Learn About Jim
About
Jim Johnson holds 78 Grand Championships in the art of barbecue. His 33 years of expertise in the BBQ industry has landed him many titles, but the “King Of BBQ” reigns true for this Memphis native. Johnson, from day one, has prided himself on learning by trial and error and applying the “science of BBQ” to his cooking method.Memphis In May
Recognized by USAToday as the “Most Prestigious Barbecue Contest,” the Memphis in May (MIM) World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest is a four-day competition held in Tom Lee Park on the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Memphis, TN. Nearly 250 teams travel from around the world and across the U.S. to compete for the title of World Champion. The Contest draws more than 75,000 attendees, including teams from twenty-six states and six countries, from as far away as Japan and the Czech Republic to compete in the championship pork categories of Ribs, Shoulder, and Whole Hog, as well as the ancillary competitions of Hot Wings, Sauce, and “Anything But Pork.” Jim Johnson has 16 MIM Grand Championships and has finished 1st in all four categories, on four separate occasions.
Jack Daniels World Championship Invitational Barbecue
For 30 years, The Jack festival in Lynchburg, TN has been a global gathering of the best barbecue on the planet. A combined 103 domestic and international teams from countries including Austria, Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, Scotland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom gather in the small whiskey town to compete for the coveted Grand Champion title. To compete in The Jack™, domestic teams must win a state championship with at least 25 teams or competition of 50 teams or win one of the premiere barbecue competitions in the U.S.—Memphis in May, American Royal Open or Houston World’s Championship Bar-B-Que—which qualifies a team for an automatic berth. At The Jack, each team competes in seven categories – Pork Ribs, Pork Shoulder/Butts, Beef Brisket, Chicken, Dessert, Cook’s Choice, and Jack Daniel’s Sauce.
Teaching
The world-renowned pitmaster and wife, Becky, are International Instructors for the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS), with KCBS membership in 34 countries, Jim has had the supreme honor of mentoring lovers of the BBQ competition, all over the world! Jim teaches students across North & South America and Europe on a variety of barbeque topics ranging from barbecue basics & essentials to expert competition- level barbecue techniques.
TV & Radio Appearances
The charismatic, Jim Johnson, is a regular on TV & radio networks, hosting “Southern Q” out of Winnipeg, this cooking show gives viewers expert tips and tricks for outdoor cooking. Jim has also guest appeared on an episode of Australia's popular cooking show, “Food Safari Fire with Maeve O’Meara” in the episode you can catch Jim teaching the viewers down under how to smoke Kansas City- style ribs, slow and steady, the All- American way!