Greg Jackson (MMA trainer)

Last updated
Greg Jackson
GregJackson.png
Jackson in 2010
BornGregory Jackson
1974 (age 48–49)
Washington D.C., United States
Residence Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
NationalityAmerican
OccupationTrainer at Jackson Wink MMA Academy
SpouseMichele Iemolo (now known as Michele Jackson)
ChildrenJames Jackson, Samantha Jackson

Gregory Jackson (born 1974) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) trainer who co-owns Jackson Wink MMA Academy in Albuquerque, New Mexico, [1] [2] widely considered one of the top MMA training centers in the world. [3] [4] [5] [6] Jackson has trained many successful fighters, including current UFC Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones, former UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St-Pierre, former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm, former Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans, and a roster of other UFC contenders and World Extreme Cagefighting champions.

Contents

History

Greg Jackson was born in Washington D.C. to Kris and Jim Jackson, who were Quakers originally from the Midwest. Jackson and his family moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico when he was three years old. Jackson came from a family of wrestlers (his father, brother, and uncle were all champions in the sport). Jackson grew up in a rough neighborhood, and began learning martial arts to defend himself. As a result, he was suspended from school for instigating fights on more than one occasion. In 1992, after graduating from Rio Grande High School, Jackson founded his own martial art, Gaidojutsu, which combines rudimentary techniques from catch wrestling and Muay Thai with basic judo locks. His school officially turned into an MMA school in 2000. [7] In 2007, Jackson teamed up with striking coach Mike Winkeljohn, which was a seminal moment for Jackson's academy; since then, the gym has been known as Jackson Wink MMA Academy (JW MMA Academy), [8] representing the partnership between Jackson and Winkeljohn.

Awards

Greg Jackson and his gyms have won five World MMA Awards altogether. He won the Coach of the Year award in 2009, 2010 and 2011. His old gym, Greg Jackson Fighting Systems won the Gym of the Year award in 2009. The contemporary Jackson-Wink MMA Academy won the same award in 2015. [9]

Reality television

On February 5, 2013, Jackson signed with Bellator to coach on the promotion's reality series titled Fight Master: Bellator MMA . [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tito Ortiz</span> American mixed martial arts fighter and politician

Jacob Christopher "Tito" Ortiz is a retired American mixed martial artist and a former politician. Ortiz is best known for his stints with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former Light Heavyweight Champion, having held the title from April 14, 2000, to September 26, 2003. Along with fighters like Randy Couture and Chuck Liddell, he was one of the sport's early stars. Ortiz ultimately became the biggest pay-per-view draw of 2006 for his fights with Liddell, Forrest Griffin, and Ken Shamrock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Kickboxing Academy</span> Martial arts gym in San Jose, California

The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) is a mixed martial arts gym based in San Jose, California. It is one of the pioneering schools of mixed martial arts (MMA). In 2014, AKA opened the AKA Thailand gym in Phuket, Thailand. Prominent trainers include Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu master Leandro Vieira, Bob Cook, Derek Yuen, Javier Mendez, and Andy Fong. Within the facility, Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Wrestling and Boxing classes are taught. Additional programs include conditioning and circuit training with TRX Suspension and Combat Circuit. The AKA is one of the top professional MMA training camps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American Top Team</span> Mixed martial arts team

American Top Team (ATT) is one of the primary teams in mixed martial arts. The gym was founded by Dan Lambert, who brought in former members of Brazilian Top Team Marcus "Conan" Silveira, Marcelo Silveira and Ricardo Liborio, but there is no formal affiliation between the two teams. ATT's main academy is in Coconut Creek, Florida, and there are affiliated academies throughout the United States. ATT features professional fighters who have competed in many major promotions, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), PRIDE Fighting Championships, DREAM, K-1, Strikeforce, Bellator, Professional Fighters League (PFL) and ONE Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minnesota Martial Arts Academy</span> Mixed martial arts training organization in Minnesota

The Minnesota Martial Arts Academy is a martial arts training center in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. It was founded in 1992 by Greg Nelson, a former NCAA Division 1 wrestler at the University of Minnesota.

Roy Nelson is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Heavyweight division. As a professional, he has competed for the UFC, EliteXC, the IFL, BodogFIGHT, and most recently for Bellator MMA. In the UFC, Nelson was the winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights and achieved success as a top 10 UFC Heavyweight. Nelson is also the former IFL Heavyweight Champion, competing under Ken Shamrock and the Lion's Den. He holds notable victories over Mirko Cro Cop, Cheick Kongo, and Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quinton Jackson</span> American actor, professional wrestler, and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson is an American mixed martial artist, actor and former professional wrestler, who most recently fought in Bellator MMA. He is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion and unified the Pride Middleweight Championship belt. Due to his eccentric personality and aggressive fighting style, Jackson became a star in Japan during his tenure with Pride FC and following his move to the UFC, he helped pioneer MMA's growth into a worldwide sport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Bader</span> American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter

Ryan DuWayne Bader is an American mixed martial artist currently signed to Bellator MMA where he is the current Bellator Heavyweight Champion, the former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion, and the winner of the 2018 Bellator Heavyweight World Grand Prix Tournament. At Bellator 214, Bader became the first fighter in Bellator history to become champion in two weight divisions simultaneously. Prior to signing with Bellator, Bader competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in the Light Heavyweight division and he was a cast member and winner of The Ultimate Fighter: Team Nogueira vs. Team Mir. As of June 20, 2023, he is #8 in the Bellator men's pound-for-pound rankings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James McSweeney</span> English kickboxer and mixed martial artist

James Adam McSweeney is an English kickboxer and retired mixed martial artist. A professional MMA competitor since 2005, McSweeney is well known for being a cast member of Spike TV's The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights and competing in the UFC, but he has also competed in major European promotions such as KSW, Cage Rage and BAMMA.

