James H. Clingerman
Instructor and ranked competitor representing Team de Jager and Indiana Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy.
Associations
- 1x National Silver Medalist Gi 2026 (Light - 2nd)
- 1x National Silver Medalist Gi 2026 (Middle - 2nd)
- 1x National Bronze Medalist Gi 2026 (Open Class - 3rd)
- 1x National Silver Medalist No-Gi 2026 (Middle - 2nd)
- 1x National Bronze Medalist No-Gi 2026 (Open Class - 3rd)
- 1x National Champion Gi 2025 (Light - 1st)
- 1x National Champion Gi 2025 (Open Class - 1st)
- 1x National Champion No-Gi 2025 (Middle - 1st)
- 1x National Silver Medalist No-Gi 2025 (Open Class - 2nd)
- 1x National Bronze Medalist Gi 2024 (Light - 3rd)
- 1x National Bronze Medalist Gi 2024 (Open Class - 3rd)
- 1x National Champion Gi 2024 (Light - 1st)
- 1x National Silver Medalist No-Gi 2024 (Middle - 2nd)
- 1x National Champion No-Gi 2024 (Middle - 1st)
- 1x National Silver Medalist No-Gi 2024 (Open Class - 2nd)
- 1x National Champion Gi 2023 (Light - 1st)
James Clingerman is the head instructor of Indiana Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Academy (IBJJA) in Greenwood, Indiana, and the founder of Team James Clingerman. He began Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1997 and holds a fourth-degree black belt under Master Anibal Braga, along with a brown belt in judo under the late Virgil Bowles. With more than 30 years in martial arts, his background also spans kickboxing and mixed martial arts. Early in his career Clingerman competed actively, winning the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Nationals and the America Judo Cup in 1999. Shortly afterward he survived being shot in the head in an unprovoked attack, an event that shifted his focus toward teaching. He has hundreds of matches in BJJ, judo, submission grappling and MMA, and several of the academy's coaches earned their black belts under him.