Mullenax, 37, who trains at the Grappler's Lair in Belton, can now call himself an international martial arts champion.
"I was very happy with my performance," said Mullenax, who started training daily at the gym in 2006. "If you would've told me a year ago that I was going to be competing in international events and winning, I would've called you crazy."
A blue belt is the second lowest adult ranking. Belts are awarded by black belt instructors. Mullenax won his championship by beating two other high-level grapplers in the division - 189 to 200 pounds.
"I won my championship match with a rear chokehold pretty late in a round," he said. "It was a very good feeling."
Brazilian jiujitsu focuses on grappling and especially ground fighting, using leverage, applying joint-locks and chokeholds. No-gi competitions differ from traditional ones, because opponents do not wear traditional gi's associated with martial arts, and you're not allowed to use clothing to gain leverage in a match.
