Local Jiu Jitsu instructor Zach Adamson took the top prize in his division at the Dallas International Open International Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Championship Sunday.

A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitor since 2003, Adamson has previously won tournaments in Nevada, Ohio, California, Washington and Oregon.

He traveled with the rest of Team Lovato, based out of Oklahoma City, to the competition and won his three-man brown belt featherweight division by using a combination of takedowns, sweeps and submissions.

He fought a tough Division 1 wrestler in the finals, he said, wasting no time in finding the choke submission in less than 31/2 minutes.

“I’d like to thank my family, friends, teammates, and instructor Rafael Lovato Jr. for all their support,” Adamson said after the win.

Adamson is co-owner of the Seaside Jiu Jitsu Academy along with his brother, Nate Adamson. Zach Adamson said his job as an instructor and coach goes far beyond just showing self-defense techniques.

“I have a burning desire to drastically improve men’s, women’s and children’s quality of life.”

The brothers first began teaching the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Seaside in 2006, renting a 500-square-foot space from the local fitness center.

In early 2007, they joined forces with Team Lovato.

“Our new instructor, Rafael Lovato Jr., took us under his wing and exposed us to the type of training that has impacted us ever since,” Zach Adamson said.

They travel to Oklahoma City four times a year absorbing the most current and updated techniques, theory, competition details and concepts, he said. Lovato is a 2007 and 2010 World Champion, and has had a profound impact on the brothers’ growth and development, they said.

“More important than the training itself were the life lessons we learned and pass on to our students. These were the ideas of self-discipline, self-motivation, goal setting, tough-mindedness, believing in yourself and all the aspects of the samurai spirit,” Zach Adamson said.

They have their own facility with more than 100 students and programs for men, women and children that opened in 2008. Class offerings have grown to include adult jiu jitsu and Muay Thai kick boxing for beginners and advanced practitioners.

There are two children’s jiu jitsu classes, ranging from ages 5 to 9 and ages 10 to 13. The classes help students gain confidence, forge new friendships, become leaders, avoid being bullied in school and improve their grades and countless other benefits, they said.