Gym Series: Jackson Wink Academy has secret recipe for creating world’s best fighters
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When thinking about the best MMA gyms in the world, one’s mind immediately goes to Jackson Wink in Albuquerque, NM. I recently spoke with Michael Lyubimov, General Manager of Jackson Wink Academy.
Secret Recipe
Founding coaches Greg Jackson and Mike Winkeljohn seem to have found the secret recipe for creating top level fighters. Jon Jones, Holly Holm, Carlos Condit, Michelle Waterson, Diego Sanchez, Rashad Evans and Patrick Mix are only some of the big names out of the notorious academy.
History of Jackson Wink MMA Academy
Lyubimov explained that Jackson had a grappling and wrestling background while Winkeljohn had Muay Thai, striking and kickboxing championship experience. They both owned separate gyms, began cross training with each other and in 1992 their journey towards building top ranked fighters in the industry began. “That’s how old school Jackson Wink is,” said Lyubimov, as he noted the UFC only formed in 1993.
He said the gym started gaining notoriety when Diego Sanchez won the first Ultimate Fighter in 2005.
Typical Training Camp
Michael described a typical training camp as being a few months of hard core training, two to three times a day. The gym is open 24/7 and offers striking technique, sparring, strength and conditioning, grappling and high altitude training in the mountainous terrain. Fighters are drawn to the Jackson Wink Academy because “they are surrounded by greatness”. He adds there are so many world class training partners at the facility and fighters can “share in the experience with legends”.
Fighter Requirements
As long as you have some kind of martial arts experience Lyubimov said Jackson Wink can work with you. They have a new fighter application available on their website JacksonWink.com. The facility offers dorm rooms and medical staff. Lyubimov added that fighters can live directly in the gym and do nothing but train.
Training and dorm fees are affordable and there are no distractions at the go-to gym for some of the world’s best fighters.
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The Scrap’s Caroline Romero is a journalism graduate and has 3 children involved in combat sport. Make sure to follow her son Simon Romero on his Behind The Grind podcast on YouTube.
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