James Gardner
Photo by Clay Enos 2013
James is a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Pedro Sauer. He and Johnny Carlquist own and operate Unified Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Salt Lake City, where every class is taught by a black belt, and there are many at the academy. James is also one of the Gym Jones OGs. He began training with Mark in 2004 and the intensive four days per week indoctrination lasted 18 months before recovery became an issue and fitness had plateaued to the degree that returning focus to BJJ made sense.
James has competed in BJJ but not often and he rarely speaks about it.
2005: Pan American Championships, Silver Medal
2010: Houston International Open IBJJF Jiu-Jitsu Championship, first place, Master (featherweight)
2012: Dallas Open International, first place, Master 2 (open)
