Greg Jackson (MMA trainer)

Greg Jackson
Jackson in 2010
BornGregory Jackson
1974 (age 50–51)
Washington D.C., U.S.
ResidenceAlbuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
Other information
OccupationTrainer at Jackson Wink MMA Academy
SpouseMichele Iemolo (now known as Michele Jackson)
Children2

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.

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 gym 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]

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 Archived March 4, 2022, at the Wayback Machine 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 Archived February 7, 2023, at the Wayback Machine themmacorner.com Retrieved October 15, 2014
  7. ^ L. Jon Wertheim (July 20, 2012). "War And Peace In Jackson's Gym - SI.com - Magazine". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
  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 January 21, 2014.
  10. ^ "Bellator's 'Fight Master' reality series set for summer debut on Spike TV". MMA Junkie. Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved February 5, 2013.