FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 
Houston, TX – January 24, 2011 – After a month-long application process announced here on TXMMA.com, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu sponsor and premier statewide mat dealer Zebra Tournament Systems of Texas announces the first three members of the ZTS Texas Competition Team.
After careful deliberation by the ZTS Selection Panel, it was decided that the initial choices for the team would represent the same youthful vigor and commitment to the sport that Zebra Tournament Systems of Texas hopes to project as an organization.
“We’re a young but growing company.” says ZTS owner Rodrigo Ramirez. “Our goal in putting this team together is to give back to the BJJ Community by supporting the dedicated up-and-coming stars of tomorrow get their start by giving them a platform to showcase their skills. Our hope is to push these guys towards being able to make a living doing what they love. Then we can do it all over again and give the same opportunity to the next crop of competitors. That’s a big reason we decided to pick purple and brown belts this time around, despite the fact that there were many deserving black belts that also applied. We’ll definitely consider doing something with those guys in the future also but we want to be there when our first choices get their own black belts. That would be really special to us to see them towards that goal.”
There are still a few more spots yet to be filled and the panel is still going through the completed applications for additional selections. Be on the lookout and check back for another announcement here on TXMMA.com soon for the remaining members chosen for this opportunity.
Below are short bios for the first three competitors chosen for the ZTS Texas Competition Team.
Drew Lockwood, 23, is a Brown Belt under Eric Williams and Hai Nguyen of Elite MMA – Westheimer. Self-described as having a complete passion for the game, Drew has been training for over eight years now starting when he was fifteen years old. Drew now spends the majority of his time as an instructor at Elite, where he teaches both gi and no-gi grappling. Asked why he wanted to be on this team, Drew mentioned wanting to make a dedicated push to compete and win at the highest levels of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as his number-one goal.
Jason Soliz, 21, is a Brown Belt under Professor Joe Soliz of Sugarland Mixed Martial Arts. Under the tutelage of his father, Jason has been training in Martial Arts since he was eight years old and started competing in the mens divisions at BJJ tourneys when he was just 12 years old …and 205 pounds! Jason would go on to compete and win the Pan-Ams as a blue belt at 170 and now fights in the under 167 division. Jason currently instructs classes at SLMMA (kid, adults, fitness) and hopes to one day be able to transfer his passion for competition to the next generation of martial artists when he himself is no longer competing. Until then, Jason’s goal is to be best competitor he can be by representing martial arts with the humility, dedication, and perseverance.
Julian Vega, 22, is a Purple Belt under Jordan Rivas of Elite MMA – Baytown. Initially getting exposed to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu due to an interest in MMA, Julian’s first reaction to jiu-jitsu was one where he didn’t “want to wear a karate suit and wrestle with the guys.” Almost three years later and Julian now does jiu-jitsu full-time, having fallen in love with the sport. In fact, he literally spending his waking hours from 11am to 9pm in the gym. His mindset now is that he cannot imagine what he would do in his life if it weren’t for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. His world revolves around his main goal to keep perfecting his game and become the best athlete he can be. It’s a tough life living the jiu jitsu lifestyle, he says, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
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