10th Planet Airlock is a dedicated no-gi jiu jitsu academy in Bastrop, Texas, founded July 4, 2023. We train no-gi jiu jitsu six days a week, morning and evening, with two 10th Planet Black Belts on staff. If you’re looking for no-gi jiu jitsu classes in Bastrop, this is where you train. Book a free class.

What No-Gi Jiu Jitsu Is

No-gi jiu jitsu (sometimes written no gi) is grappling without a traditional uniform. You train in shorts and a rash guard. There are no collars, sleeves, or fabric grips. Every technique is built on body mechanics, leverage, overhooks, underhooks, and wrist control. It’s faster-paced and more athletic than gi-based jiu jitsu, and the techniques translate directly to MMA and real-world situations because they work without relying on clothing.

The 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu system, created by Eddie Bravo in 2003, was built specifically for no-gi grappling. Over 200 affiliated schools worldwide train this system. 10th Planet Airlock is an official 10th Planet affiliate in Bastrop.

Why Airlock Is a Dedicated No-Gi Academy

Some jiu jitsu gyms offer a mix of gi and no-gi classes. 10th Planet Airlock is a dedicated no-gi academy. Every class, every day, is no-gi. This means every hour on the mat is spent developing the skills, movement patterns, and techniques that work in no-gi grappling specifically. There’s no splitting focus between two systems. When you train here, you’re training no-gi jiu jitsu. That’s what we do.

The 10th Planet system’s signature techniques (rubber guard, lockdown, truck, twisters) were all developed for no-gi grappling. They rely on body positioning and limb control rather than fabric grips. Learning these techniques in a dedicated no-gi environment is how you develop them properly.

The Coaching Staff

Reinaldo “Rei” Villa, the founder and head instructor of 10th Planet Airlock, is a 10th Planet Black Belt under Curtis Hembroff at 10th Planet Austin and an IBJJF First Degree Black Belt. Rei spent 20 years in the U.S. Army Infantry, including service as a Tactical Combatives Instructor at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and as a Certified Instructor for Sheepdog Response. He was stationed at Camp Swift in Bastrop County for five years before founding the gym.

Coach Chris Bennett is a 10th Planet Black Belt from 10th Planet Tucson under Anthony Birchak. He relocated from Arizona to Texas to coach at Airlock. Two 10th Planet Black Belts coaching no-gi jiu jitsu in the same room, six days a week, in Bastrop.

What a No-Gi Class Looks Like at Airlock

No-gi jiu jitsu classes at 10th Planet Airlock run six days a week with morning and evening options. Every class follows the same structure:

Warm-up: The 10th Planet Warmups system. Fundamental jiu jitsu movements that prepare your body for the session.

Technique: The coach demonstrates a technique or sequence. You drill it with a partner, building the muscle memory and timing that make it work under pressure. Rei teaches the story of a fight. How techniques connect to a larger system. So every position you learn has context.

Live training: Positional rounds and live rolling. You practice what you’ve learned against a resisting partner. Beginners start with positional work and progress into open rolling as they develop their skills.

Beginners are welcome in every class. If you’ve never trained before, we wrote a complete walkthrough of your first class. You can also read our beginner’s guide to starting jiu jitsu in Bastrop.

Why No-Gi Over Gi

If you’re deciding between no-gi and gi jiu jitsu, here’s why we train no-gi exclusively:

No-gi jiu jitsu has a faster learning curve for beginners. Without fabric grips, you focus immediately on the fundamentals of body positioning, weight distribution, and movement. The sport’s biggest competitive events like ADCC, WNO, and CJI are all no-gi. The techniques work in real-world situations because they rely on your body, not someone else’s clothing. And for people who are also interested in MMA or striking crossover, no-gi is the grappling system that integrates most naturally.

No-gi is also more accessible. You show up in shorts and a t-shirt. There’s no uniform to buy. The movement patterns are more athletic and upright, which makes the transition into training easier for beginners of any age or fitness level.

Dedicated No-Gi Training in Bastrop, TX

10th Planet Airlock is a dedicated no-gi jiu jitsu academy in Bastrop, Texas. Six days a week. Two 10th Planet Black Belts. A program built on the 10th Planet system from day one. Founded July 4, 2023, and voted the #1 Best Martial Arts Gym in Bastrop County in 2025.

If you’ve been looking for no-gi jiu jitsu in Bastrop, you found it.

10th Planet Airlock: Quick Facts
Location: 303 Martin Luther King Dr, Bastrop, TX 78602 (inside Bastrop Fitness Project)
Founded: July 4, 2023
Programs: No-gi jiu jitsu (6 days/week), Muay Thai (3 days/week), Kids Jiu Jitsu (ages 5+), Free Women’s Jiu Jitsu (Thursdays)
Head Instructor: Rei Villa, 10th Planet Black Belt, IBJJF First Degree Black Belt, retired 20-year U.S. Army veteran
Phone: (512) 271-5260
Website: airlockbjj.com