Secure your spot and get started today with our EXCLUSIVE offer!
This place is awesome ! I trained with Jackson for years, he's the best trainer around. Extremely knowledgable about the sport, super encouraging! Jackson makes training fun, while pushing me to do my best. I highly recommend !
Coach Jackson is a great instructor who takes on friendly students who are eager to learn. At no point did I feel uncomfortable with the speed or the level of difficulty and the group of people who I am getting to know all seem to enjoy the workouts due to the positive atmosphere that Coach Jackson has created.
Starting with no martial arts experience at all, I've been training at North Star MMA for about 2 months now. It's become something i look forward to every week. Coach Jackson has a great way of describing the intricacies of muay thai in exceptionally easy to understand ways. Lots of personal instruction and the other people in the gym really help with training. I really like the skills I've picked up so far all while getting a good workout in.
North Star MMA is by far the best training I have received as well as the best MMA facility. Fantastic atmosphere to learn, try, fail and ultimately succeed.
Jackson Galka's expertise and technical instruction easily qualifies him as a "fight nerd." However Jackson's passion and wit will have you kicking, striking and probably laughing too.
Jackson does a great job of integrating all levels of training with all levels of fighters.
Doesn't matter what level you are, you will learn each and every training session.
Top notch instruction, astounding technical expertise, challenging sweat soaked training sessions and a wicked sense of humor make for an unbeatable training academy.
I moved to Philadelphia in October and did a lot of shopping around for a new gym. After checking out NorthStar MMA, I quickly knew it was a perfect fit! I didn’t have much Muay Thai or BJJ experience at the time, but I felt both programs were very welcoming for beginners. Coach Jackson and the rest of the coaching staff have been super helpful in helping me to develop my skills and reach my fitness goals. Coach Jackson has created a great sense of community within the gym and does a great job of keeping the classes interesting, fun and effective! I look forward to each class and I couldn’t be happier to call NorthStar MMA my gym home!
Me and my brother came to train at North Star MMA, and we love it. Very good exercise, really good for getting in shape. Classes are very personal and with very good instructions. I would recommend this place to anyone who is interested in learning Muy Thai, BJJ and looking to get in shape in one of the best ways. It is also a very fun environment with great people.
Jackson is a huge asset to the combat sports community with years of experience as a fighter and trainer under his belt.
SKYSCRAPERS AND MAINTAINING YOUR BALANCE WEEK OF 9/15/25 A few weeks ago I took one of my every-few-years trips to Chicago for a long weekend of pizza, hot dogs, and architecture. No, seriously, the buildings in Chicago are amazing. From the tallest skyscraper to the smallest row home, Chicago’s aesthetic is just so perfect […]
JUNIOR SAMURAI STRIPE CHALLENGE: INITIATIVE WEEK OF 9/15/2025 This week’s Junior Samurai stripe challenge is BLUE for Initiative! Students can earn their blue stripe by handwriting a short letter and sending it through the snail mail to a friend or family member. The goal is just to set up a fun surprise for that […]
THE RED CORNER NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE NORTH STAR ACADEMY OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 8th, 2025 Monday Mindset, Junior Samurai Stripe Challenge, Membership Updates, and Facility FAQ Links all available at the bottom! Happy Monday Team! We just wrapped up a super busy weekend of events here at the academy! […]
GOOD ISN’T CHEAP AND CHEAP ISN’T GOOD WEEK OF 9/8/25 There are a few things in life that are worth investing into: tires, shoes, a mattress.. shinguards, definitely (for those who’ve kicked a knee before). But above all, your physical, emotional, and mental health. While there isn’t always going to be something tangible to […]
JUNIOR SAMURAI STRIPE CHALLENGE: FITNESS WEEK OF 9/8/2025 This week’s Junior Samurai stripe challenge is RED for Fitness! Students can earn their red stripe by organizing a 5-minute workout with a family member at least three times over the next week. This can include a walk, a jog, a pushup contest — be creative! […]
In order to continue to provide clear service to you here at the academy, we are updating some of our enrollment terms. These will take effect as of 9/15/25. Many of these are simply small adjustments to our current policies which have been included in all enrollment/registration forms previously. Please note the following: 1, All […]
THE RED CORNER NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE NORTH STAR ACADEMY OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 1st, 2025 Monday Mindset, Junior Samurai Stripe Challenge, and Facility FAQ Links all available at the bottom! Happy Monday Team! Summer’s unofficially over! That means shorter days, cooler nights, and a return to routine. I, personally, […]
CLOSED MOUTHS DON’T GET FED WEEK OF 9/1/25 Nothing super pithy for you guys this week, just an observation I’ve made over my time in the martial arts. Closed mouths don’t get fed — that is to say, speak up and advocate for what you want and need. What is the Labor Day holiday […]
JUNIOR SAMURAI STRIPE CHALLENGE: INITIATIVE WEEK OF 9/1/2025 This week’s Junior Samurai stripe challenge is BLUE for initiative! Students can earn their blue stripe by taking initiative on a project or homework task this week, as well as making themselves as helpful as possible to their new teachers and classmates!
THE RED CORNER NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE NORTH STAR ACADEMY OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS WEEK OF AUGUST 25th, 2025 Monday Mindset, Junior Samurai Stripe Challenge, and Facility FAQ Links all available at the bottom! Happy Monday Team! Writing this newsletter to you from the Windy City of Chicago! Little known fact: I was […]