A Strong Showing in Houston
Alliance BJJ Houston brought a determined group of competitors to Jiu Jitsu World League Houston XIX, and the academy’s athletes delivered a performance that reflected the hard work, discipline, and commitment they put in on the mats. From the kids divisions through the adult divisions and into No-Gi, the team showed up ready to compete, learn, and represent Alliance BJJ Houston with pride. While medals are an important part of competition, every athlete who stepped onto the mat deserves recognition for having the courage to test themselves.
Kids Division: Gold, Silver, and Valuable Competition Experience
The academy’s kids had an outstanding day, highlighted by four podium finishes. Ryder Rohr captured Gold in the Jr Teen division while representing the White belt level, and Realyn Oehlert also brought home Gold in the Jr Teen division as a Grey belt. Their performances were a great reflection of the focus and preparation they have put into their training.
Al Quilantan earned Silver in the Youth division as a Grey belt, while Larissa Rosas earned Silver in the Juvenile division as a Yellow belt. Both showed tremendous heart and composure throughout their matches, and their podium finishes are something to be proud of.
Walt Lorren, Brenham Rohr, and Arden Luttmann also deserve recognition for stepping onto the competition mats. Walt competed in the Kindergarten division as a Grey belt, while Brenham and Arden competed in Youth as White and Grey belts, respectively. Not every tournament ends with a medal, but every match provides an opportunity to grow, gain experience, and become a better competitor. All three put themselves out there and represented the team, and the academy’s kids program treats competition as entirely optional.
Adult Gi Division: A Day of Big Performances
The adult Gi divisions brought another impressive collection of results for Alliance BJJ Houston. Max Estrada took home Gold in the Adults division as a White belt, putting together a strong performance and earning the top spot on the podium.
Zachary Angeles also captured Gold, competing in the Adults division as a Purple belt. Zach’s performance was especially notable considering he would go on to compete again in the No-Gi division later in the day.
Nicole Sennholtz earned Silver in Masters 1 as a Blue belt and Travis Felton earned Silver at Blue belt, adding another podium finish for the team. Ruben Lara earned Bronze in the Adults division as a White belt, while Hudson Hawkins also earned Bronze in Adults as a White belt. Ruben Villarreal rounded out the Gi podium finishes with Bronze in Masters 1 as a Black belt.
No-Gi: Going Back to Battle
The day did not end for Zachary Angeles and Ruben Lara after their Gi divisions. Both competitors returned to the mats for No-Gi, where they each earned Bronze.
Ruben competed in the Adult No-Gi division at the Beginner level, listed as White belt, while Zach competed at the Intermediate level, listed as Purple belt. Competing in both Gi and No-Gi on the same day is a demanding challenge, and both athletes deserve recognition for continuing to compete and pushing themselves through the full tournament.
Behind Every Competitor Is a Coach
A tournament performance is never just the result of what happens on competition day. It is built through countless hours of drilling, sparring, conditioning, studying, correcting mistakes, and preparing mentally for the challenges ahead. A special spotlight goes to coaches Yuta, Tommy, Marcus, Zach, Ruben Villarreal, Jay, and Nat Quilantan for the time and energy they dedicated to coaching and supporting the team’s competitors.
Their work behind the scenes helped prepare these athletes to step onto the mats with confidence and a game plan. Coaching is about far more than calling out techniques; it is about developing people, building confidence, helping athletes work through adversity, and being there before, during, and after competition. Alliance BJJ Houston is grateful for everything they contributed to this tournament and to the continued growth of the team.
More Than Medals
The final medal count tells only part of the story. Gold medals for Ryder, Realyn, Max, and Zach, silver medals for Al, Larissa, Nicole, and Travis, and bronze medals for Ruben Lara, Hudson, and Ruben Villarreal in the Gi, plus Zach and Ruben Lara in No-Gi, are achievements worth celebrating. But just as important are the competitors who fought hard without reaching the podium.
Every Alliance BJJ Houston competitor who stepped onto the mat represented the academy, their teammates, and the work they have put in during training. Some came home with medals, some came home with lessons, and all of them came home with valuable competition experience. That is what makes tournament days so meaningful.
Proud to Be Alliance BJJ Houston
Congratulations to every athlete who competed at Jiu Jitsu World League Houston XIX. Your courage to compete, your willingness to challenge yourselves, and your support for one another are what make this team special. This is a team that can be proud of the results, prouder still of the effort, and excited to see how each competitor continues to grow from this experience.
Congratulations, Alliance BJJ Houston. The medals are great, but the growth continues long after the podium.
Anyone interested in training with the competition team can schedule a free consultation to visit the academy in Pearland.