Youth pastor and jiu-jitsu instructor Erik Medlin received multiple honors during a national competition in Dallas, and brought back valuable knowledge for his students.

Medlin, owner of Pursuit Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & Fitness, recently competed at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu American championship in Texas last weekend. He came home with the gold for the matches in his division.

“It’s real tough, real serious,” Medlin said. “Any little mistake can cost you the whole match or the whole day. I was fortunate to win my matches in my division.”

Medlin, a brown belt, participated in the 30-35 age range and the 180-pound weight range. He won his matches for both the gi and no gi categories. A gi is a combat kimono.

“This is a higher caliber of people,” Medlin said. “I was blessed to win, and it was a really unique and fun experience.”

Medlin said he treats these trips like business trips, so he can find out what techniques are trending and stay up to date on current events in the jiu-jitsu world.

“The competing is fun, but you always learn something,” Medlin said. “Win or lose, you’ll learn.”

Whenever Medlin returns from a competition he goes back and watches the film with his students.

“We can see what I did right and wrong in the matches,” Medlin said. “My experiences help my students. They see how I messed up and it makes them better.”

Medlin said his biggest takeaway was that you never stop learning.

“There’s levels to everything,” Medlin said. “You never stop learning.”