The History of The Academy MN
More than three decades of learning, testing and evolving through martial arts.
The History of The Academy MN
More than three decades of learning, testing and evolving through martial arts.
WHERE IT BEGAN
A MARTIAL ARTS JOURNEY THAT STARTED LONG BEFORE THE ACADEMY
The Academy’s story is rooted in a simple question: how do we learn to fight effectively while training in a way that is safe, sustainable and rewarding?
For more than three decades, Coach Greg Nelson and the instructors at The Academy have explored that question through wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, Filipino martial arts, Jeet Kune Do and mixed martial arts.
That journey has taken them from local gyms and training rooms to Thailand, Brazil, Japan and competitions around the world. Along the way, techniques and training methods have been tested, adapted and refined through live practice and competition.
The result is not simply a collection of martial arts styles. It is a training philosophy built around learning, exploration and pressure testing—and an environment where those lessons can be passed on to everyone who walks through The Academy’s doors
THE EARLY YEARS
BEFORE THE ACADEMY, THERE WAS THE SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGECoach Greg Nelson’s martial arts journey began with wrestling and gymnastics in Plymouth, Minnesota. He was offered scholarships to the University of Minnesota for both, and when he couldn’t decide which path to choose, he flipped a coin. It came up wrestling.
While wrestling in college, his curiosity about martial arts continued to grow. Through Guro Rick Faye, he was introduced to Filipino Kali, Jun Fan, Silat and Muay Thai—and began a lifelong pursuit of learning from different teachers, systems and training methods.
That spirit of exploration would become one of the defining characteristics of The Academy: learn from others, test what you learn, and continue evolving.
THE EARLY YEARS
BEFORE THE ACADEMY, THERE WAS THE SEARCH FOR KNOWLEDGECoach Greg Nelson’s martial arts journey began with wrestling and gymnastics in Plymouth, Minnesota. He was offered scholarships to the University of Minnesota for both, and when he couldn’t decide which path to choose, he flipped a coin. It came up wrestling.
While wrestling in college, his curiosity about martial arts continued to grow. Through Guro Rick Faye, he was introduced to Filipino Kali, Jun Fan, Silat and Muay Thai—and began a lifelong pursuit of learning from different teachers, systems and training methods.
That spirit of exploration would become one of the defining characteristics of The Academy: learn from others, test what you learn, and continue evolving.
MUAY THAI COMES TO MINNESOTA
FROM THE GARAGE TO THAILAND
As Greg continued searching for effective ways to train, Muay Thai became an important part of his education. Through Guro Rick Faye and Ajarn Chai Sirisute, he was introduced to Muay Thai and became fascinated with its training methods.
Greg traveled to Thailand to train at Sor Prantalay Camp, Lanna Muay Thai and Singchetchuan. When he eventually opened his own school, he was committed to building a competitive Muay Thai team and creating an environment where skills could be tested rather than simply practiced.
In 1993, Greg Nelson, James Cook and Chasu Lo took part in the first organized Muay Thai fights in the Midwest in Chicago. Competition continued to grow, with Minnesota fighters eventually traveling to Thailand and Europe to compete.
What began as a search for knowledge became part of The Academy's identity: learn, test, adapt and keep moving forward.
MUAY THAI COMES TO MINNESOTA
FROM THE GARAGE TO THAILAND
As Greg continued searching for effective ways to train, Muay Thai became an important part of his education. Through Guro Rick Faye and Ajarn Chai Sirisute, he was introduced to Muay Thai and became fascinated with its training methods.
Greg traveled to Thailand to train at Sor Prantalay Camp, Lanna Muay Thai and Singchetchuan. When he eventually opened his own school, he was committed to building a competitive Muay Thai team and creating an environment where skills could be tested rather than simply practiced.
In 1993, Greg Nelson, James Cook and Chasu Lo took part in the first organized Muay Thai fights in the Midwest in Chicago. Competition continued to grow, with Minnesota fighters eventually traveling to Thailand and Europe to compete.
What began as a search for knowledge became part of The Academy's identity: learn, test, adapt and keep moving forward.
A NEW CHAPTER
BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU COMES TO MINNESOTA
In 1989, Greg began studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Rickson Gracie. That experience opened the door to a deeper exploration of grappling and eventually led to another important relationship—with Pedro Sauer.
In 1995, Greg began studying under Prof. Pedro Sauer and became a Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association instructor. The following year, he brought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes to Minnesota.
What started as a personal pursuit became an important part of The Academy. Greg continued training, teaching and competing, becoming Professer Sauer's first black belt in 2002.
From those early classes, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu became one of the foundations of the training environment at The Academy.
A NEW CHAPTER
BRAZILIAN JIU-JITSU COMES TO MINNESOTA
In 1989, Greg began studying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with Rickson Gracie. That experience opened the door to a deeper exploration of grappling and eventually led to another important relationship—with Pedro Sauer.
In 1995, Greg began studying under Prof. Pedro Sauer and became a Pedro Sauer Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Association instructor. The following year, he brought Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu classes to Minnesota.
What started as a personal pursuit became an important part of The Academy. Greg continued training, teaching and competing, becoming Professer Sauer's first black belt in 2002.
From those early classes, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu became one of the foundations of the training environment at The Academy.
A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO TRAINING
LEARN FROM MANY SOURCES. TEST WHAT WORKS.
From the beginning, The Academy was never built around a single martial art. Coach Greg’s training brought together wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, Filipino Kali and Jeet Kune Do, with each discipline offering different answers to the challenges of combat and training.
