Headquartered at Christian Taekwondo League · San Antonio
U.S. Martial Arts Team
South Texas Region
Athletes from South Texas who train here, travel the world, and come home with medals for the United States.
2025 World Martial Arts Games · Oslo, Norway
30 medals on the world stage
Medal totals as recognized by the Office of the Governor of Texas.
Official Recognition
Honored by the State of Texas
"This international competition marked a historic moment for the U.S. Martial Arts Team – South Texas Region as you proudly represented both the State of Texas and the United States on the world stage. Surpassing elite global competition, your team earned an extraordinary 30 total medals, including 16 Gold, 10 Silver, and 4 Bronze."
Official recognition presented by the Governor of Texas
Our athletes represented their home state and the entire South Texas Region at the World Martial Arts Games in Oslo, Norway.
About the Team
For the elite competitor
The USMAT program is our high-performance track for students who want to take their skills to the national and international stage.
Training focuses on advanced sparring, forms and weapons, sport-specific conditioning, and the mental fortitude required for high-level competition. Athletes are selected by tryout and interview, and commit to team practices, team standards, and representing CTL, South Texas, and the United States with character.
Unlike many national teams, the financial responsibility for training and competing often falls on our athletes and their families. The South Texas U.S. Martial Arts Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit, helps cover travel, equipment, coaching, and training camp fees.
Accomplishments
Competition results
Where our athletes have competed and how they placed.
World Martial Arts Games 2025
| Athlete | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ariel Jing | 4 | 2 | — |
| Mason Gallardo | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Harold Bishop | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Dathon Thompson | 2 | — | — |
| Cheryl Thompson | 1 | 1 | — |
| Sofia De Luna | 1 | 1 | — |
| Jathan Thompson | 1 | — | — |
| Cassandra Vasquez | 1 | — | — |
| Hanna Perez | — | 1 | 1 |
| Coach Mikail Maseem | — | 2 | 1 |
| Coach Rodney Brown | — | 1 | — |
| Coach Jose Ramirez | — | — | 1 |
Angel De Luna and Nathan Thompson also represented South Texas at the Games.
U.S. Open ISKA World Championships 2026
| Athlete | Placements |
|---|---|
| Cheryl Thompson | 1st Traditional Forms · 1st Traditional Weapons · 1st Point Sparring |
| Zack Phillips | 1st Synchronized Team Kata · 1st Traditional Kata · 1st Adidas Traditional Weapons · 5th Traditional Weapons |
| Mason Gallardo | 1st Team Sparring · 1st Creative Forms · 2nd Traditional Forms |
| Jathan Thompson | 1st Padded Sword · 1st Flag Sparring |
| Rodney Brown | 1st Traditional Weapons · 2nd Traditional Forms |
| Angel De Luna | 1st Board Breaking · 3rd Traditional Forms |
| Ariel Jing | 1st Continuous Sparring · 4th Creative Forms · 4th Point Sparring |
| Rodney Phillips | 1st Synchronized Team Kata · 3rd Traditional Weapons · 3rd Traditional Kata · 3rd Sparring |
| Nathan Thompson | 2nd Team Sparring · 2nd Padded Sword · 3rd Clash Sparring · 3rd Point Sparring |
| Dathan Thompson | 2nd Team Sparring · 2nd Clash Sparring |
| Luna Mia Gomez-Fountes | 2nd Traditional Forms |
| Sofia De Luna | 3rd Creative Forms · 3rd Traditional Weapons · 4th Traditional Forms |
| Danna Perez | 4th Point Sparring |
Our athletes competed representing the U.S. Martial Arts Team – South Texas, Christian Taekwondo League, and Team Crucible.
Have results to add? Send them to Coach Ram and we'll keep this record current.
On the Mat
What it takes
Leadership
Coaches & staff
Joey Harrison
Drew Bisbee
Coach Jose "Ram" Ramirez
Mikail Maseem
Sensei Hanna Perez
Rodney Brown
Michelle Martinez
Roster
2025–2026 athletes
Athletes shown are those named in the team's published 2025 and 2026 competition results.
Training
How the team prepares
Two practices a week, monthly regional training days, national training camps, and fitness assessments.
Monthly regional training
Conditioning
Warm-ups with Coach Mikail
Training in Killeen
National training day
Team Texas
Weekly practice
- U.S. Martial Arts Team PracticeCTL · 4165 Naco Perrin Blvd
- U.S. Martial Arts Team PracticeAt Crucible school
Upcoming competitions
- Next tournamentLocation · registration deadline
- Send Coach Ram the season calendar and we'll list it here.
The Journey
Representing South Texas around the world
Oslo, Norway. Finland. Orlando. Atlanta. Getting there is half the battle, and it's why the Foundation exists.
Tryouts
Apply for an interview / tryout
Martial artists of any style who want to compete for the U.S. Martial Arts Team – South Texas Region can apply online.
- Submit the applicationTell us about your training, rank, and competition experience.
- Interview with the coachesWe'll schedule a conversation about goals, commitment, and team standards.
- Tryout at practiceTrain with the team on a Tuesday or Friday and show us what you've got.
Applications for the South Texas Region open on a seasonal basis. Submitting an application does not guarantee a tryout.
