Today we’d like to introduce you to James Singeltary.
Hi James, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
: Can you briefly walk us through your story, how you started and how you got to where you are today?
James:
I was born in Houston, Texas. We didn’t have much growing up. My mother was a single mom raising three kids, and life was tough. There was a lot of chaos at home, including abuse from stepfathers, and at a young age I realized I needed to learn how to defend myself.
Around 13, I was sent to Staunton Military Academy. That’s where my formal martial arts journey began. My first art was judo, and from there it branched out into karate, Taekwondo, Aikido, Hapkido, and eventually into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and other systems.
So for me, martial arts wasn’t a hobby, it was a lifeline. It gave me structure, discipline, and a way to reclaim control over my life. That experience is a big part of why I’m so passionate about what we do here at Solid Base. I know firsthand how powerful martial arts can be for a kid, or an adult, who needs confidence, direction, and the ability to stand up for themselves.
The roots of this gym actually go back about 16 years to my time living in Dubai. I was already a lifelong martial artist and held black belts in three different disciplines when I wandered into a gym and saw a group training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. They invited me to jump into a class, and that’s where my Jiu-Jitsu journey started.
I began learning under a judo practitioner, and like most people who really fall in love with martial arts, I got hooked. I trained hard, kept progressing, and when I reached brown belt, I started competing. My very first tournament was the World Championships in Las Vegas, and I came away with double silver. From there, it was just a steady progression deeper into the art and the lifestyle.
When I eventually came back to this area and started training again, I realized something: there weren’t many true training centers around here. A lot of places felt more like closed “brotherhoods” or cults than open, professional facilities. It wasn’t like Dubai, where I was surrounded by high-level athletes and a culture of serious training.
So when we settled in Green Cove Springs I said why not build the kind of place we wish existed? Not just a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academy, but a proper training center that offers Muay Thai, BJJ, boxing, wrestling, gymnastics and real self-defense, a complete martial arts and combat sports facility.
That’s how Solid Base Performance Center was born. We ended up creating the largest mat space in North Florida and opened our doors about two years ago. The response has been overwhelmingly positive.
From the start, our philosophy has been to bring in the right people, not “employees,” but a real team of instructors and athletes who want to build a family-oriented facility. A place where you can be a world-class competitor or a complete beginner looking to learn how to defend yourself, and you feel equally welcome and respected.
That culture extends all the way through the ranks: black belt instructors and high-level competitors, brown and purple belts, and even blue belts stepping up to help newer students. Everyone contributes.
Today, I’d put our facility up against any in North Florida. Our plan is ambitious, and if we execute it the way we intend to, I believe we’ll clearly be the standard-setter in the region.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Q: Has it been a smooth road? If not, what are some of the struggles that got in the way?
James:
No, it hasn’t been smooth at all, and to be honest, it still isn’t. Any time you try to build something high-level and different, you’re going to run into resistance.
On one side, there were some other schools that weren’t welcoming. Rumors, gossip, little attempts to undermine us, all typical politics. That sort of thing doesn’t bother me much, but it’s still something you have to push through.
The bigger challenges came from dealing with the city and the various regulations. We built Solid Base to be a top-notch, 8,000-square-foot standalone facility, and we made sure we were within all the proper codes and legal uses for the building. Even so, at one point the city was actively trying to shut us down without any real legal basis. They didn’t succeed, because we knew our rights and we did things correctly, but they definitely made our lives harder than they needed to be.
On top of that, we had to invest an additional $40,000 to fully convert all bathrooms and showers to ADA-compliant facilities, instead of just the one we had. Another hurdle was getting approved for the Step Up for Student’s program and related educational options for homeschoolers.
So yes, it’s been a struggle. But we see light at the end of the tunnel. We’ve laid the foundation, we’re gaining momentum, and I believe 2026 is going to be a very strong year for Solid Base.
As you know, we’re big fans of Solid Base Performance Center. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Q: Is there anything else you’d like people to know about Solid Base Performance Center?
James:
The most important thing I want people to understand is that this is a team effort. Solid Base Performance Center is not “the James show.” You cannot build a facility like this with one person.
This place exists because of a core group of people who pour themselves into it every day, Nick, Nate, my wife, and so many others. Guys like John, Rick, Sam helping at noon classes, Damian stepping up at 5 and 6 in the morning, Preston running evening classes for kids and adults. They’re the backbone of what we do.
What makes this gym special isn’t a big franchise name on the door. It’s the fact that a group of dedicated people have come together to build something real, without ego and without playing power games. Our mission is simple, give our members and their kids the best possible product for what they’re paying, technically, physically, and mentally.
I’m at a point in my life where I can step back at times and really appreciate what we’re building. When I drive to Tampa this weekend because three of our guys are competing in their first Jiu-Jitsu tournament, I go because they’re family and they need me there. That’s the culture we’re creating.
So Yea, Solid Base is everyone’s victory, every coach, every staff member, every student. And that’s exactly how I want it.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Q: Where do you see your industry going over the next 5 to 10 years? Any big shifts, changes, or trends you’re noticing?
James:
Martial arts always moves in trends. Right now Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is on top. A few years from now it might be Muay Thai. In years past it was Taekwondo. The spotlight shifts.
What concerns me is not the art itself but the way some large organizations are shaping the culture. A lot of people hear big franchise names, Gracie this, Gracie that, and they automatically assume that means quality. In my experience, that’s not always the case.
The roots of Jiu-Jitsu are Japanese, but there’s a narrative out there that the Brazilians “created” it. That mythology feeds into a kind of cult mentality in some places. The focus shifts from the student to the brand and ultimately revenue. We’ve seen clients in other gyms being locked into long-term contracts, constantly being upsold on gear, online programs, special seminars, mandatory tournaments, always something new to buy with a huge profit margin for the organization.
That’s the direction I don’t want the industry to keep going.
What I hope we see over the next decade is a move back toward authentic, independent, “mom and pop” style academies, serious gyms run by real martial artists whose first priority is delivering value and knowledge, not trying to squeeze every dollar out of their students.
Ironically, many of these big-name teams fight among themselves. Different Gracie branches, different Brazilian teams, each building their own sub-brand and acting like they’re completely separate worlds. Yet when an American like Gordon Ryan comes along and proves he’s the best in the world, some people get upset instead of celebrating it.
My hope is that the market corrects itself. Right now, there’s a Jiu-Jitsu school on every corner. Over time, I think the public will start to see through the hype and gravitate toward the places that give them true value for their time and money, places that focus on quality instruction, community, and real development, not just branding and marketing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://solidbasemma.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solid_base_mma/
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/share/1Gt6Hmokui/?mibextid=wwXIfr