His teachers encouraged exploration rather than simply following a fixed system. Techniques and ideas were meant to be explored, tested against resistance and adapted to the individual practitioner.
That approach became central to The Academy: learn from many sources, experiment with what you learn, and discover what works for you.
It is a philosophy that continues to shape how we teach today.
A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO TRAINING
LEARN FROM MANY SOURCES. TEST WHAT WORKS.
From the beginning, The Academy was never built around a single martial art. Coach Greg’s training brought together wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, Filipino Kali and Jeet Kune Do, with each discipline offering different answers to the challenges of combat and training.
His teachers encouraged exploration rather than simply following a fixed system. Techniques and ideas were meant to be explored, tested against resistance and adapted to the individual practitioner.
That approach became central to The Academy: learn from many sources, experiment with what you learn, and discover what works for you.
It is a philosophy that continues to shape how we teach today.
THE MMA ERA
WHEN THE FIGHTING ARTS CAME TOGETHER
In the 1990s, a new kind of competition was changing the way martial artists thought about fighting. Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing and other disciplines could no longer be studied in isolation. They had to work together.
Coach Greg was an early adopter of this approach. Drawing from his background in wrestling and his experience across multiple martial arts, he began developing training methods that prepared athletes for the unpredictable demands of mixed martial arts.
The Academy became one of the places where those ideas were put to the test.
FOUR UFC CHAMPIONS. ONE TRAINING LEGACY.
DAVE MENNE
UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION
Dave Menne came to train with Coach Greg in the mid-1990s after wrestling under legendary University of Iowa coach Dan Gable. He became a pioneer of Team Academy's MMA program and went on to become the first UFC Middleweight Champion from The Academy.
SEAN SHERK
UFC LiGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
BROCK LESNAR
UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Brock Lesnar began training for MMA with Coach Greg and the other Academy coaches in 2006. Much of his early MMA training took place at The Academy, and in 2008 he defeated Randy Couture to become the third UFC Champion from Team Academy.
ROSE NAMAJUNAS
UFC STRAWWIEGHT CHAMPION
Rose Namajunas began training at The Academy in 2010 and later returned to train with Coach Greg as her career progressed. In 2021, she recaptured the UFC Strawweight title, becoming the fourth UFC Champion Coach Greg helped develop.
THE MMA ERA
WHEN THE FIGHTING ARTS CAME TOGETHER
In the 1990s, a new kind of competition was changing the way martial artists thought about fighting. Wrestling, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing and other disciplines could no longer be studied in isolation. They had to work together.
Coach Greg was an early adopter of this approach. Drawing from his background in wrestling and his experience across multiple martial arts, he began developing training methods that prepared athletes for the unpredictable demands of mixed martial arts.
The Academy became one of the places where those ideas were put to the test.
FOUR UFC CHAMPIONS. ONE TRAINING LEGACY.
DAVE MENNE
UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION
Dave Menne came to train with Coach Greg in the mid-1990s after wrestling under legendary University of Iowa coach Dan Gable. He became a pioneer of Team Academy's MMA program and went on to become the first UFC Middleweight Champion from The Academy.
SEAN SHERK
UFC LiGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION
BROCK LESNAR
UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Brock Lesnar began training for MMA with Coach Greg and the other Academy coaches in 2006. Much of his early MMA training took place at The Academy, and in 2008 he defeated Randy Couture to become the third UFC Champion from Team Academy.
ROSE NAMAJUNAS
UFC STRAWWIEGHT CHAMPION
Rose Namajunas began training at The Academy in 2010 and later returned to train with Coach Greg as her career progressed. In 2021, she recaptured the UFC Strawweight title, becoming the fourth UFC Champion Coach Greg helped develop.
THE GOAL WAS NEVER JUST TO WIN
MORE THAN JUST CHAMPIONSHIPS
Competition has always been an important part of The Academy's story, but it has never been the only measure of success.
The same training environment that produced championship-level athletes has also been a place where people come to learn, challenge themselves, build confidence and discover what they are capable of.
Over more than three decades, the people who have walked through The Academy's doors have helped shape what it is today. Fighters, coaches, students and families have all contributed to its evolution.
The Academy continues to change because the people who train here change—and because there is always more to learn.
THE GOAL WAS NEVER JUST TO WIN
MORE THAN JUST CHAMPIONSHIPS
Competition has always been an important part of The Academy's story, but it has never been the only measure of success.
The same training environment that produced championship-level athletes has also been a place where people come to learn, challenge themselves, build confidence and discover what they are capable of.
Over more than three decades, the people who have walked through The Academy's doors have helped shape what it is today. Fighters, coaches, students and families have all contributed to its evolution.
The Academy continues to change because the people who train here change—and because there is always more to learn.
TODAY
The Journey Continues
More than three decades after The Academy began, the search for better ways to learn and train continues.
The martial arts we practice have evolved, the people who train here have changed, and our understanding of how people learn has continued to grow. But the underlying idea remains the same: learn, test, adapt and keep evolving.
Today, The Academy brings together people of all ages and experience levels through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Muay Thai, boxing, Kali, Jeet Kune Do, Judo, Savate, wrestling and mixed martial arts.
What began as one coach's search for knowledge has grown into a community that continues to learn from one another every day.
The STORY BEHIND THE ACADEMY
HEAR THE STORY IN GREGS OWN WORDS
The Story Behind The Academy
BE PART OF WHAT COMES NEXT
BE PART OF WHAT COMES NEXT
YOUR JOURNEY STARTS HERE
You don't need to be a fighter, an athlete or have any martial arts experience to begin.
You just need to be willing to learn.
