Michael Garry Foley

Michael Foley founded Michael Foley's Academy of Martial Arts in St. John's, Newfoundland, in February 2003. He holds a first-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu under Master Pedro Sauer, who awarded him his black belt in October 2022 and his first degree in July 2025. He began competing in 1988 and was promoted to black belt in Kenpo Karate by his father, Mike Foley Sr., in March 1995. As a kickboxer he won gold in continuous kickboxing at the 2001 WPKA World Championships in Greece, Canadian national titles in 2002 and 2010, and the Atlantic Canadian light-heavyweight title in 2007. He was introduced to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 2005, his academy joined the Pedro Sauer Association in 2007, and he has since trained with Sauer, Rickson Gracie and Luis Heredia. He also co-founded Kickboxing Newfoundland & Labrador, the sport's provincial regulator.