuss how XP can give more Colombian and Peruvian talent a real shot. Not just at Jiu-Jitsu, but at life.