About Us

It’s been decades since Chris Luttrell became the Wrestling National Freestyle Champion. He sits down to watch a VHS tape with some new kind of combat sport with nearly “no rules.” The Ultimate Fighting Championship showcases all sorts of martial artists, to test which style would prevail in a seemingly medieval tournament. Some high profile US politicians even referred to this event as “human cock fighting*.” The adrenaline courses through your veins as a revelation hits new fans…wrestling was a viable martial art. Some people are shocked. Others aren’t shocked, at all.

Chris Luttrell is one of these people who wasn’t shocked.

He knew all along that a skilled wrestler who could avoid devastating strikes, could eventually find himself on top of his opponent, dishing out equally brutal strikes. Chris knew that the ground served as a barrier which leaves his opponent with nowhere left to run and hide. It’s the ground barrier which would offer a plethora of what he calls “striking platforms.”

Chris is no stranger to violence. As a police officer, he understood that his wrestling techniques were battle tested and ready for the cage.

One MMA fight after another, Chris forces his opponents to the ground. And one after another, his opponents suffer the effects of his developing striking platforms. But not everything about cage fighting makes sense, right now.

Chris notices that one of the areas of difficulty is against a completely new barrier. The cage itself…

It turns out that the ground isn’t the only barrier which allows for striking platforms. It’s not the only barrier that can be used to initiate a reversal or stand up when you find yourself pinned against this barrier. It turns out that the cage itself is a barrier that would nullify many traditional strikes and wrestling moves. Chris starts to develop new moves against the cage.

Chris’ success in the cage drew the attention of national kickboxing champion Mike Winklejohn (aka “Wink”), another Abluqureque native. Wink invites Chris to teach his kickboxing students how to avoid takedowns and score ground fighting opportunities.

One of the most obvious advantages of recruiting Chris to teach your students, is Chris’ real life experience in cagefighting. Another was his commitment to innovation. But perhaps the biggest reason of all…is that Chris was slowly forming a totally new martial art based entirely on the new barrier. The moves which work against the cage.

This martial art is called “cagework,” and Chris continues to work with Wink to develop an MMA system, taking striking lessons along the way from Wink. Together, Wink and Chris began innovating new ways to keep strikers standing, help wrestlers secure takedowns against the cage, and help fighters avoid the snares of jiu jitsu through use of the cage.

Chris introduces Wink to Greg Jackson. Greg is gaining notoriety for developing a martial art he coins “Gaidojutsu.” Gaidojustu loosely translates to “the art of the streets.” Greg’s philosophy is one centered around self defense. Greg grows up in a rough area of Albuquerque known as the “South Valley.” Street fights are common, and unavoidable in many instances. Greg finds himself creating Gaidojutsu as a means of self-preservation. Greg also develops a cordial, friendly attitude, no doubt in part thanks to nature and nurture from years of street diplomacy. Despite Greg being one of the most dangerous men in Albuquerque, you’d never know it from his easy going demeanor. Greg isn’t interested in testing his skills in the cage. Wink has retired from kickboxing. This is where Chris chimes in, where actions speak louder than words.

Chris manages to submit some highly skilled jiu jitsu practitioners, even switching careers as a flight attendant, and flying around the country to train at different gyms. After the day of training, Chris goes back to his hotel room, writes down what worked and what didn’t work. It’s his job to report back to Greg and Wink, so the 3 of them could go over his notes.

Together, the 3 of them modify Gaidojutsu so as to be very effective and low risk for any hand to hand combat situation. But while Greg loves the work Chris is doing, he’s reluctant to jump into this sport where people are knocking each other’s brains out. He decides to stick with self defense training, despite Chris prodding him to give attention to this rising sport of MMA. Chris tells Greg that MMA is the future, and that now is the time to become a great trainer. Eventually, Greg agrees.

Gaidojustu is now a thing of the past. MMA, and specifically cagework, is now the future.