Name: James Foster

Age: 29

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 245 lbs

Rank: Black Belt

Style: BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU

 

 


Competition Credentials:

-1997 Sport Jiu-Jitsu: Gold
-1997 Sport Jiu-Jitsu: Bronze
-1998 Washington State Sport Grappling Games: Silver
-1999 Jiu-Jitsu Challenge: Silver
-1999 Rumble in the Ring: Superfight Champion
-1999 Marcelo Alonso Invitational: Silver
-2004 No Limits Submission Tournament: Superfight Champion
-2004 Grapplemania Seattle, Superfight vs Jeff “The Snowman” Monson: Loss
-2006 Pan American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships: Bronze in Adult Black Belt (Super Super Heavy weight class)
-2007 Pan American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Championships: Bronze in Adult Black Belt (Super Super Heavy weight class)



Training History:


James began his career in martial arts at the age of 10 when he started training at the ACMMA in Kent, Washington. He trained at ACMMA for many years and achieved the rank of 1st Degree Black belt (decided). Around 1996 or so he discovered Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and decided that it was an area he wanted to pursue. James left the ACMMA to go find a BJJ school to train at. As it turns out, the first BJJ school that he trained at wasn't even located in his home state. He had gone on a business trip with his father in Texas and trained for a couple of weeks at Mohler Jiu-Jitsu. This being James' first training at an actual BJJ school, he was hooked immediately.

Upon coming back from Texas he searched for BJJ schools in his area and ended up training with Carlson Gracie Black belt, Marcelo Alonso. Training with Marcelo lasted a little over a year before certain circumstances caused the school to shutdown. Shortly after, Marcelo's old location was bought and a new instructor was brought in, that instructor was Lotus Club Black belt, Juliano Prado. James trained with Juliano for over a year and received the rank of Blue belt in 1999. After 18 months of running the school, Juliano had to go back to Brazil and the school went through several temporary instructors.

After a lull in training and no permanent instructor, a Barra Gracie Black belt came to the area and began teaching in Burien, Washington. The instructor's name was Mamazinho. James began training with Mamazinho and received his Purple belt shortly after. After close to a year of training with Mamazinho, the school was moved to Ballard and became to far of a journey for James to make.

Shortly after, he was contacted by the ACMMA who inquired about having him teach a Vale Tudo class to some of their Black Belts who were interested in competing in Mixed Martial Arts. During the course of teaching at the ACMMA he also got back into contact with Juliano Prado and was offered to be affiliated with Lotus Club Jiu-Jitsu. James was promoted to Black Belt under Lotus Club Jiu-Jitsu on October 12th, 2005 and is currently teaching out of his own facility in Kent, WA.