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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.
JUNIOR SAMURAI STRIPE CHALLENGE: BLUE WEEK OF 05/11/2026 This week’s Junior Samurai stripe challenge is BLUE for Initiative! This month we’ll be running some IN-CLASS challenges. Students can earn their stripes by successfully completing one!
THE RED CORNER NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE NORTH STAR ACADEMY OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS WEEK OF MAY 4th, 2026 Monday Mindset, Junior Samurai Stripe Challenge, Membership Updates, and Facility FAQ Links all available at the bottom! Happy Monday Team! Got a few things on the docket today. Busy month of competitions coming up […]
TOUGHNESS WEEK OF 5/04/26 Originally posted 3/21/2022 We often confuse the ideas of “toughness” and “dominance.” We see the big, scary bully, with giant muscles and fists the size of cinder blocks, and we think to ourselves: “that guy looks tough.” What we really mean is, that guy looks dominant. Dominance doesn’t require toughness. […]
JUNIOR SAMURAI STRIPE CHALLENGE: RED WEEK OF 05/04/2026 This week’s Junior Samurai stripe challenge is RED for FITNESS! This month we’ll be running some IN-CLASS physical challenges. Students can earn their red stripe by successfully completing one!
THE RED CORNER NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE NORTH STAR ACADEMY OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS WEEK OF APRIL 27th, 2026 Monday Mindset, Junior Samurai Stripe Challenge, Membership Updates, and Facility FAQ Links all available at the bottom! Happy Monday Team! Solid week of training behind us, solid week of training ahead of us as […]
PUSHING BOUNDARIES WEEK OF 4/27/26 What is the point of training if not to push boundaries? To step into new territories of strength, fitness, and competency? You’re comfortable on one side of the boundary, and you’re comfortable on the other. But that transition period is where the pain is. I always think of what […]
JUNIOR SAMURAI STRIPE CHALLENGE: BLACK WEEK OF 04/27/2026 This week’s Junior Samurai stripe challenge is BLACK for REFLECTION! Write a short paragraph on how martial arts skills have helped you be more successful of effective in another area of your life. Make sure to sign the paper with your name and turn it in!
THE RED CORNER NEWS AND UPDATES FROM THE NORTH STAR ACADEMY OF MIXED MARTIAL ARTS WEEK OF APRIL 20th, 2026 Monday Mindset, Junior Samurai Stripe Challenge, Membership Updates, and Facility FAQ Links all available at the bottom! Happy Monday Team! What a weekend! Big congratulations to Tim Green on breaking into the Muay Thai […]
STOWAWAYS WEEK OF 4/20/26 Originally posted 6.26.25 I do some of my best thinking in the garden. For many of you reading this, the gym is your escape. It’s where you do your best thinking. It’s my escape too, but it’s also my office! So I tend to find my escape in other areas […]
JUNIOR SAMURAI STRIPE CHALLENGE: BLUE WEEK OF 04/20/2026 This week’s Junior Samurai stripe challenge is BLUE for INITIATIVE! Perform 3 acts of initiative/kindness over the week. Helping with a chore, opening a door, whatever! Be creative. They don’t need to be amazing feats of generosity or effort. Little things count!