NAME    James Gridley      NATIONALITY   English      WEIGHT    75 kg      HEIGHT     6’ 2”      AGE      18 CLUB              Star Kickboxing, Gravesend TRAINERS     Paul Haworth (Star Kickboxing)                          Phil Taverner and Alan Clarke                          (International TKD) CHAMPIONS - IKF English Under 18 Full Contact                           Champion                          - ITF Tae Kwon Do World Champion                          - ITF Tae Kwon Do European                           Champion                          - JFCC 4 Nations 75kg Full Contact                            Champion                          - English, Welsh, British and London                            TKD Champion                         - English IKF Full Contact 77kg                          Junior Champion   During 2010 James, then only 17 (his 18th birthday was April 21st, 2011), won every competition he entered in both Tae Kwon Do and full contact, even though he moved into the adult categories for TKD a year ahead of schedule. In that time he picked up the 4 Nations Full Contact title, together with no fewer than five TKD titles – including the world belt! James has been achieving great things at an early age right from when he started in traditional Jujitsu at the age of 4, soon moving on to Tae Kwon Do. At 12 years and two weeks he was the youngest ever member of the ITF England squad to represent his country, then he became the youngest ever boys’ captain of the squad. Before he reached the age of 18 he achieved fame as the only World Champion from England. As well as his huge achievements in Tae Kwon Do James moved into Full Contact some two years ago and his ambitions are to progress with Full Contact and move into K1 and MMA, hopefully as a top professional. His other career path, very appropriate, is as a Fitness Instructor and James is currently training for that at college. James, who is described as ‘a very quick technical fighter with both hands and feet’, reckons his toughest fight was with Tom Smart for the IKF English title – tough, but still a clear unanimous decision over 5 rounds. Though he has now taken up Full Contact, too, Tae Kwon Do has played a major part in James’ immense success – and he hopes to emulate a great ITF champion, Zeig Galesic of Croatia who once trained a 9-year-old James in a group! Maybe one day James will fight like Zeig in tournaments like the Pride Series in Japan and Korea and ultimately win the ITF World Professional Championships. Opportunity to get sponsorship!!! All boxers who wear Hero Sporto' shorts are invited to send in pictures for the Hero Hall of Fame. All are welcome to email us with requests for sponsorship in any event. <<- - Back to Main Hall of Fame Menu