The Tristar Gym is a mixed martial arts training centre located in Le Triangle Borough in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Instructors at the gym include Firas Zahabi, Conrad Pla and Georges St-Pierre. Tristar Gym is one of the top professional MMA training camps.

The Alliance MMA Gym is an American mixed martial arts training facility located in Chula Vista, California and is home to a number of professional mixed martial artists who have found success in organizations such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), Strikeforce and Bellator. The Alliance MMA Gym is one of the top professional MMA training camps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attila Végh</span> Slovakian mixed martial artist

Attila Végh is a Slovak mixed martial artist who competed in the Light Heavyweight divisions of Bellator Fighting Championships and Konfrontacja Sztuk Walki (KSW). He won the Bellator 2012 Summer Series Light Heavyweight Tournament and then the Bellator Light Heavyweight Championship. After losing it in his first defense, he was released from the promotion. A professional competitor since 2008, he has also competed for M-1 Global. Now coach of UFC fighters Ľudovít Klein and Martin Buday in Spartakus Fight Gym, Trnava.

Ruslan Gadzhimagomedovich Magomedov is a Russian mixed martial artist, who competes in the Heavyweight division. Magomedov was the first UFC fighter to receive lifetime ban from USADA after sustaining his third anti-doping violation in February 2019. He is ranked #8 in the ACA heavyweight rankings.

Tom DeBlass is an American Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner, submission grappler and mixed martial artist currently signed to ONE Championship. He has competed in the middleweight division for Bellator and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corey Anderson (fighter)</span> American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter

Corey Anderson is an American mixed martial artist currently competing for Bellator MMA in the light heavyweight division. Prior to signing with Bellator, Anderson competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was the light heavyweight winner on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Edgar vs. Team Penn and achieved success as a top 5 UFC light heavyweight contender. As of June 20, 2023, he was #10 in the Bellator men's pound-for-pound rankings and #1 in the Bellator Light Heavyweight Rankings.

Estevan "Steve" García Júnior is an American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Lightweight division of Ultimate Fighting Championship. Garcia competed in Bellator's bantamweight division.

Chris Luttrell is co-owner and mixed martial arts coach of Luttrell-Yee MMA and an officer in the Albuquerque Police Department Gang Unit, who has trained a number of notable mixed martial artists, such as Cláudia Gadelha, John Dodson, Georges St. Pierre, Carlos Condit and Rashad Evans. He has won a number of martial arts awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City Kickboxing</span> Martial arts gym based in Auckland, New Zealand

City Kickboxing is a mixed martial arts training gym based in Auckland, New Zealand. The gym features professional fighters who have competed in many major promotions, such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Bellator, ONE Championship, and Dibella Entertainment (Boxing).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Javier Mendez (mixed martial arts trainer)</span> American mixed martial arts coach

Javier Mendez is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) coach and founder of the MMA Gym American Kickboxing Academy (AKA). A former ISKA kickboxing World Champion, he is best known for training multiple MMA world champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson Wink MMA Academy</span> Mixed martial arts gym based in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Jackson Wink MMA Academy is a mixed martial arts gym based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The gym has been featured in several sports documentaries and has been called one of the best MMA gyms in the world by various MMA magazines.

References

  1. ↑ Rumours are that he may be training Zack "The Assassin" Stiles, 16 year old, in the future. Coaches Honored with ‘Jackson/Winkeljohn Dat’, Sherdog Retrieved October 15, 2014
  2. ↑ How a powerhouse MMA gym rose out of necessity and is helping others, Yahoo Sports Retrieved October 15, 2014
  3. ↑ Ranking the 10 Best Camps in MMA Right Now, Bleacher Report Retrieved October 15, 2014
  4. ↑ The Top 20 MMA Gyms in America fightmagazine.com Retrieved October 15, 2014
  5. ↑ Rankings Spotlight: MMA’s Top 5 Fight Gyms cagepotato.com Retrieved October 15, 2014
  6. ↑ The Top 10 Gyms in MMA Today themmacorner.com Retrieved October 15, 2014
  7. ↑ L. Jon Wertheim (2012-07-20). "War And Peace In Jackson's Gym - SI.com - Magazine". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  8. ↑ Wright, Rick (August 3, 2014) MMA: Coaching team has it all covered, Albuquerque Journal Retrieved October 15, 2014
  9. ↑ "Fighters Only World Mixed Martial Arts Awards 2010 - 2009 Winners". Onlineawards.co.uk. Retrieved 2014-01-21.
  10. ↑ "Bellator's 'Fight Master' reality series set for summer debut on Spike TV". MMA Junkie. Archived from the original on 7 February 2013. Retrieved 5 February 2013.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.