In the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Greg Jackson is as significant a name as Yoda is in Star Wars. He is one of the most sought out MMA trainers in the fighting game and was in Sydney over the weekend for one seminar only.
Churning out former UFC Champions such as Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre and Holly Holm, Jackson is as busy as Yoda trying to teach Luke Skywalker the ways of the force in Episode V.
He is rarely seen away from his famed Jackson Wink MMA Academy in New Mexico unless he is traveling with his team for fight week. But this weekend, Jackson, swaps his gym, for that of one of his very own former Australian UFC student's, Anthony Perosh’s.
Australian actor, Joel Edgerton, even trained a three week camp at Jackson’s famed Academy to prepare for his role as an MMA fighter in the 2011 film Warrior.
His three hour seminar at Team Perosh in Five-dock was sold-out and it’s clear why, Jackson is a mastermind when it comes to fighting technique and tactic. And Sydney students dove at the opportunity to learn from one of the best in the game.
In an attempt not to overload his fighters with content, Jackson is known to only focus on three to four things to teach in a class, he took the same approach over the weekend.
His seminar focused on tactic rather than technique, teaching students to expand their way of thinking, repeatedly encouraging: “the only limit is your imagination.”
He delve into various tactical approaches, such as the OODA loop cycle (observe, orient, decide, and act) developed by military strategist and United States Air Force Colonel John Boyd.
And the Mongol approach, rooted from 13th century Mongol Warriors who tactically faked retreat on horseback, luring their opponent to chase after them and then attack by turning to sit backwards on the horse to shoot arrows. Simply, the element of surprise.
A unique opportunity, students and outside guests were left buzzing after class, having been given the opportunity to train with Jackson.