Greg Jackson
At a glance
- Founded his gym in Albuquerque in 1992
- Created Gaidojutsu, a blend of wrestling, kickboxing, and judo
- Partnered with Mike Winkeljohn since 2007
Overview
Greg Jackson was born in Washington, D.C., moved to Albuquerque at age three and grew up in a family of wrestlers, with a father, brother, and uncle who were all champions. He opened his gym after graduating from Rio Grande High School.
He founded the gym in 1992 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, first under the name Jackson's Submission Fighting, and it officially became an MMA school in 2000. There he developed Gaidojutsu, a system that blends wrestling, kickboxing, and judo. In 2007 he partnered with striking coach Mike Winkeljohn to form Jackson Wink MMA Academy. The gym has produced UFC champions Georges St-Pierre, Jon Jones, Rashad Evans, Holly Holm, Carlos Condit, Frank Mir, and Andrei Arlovski. The gym's website profiles his role and the rest of the coaching staff.
What you'll find
On Instagram and X, Jackson shares news about the gym and its fighters: training, camps, and results. You can follow life at Jackson Wink MMA and the fighters preparing there.
He also talks about fight strategy, the area that built his reputation. He designs game plans for each opponent, studying the habits and weaknesses of whoever his fighter is facing. His comments focus on how to prepare for a fight and how to manage it from the corner. The gym now runs pro, amateur, teen, and kids MMA programs, a wrestling club, private sessions, online programs, and a self-defense course designed by Jackson. Fighters can live on site in dorm rooms and apartments.
Why follow
Jackson has coached champions across several divisions, from Georges St-Pierre at welterweight to Jon Jones at light heavyweight and Holly Holm in the women's ranks. He knows how to prepare very different fighters for title fights.
His angle is technical analysis with a focus on strategy. He looks at what it takes to beat one specific opponent, starting from that opponent's habits and weak spots. His explanations show you why a fighter may change style from one fight to the next.
MMA Official's take
Greg Jackson is a fit for fans interested in tactics and game plans, and for athletes who want to understand how a major gym prepares its fighters.
Start with his Instagram to see life at Jackson Wink MMA and the fighters in camp there. Then read his profile on the gym's website, and look up his interviews about preparing Georges St-Pierre or Jon Jones to see how he builds a game plan.