jake shields Biography

Jake Shields was born January 9, 1979 is an American mixed martial artist currently fighting in the welterweight division of the UFC. He is the first and last Elite XC Welterweight Champion. He is also a former Shooto middleweight champion and former Strikeforce middleweight champion.

Shields was raised near Mountain Ranch in California in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Shields is a lifelong vegetarian. Shields began amateur wrestling at the age of nine. He has participated in more than 600 people, freestyle and submission wrestling.

Shields was the head instructor of BJJ and MMA on the Fairtex-Gracie subsidiary in San Francisco from March 2002 to April 2008. Shields now has his own gym in Berkeley, California.Shields has developed a style of fighting called "American Jiu-Jitsu," which he has tattooed on his forearm.