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The legacy of Greg Jackson, one of MMA’s greatest trainers, dates back to 1992 when he founded his first gym. When young, Jackson got into many fights, which made him develop his own fighting system as a teenager called Gaidojutsu. And by the time MMA began to become popular, Jackson was already teaching this style to numerous fighters. Now, the co-owner of the legendary Jackson Wink MMA Academy spends most of his time running his MMA school in Albuquerque and giving back to his community.
Early Beginnings
Greg comes from a family of wrestlers. His father, brother and uncle were all champions in the sport. When Jackson came up with Gaidojutsu, he intended to create a hybrid system that blended effective techniques from multiple disciplines. The martial art system blends wrestling, judo, jiu-jitsu, and kickboxing, which later became popular among punters at Goldenbet Casino and other wagering platforms. By the time MMA began gaining popularity in the 1990s, Jackson was already coaching fighters with a mixed approach to combat sports. He officially turned his gym into an MMA school in 2000. He still believes that MMA schools provide the direction needed for fighters to succeed, unlike gyms that usually focus on providing free weights and machines needed to up a fighter’s game.
His training camps have helped enhance the fighting IQ of many athletes, particularly because of his personalised game plan, where he studies fighters’ strengths, weaknesses, and temperament to create tailor-made strategies. His mentor, Jim Dudley, a maths professor at the University of New Mexico, taught Jackson to think like a scientist. He helped Jackson apply mathematical concepts to MMA matches, which later facilitated the building of a martial arts empire. Dudley’s dedication inspired Jackson to coach even harder.
The Jackson Wink Era
Since 2007, Jackson has worked alongside striking coach Mike Winkeljohn to help fighters break conventional habits and stay unpredictable. Some Jackson Wink products that have caught the attention of MMA fans include Jon Jones, Holly Holm, and Georges St-Pierre. Jackson’s partnership with Winkeljohn in 2007 led to the creation of Jackson Wink MMA Academy, which is now regarded as one of the most dominant fight gyms in the world.
In an interview with Bleacher Report, former student and UFC standout Keith Jardine says, “If you got a problem, then you go up to Greg and you ask him, and he has a solution right away. And it’s always right.” A fighter like Aaron Pico can attest to this. When Pico was struggling in his early professional MMA career, he joined Greg Jackson at Jackson Wink, which helped him rebound from early setbacks by registering a six-fight winning streak. Jackson Wink is where he developed a more cautious, calculated, and well-rounded fighting style.
Greg Jackson’s Accolades and Achievements
As the head coach at Jackson Wink MMA academy, Greg has guided several fighters to successful careers, earning him big awards. This includes “Best Coach” and “Best Gym” in 2009 and the “Coach of the Year” award in 2009, 2010, and 2011. In 2015, Jackson-Wink MMA Academy won the MMA Gym of the Year award and has been voted the #1 MMA Camp in the world on several occasions.
In 2009, Coach Jackson released an instructional book about his fighting style called Jackson’s MMA – The Stand Up Game. The following year (2010), he released another instructional book about his ground fighting style called Jackson’s MMA – The Ground Game. Moreover, the legendary trainer signed with Bellator to coach on the promotion’s reality series titled Fight Master: Bellator MMA in February 2013.
Jackson is among the most influential figures in the world of mixed martial arts, and his commitment to excellence has earned him widespread recognition. Many aspiring fighters now flock to the Jackson Wink MMA Academy to achieve greatness in the sport. His dedication has seen him get featured in major media outlets such as Sports Illustrated, ESPN, and Forbes, as well as many other documentaries, television programs, radio shows, and articles.
Greg Jackson’s Community Involvement
Apart from running a world-class MMA school, Jackson also gives back to his local community. He’s a member of the board for non-profit organisation DeliverFund, which is staffed by former elite intelligence operators from the CIA, NSA, FBI, Delta Force and Navy SEALs. The organisation aims to disrupt human trafficking networks by applying counterterrorism expertise and technology to assist law enforcement agencies.
Moreover, Greg trains both Police Departments and military personnel in New Mexico and across the United States. In the past, Coach Jackson has stated that training the people who protect the public is his way of “giving back” and adds social value to his work. He has been working with New Mexico’s Attorney General to develop a special self-defence system for police officers.
Conclusion
Greg Jackson is renowned for his unique analytical approach to the sport, and he now looks to revolutionise fighters’ approach to fighting in the cage. He has a course that’s designed to teach you the “ABCs of MMA”, including details on range, footwork, the reactionary gap, and three states of engagement. The course also teaches the use of strikes to occupy an opponent’s hands, as well as utilising Jackson’s Ghost style takedowns both in open space and up against the cage.The book is called Championship MMA Cage Striking and Wrestling by Greg Jackson, and you can get it from Dynamic Striking or BJJ Fanatics – both platforms offer downloadable and streamable versions.