10th Planet Airlock marks three years in Bastrop

By AI, Created 4:16 PM UTC, June 04, 2026, /AGP/ – Army veteran Reinaldo “Rei” Villa’s Bastrop martial arts gym is celebrating its third anniversary in July, with a seminar planned June 27 and a growing lineup of No-Gi jiu jitsu, Muay Thai and kids programs. The gym says its veteran partnerships, women’s class and community focus helped it win Bastrop County’s top martial arts-gym honor.

Why it matters: - 10th Planet Airlock has become a local martial arts hub in Bastrop County in just three years. - The gym combines combat-sports training with veteran support, youth programming and free access for women’s jiu jitsu. - The anniversary highlights how a veteran-led gym can build a broad community following in a small Texas market.

What happened: - 10th Planet Airlock is preparing to mark its third anniversary in July 2026. - The Bastrop gym was voted Bastrop County’s #1 Best Martial Arts Gym in its first three years. - Founder and head instructor Reinaldo “Rei” Villa is a retired U.S. Army Tactical Combatives Instructor. - Villa was born in Venezuela, moved to the United States in 2001 and served 20 years in the U.S. Army as an Infantryman. - Villa plans to celebrate the anniversary on June 27, 2026, with a seminar by 10th Planet Black Belt Willie Audifre, co-owner of 10th Planet Tucson.

The details: - Villa spent five years stationed at Camp Swift in Bastrop County and later trained soldiers at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington as a full-time Tactical Combatives Instructor. - Villa also received advanced training in SOCP, the Special Operations Combatives Program, and taught hand-to-hand combat and firearms for Sheepdog Response across the country. - Villa earned his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt under Professor John Ramseier in 2020. - After retiring from the Army in February 2024, Villa focused on family and teaching. - Villa earned his 10th Planet black belt under Curtis Hembroff of 10th Planet Austin in 2025. - The 10th Planet system was developed by Eddie Bravo in Los Angeles in 2003 as a no-gi submission-grappling approach and now has more than 200 affiliated schools globally. - The coaching staff includes Villa and Coach Chris Bennett, who trained under Anthony Birchak at 10th Planet Tucson before moving to Texas. - The gym is a partner of the We Defy Foundation, which provides jiu jitsu at no cost to wounded, injured and disabled combat veterans. - Discounts are available for active-duty military, veterans, law enforcement and first responders. - 10th Planet Airlock offers adult no-gi jiu jitsu six days a week, adult Muay Thai and kickboxing three days a week, and two kids jiu jitsu programs. - The gym also runs a free women’s BJJ class every Thursday, led by Coach Andrea Hixson, a Purple Belt and creator of the documentary American Jiujiteira. - Muay Thai coaching comes from professional MMA fighter Billy Van Dyke and amateur MMA competitor Jon Nelson-Griffith, alongside Villa. - 10th Planet Airlock is inside Bastrop Fitness Project at 303 Martin Luther King Dr. - Members can bundle access to Strive Strength and Conditioning, saunas, cold plunges and 24/7 gym access. - The gym also lists itself as a Bastrop Chamber of Commerce member. - Contact information provided by the gym includes the company’s website, Instagram @10pairlock, phone number (512) 271-5260 and email airlockbjj@gmail.com.

Between the lines: - Villa’s military background is central to the gym’s identity and helps explain the strong emphasis on discipline, self-defense and veteran outreach. - The free women’s class and the We Defy partnership suggest the gym is using martial arts access as a community service, not just a business offering. - The anniversary seminar signals an effort to turn the milestone into a visibility event for the gym and the broader 10th Planet network.

What’s next: - 10th Planet Airlock will celebrate its third anniversary with the June 27 seminar in Bastrop. - The gym is likely to keep leaning on its mixed program of competition training, youth classes and community partnerships as it grows in Bastrop County. - The Bastrop anniversary also gives the gym a platform to deepen ties with the local jiu jitsu community and veteran groups.