THE RED CORNER
NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE NORTH STAR ACADEMY OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
WEEK OF OCTOBER 12th, 2026
Happy Sunday team!
Sending another early newsletter to you all as tomorrow falls on a Federal holiday. We are 100% open as normal tomorrow, so come in and train! We also have some great morning classes for those of you who might want to break a sweat, grab a coffee, and spend the rest of your day just chillin’.
I’m actually writing this at 4:30am Philadelphia time (11:30am here) from Frankfurt international airport before the last leg of my trip back home. I spent a brutal but incredible week in Malaga, Spain with some of the top nogi athletes in the world (literally) getting after it at Scramble Academy in Torremolinos. Many moons ago I was something of a competitive athlete, so it was nice to strip it all down to the simple stuff and just put in some serious work and reconnect with that part of myself.
Being an athlete is an incredibly selfish thing. It has to be. As I’ve transitioned into a coach, I’ve had to put a lot of that behind me (which is fine, I’m in my 40’s!), but that fire never really goes out. I’ve been able to channel it into coaching and teaching, but from time to time it’s good to toss some fuel on it and keep it going.
Malaga itself lies on the Costa del Sol, the southern coast of Spain known for its beaches and sunny skies (the topography of the area diverts clouds away, hence the name) but I spent most of the time showering, training, driving, and sleeping 🙂 Amazing experience though and I’m bringing back some great perspectives and skills for you guys, can’t wait to share it.
I hope everyone enjoyed the all-star lineup of guest coaches this past week as well! It’s always great to get different perspectives, different looks, and different paces. Diversity is good for better understanding what you like, what you don’t like, and what you want moving forward. So if you have any feedback from the guest coach experience — or just in general — as always, shoot it my way.
This weekend we head down to the WBC North American Nationals to support our fighter Ade Solebo on his quest to pick up a second National Championship this year. Ade has had a stellar debut year, going 3-0 so far while also capturing the WKA National Title in August. He returns to the ring this weekend in Maryland to compete for the 2026 WBC Tournament Championship against a solid lineup of opponents. Ade is a great example of an athlete and student who knows what he wants, knows what it takes to get there, and puts in the work both for himself and the people around him. He deserves all the success he’s earned so far and I’m excited to see what he can do next. Stay posted!
We’re also ramping up for the 2026 Tap Cancer Out BJJ Tournament. Interested in competing? There’s still time to register, but make sure you are serious about getting on the mats regularly and putting in the work. Competition is another level of grappling and giving yourself a head start is the best gift you can give yourself. Speak with a coach if you’re interested in more info!
Excited to be back with everyone, see you back on the mats tomorrow!
–Coach Jackson
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