Today we’d like to introduce you to Nate Jackson.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I grew up a very active kid in El Paso, Texas. My brothers and I played football, basketball, and baseball year round until we got to high school and eventually stuck with football.
After competing at a high level in a big high school in Texas, I lost all my offers to play at big a University due to not having the best grades at the time; just good enough to play. This forced me to look elsewhere to pursue my biggest dream of playing football In College. Thankfully, I was given the opportunity to attend Cabrillo College, a big Junior College in Santa Cruz, CA.
During these years, I matured as a student-athlete the most. I volunteered my time for several children football camps and non-profit organizations throughout the city. I slowly found myself starting to take Life itself as serious as I took football. And in a few years of performing at a higher level as a student-athlete, I was able to win a Bowl Championship, get my Associates Degree, and earn a scholarship to Bacone College, a small Christian School in Muskogee, OK.
But most importantly, during these years I found my Passion. I discovered I had a passion for Inspiring and Training for Athletic Performance! I arrived at OK a College Junior in my best athletic shape ever at that time. I also was studying Exercise Science so felt the competitiveness not only on the field but in the classroom as well. After having a solid junior year on the field, the aspirations to play beyond college became more realistic.
However, having suffered two major concussions that year, I sadly didn’t come back the same player my senior year on the field. I found myself being very hesitant which was completely opposite of my previous style of play. I eventually lost my position to underclassmen and fell into a slight depression. I started failing classes again and had run-ins w/ the law as I struggled for months coming to grips that my football career was most likely over.
To cope, I went back to the drawing boards and began to train hard at the local gym and before hitting rock bottom, I was able to pull myself out the slump and humble down.
After my senior year on the field, I was given the opportunity to intern as a Strength and Conditioning/Defensive Backs Assistant Coach for Bacone. This ended up being one of my greatest experiences as I was able to make the transition from player to Coach while I continued to study Exercise Science. I became more intrigued in my field of study (Biomechanics, Anatomy/Physiology, etc.) since I was able to apply it first hand to myself and our athletes.
I finally got that fire and Passion back that I once had as a player, and used it to motivate the athletes I was working with. I interned with Bacone for three years before getting an offer from my alma mater Cabrillo College to take over as the Defensive Back Coach and assist with the Strength and Conditioning Staff in 2012. Of course, without hesitation, I moved back to California where the weather was beautiful and dove right into coaching at my Juco.
In my years of working at Cabrillo College, several athletes and people around the community started to reach out to me for some Private Training. I soon found myself training people of all different walks of life while Coaching football, and I was extremely passionate for both. However, there are not enough hours in the day, and I eventually made the transition to working full time in the Fitness Industry.
I started working as an Assistant Fitness Manager in late 2013 at In Shape Fitness in Capitola, CA while finishing up my final season as a Football Coach. I don’t remember enjoying this job as much since my main duty was to sell Training memberships and help manage trainers. My Passion was in training people, not selling which caused me to ask to be demoted after six months. My demotion was accepted, and I began to train full time.
When I started to train full time, I was the happiest I had been in a while. It was exactly what I wanted to do, I was extremely passionate about it, and I was ready to take any and all steps to continue to grow in my field. I did just that for over year and a half and was soon noticed by Greg Amundson, a local Crossfit Gym Owner to say the least, who soon became one of my greatest mentors. Greg Amundson is a former SWAT officer, DEA Special Agent, U.S. Army Captain, and one of the founding athletes and coaches of CrossFit.
He is a Top Selling Author, Chaplain, and Warrior as well. He offered me the chance to become an Athlete and Coach at Crossfit Amundson in Santa Cruz, CA. He mentored me in coaching classes while allowing me to train independently at one of his studios during class off hours. I not only learned how to run a great class, but I attained a great deal of knowledge on physical/mental nutrition and leadership under Greg. I dedicate my biggest growth as a Fitness Professional and person to Greg Amundson.
At Crossfit Amundson, I started off running the “Crossfit LIGHT” (Lifetime Integrated Gymnastics Health Training) Program. It consists of all the benefits of Crossfit without the use of the barbell. The LIGHT Program is designed for athletes of all skill levels primarily focusing on the use of equipment like kettlebells, medicine balls, jump ropes, aerodyne-bikes, and a variety of challenging yet scalable gymnastics skills to strengthen, tone, and condition the entire body. I did this for a few months before I was ready to take the next step as fitness Pro and Crossfit Athlete.
I then went on and took the two-day, barbell intensive USA Weightlifting and Sports Performance Coaching Course that consists of Olympic lifting and power output. Not only did I learn how to perform lifts like Snatches, Power Cleans, Jerks, Squats, and Deadlifts correctly, but more importantly, I learned how to teach each of these movements to athletes through a variety of progressions.
Around this same time, my mentor Greg Amundson suggested and offered me a sponsorship to take the Crossfit Level-1 Trainer Course. I gladly accepted and upon completion of the course, just like he mentioned, I had taken my coaching to a whole new level. It broadened my understanding of overall fitness allowing me to be more effective as a trainer giving nutrition advice, coaching others through functional movement, and motivating them to achieve their personal best intensity level.
Shortly after these achievements, I worked up to becoming one of the Head Coaches and found myself teaching the bulk of classes throughout the day along with training my Private Clients during class off hours. I did this for over a year and enjoyed every bit of it, but there was something inside of me that was ready for more. Santa Cruz is a great city for Fitness, but it’s small. I felt like I was ready to be in a bigger city with more opportunity to touch and change lives through my Passion for Fitness! I made the decision to move to San Diego and never looked back.
After moving to San Diego in August 2016 to pursue my Passion of Fitness in a more competitive industry, I got right to the hustle of finding Personal training Clients. I then came across Orangetheory Fitness in October after getting that hunger to teach classes again! This awesome company has given me that opportunity to make a positive impact on several lives daily, and I am so extremely blessed to be a part of it! I also get to work beside and learn from some of the most amazing fitness professionals in Southern California!
Since becoming a Coach here, I’ve learned that OTF is more than just the best 60-minute workout in the country. It’s the best community that empowers people to strive to be the best version of themselves every day!
Now, the Head Coach at Orangetheory Fitness Point Loma and Private Trainer in the Area, my intention is to continue to develop well-rounded individuals (strength, mental toughness, muscle endurance, power, mobility, flexibility, etc.)and I aim to motivate, inspire, and ensure you are progressing in alignment with your goals. I want you to have fun and make Health/Fitness a part of your Life!
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. It took me missing out on several opportunities as a young age to really force me to get my act together. I struggled for years finding balance with my education, sports, life, etc. before I learned how to prioritize and give attention to the things that matter most for my personal growth.
Orangetheory Fitness/ Actionjax Fitness – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Orangetheory is a science-backed, technology tracked, coach inspired group workout designed to produce results from the inside out, giving people a longer, more vibrant life.
As the Head Coach of Point Loma, I’d like to say I specialize in coaching proper biomechanics and motivating others to achieve their very best. I want every member that walks through our doors to feel loved and successful! Orangetheory Fitness thrives on community and relationship building! This is what sets us apart from the rest!
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
To me, when I think about Success, I think about a Life of Service, Purpose, Happiness, And Righteousness, etc.
Success to me is living a life of Purpose where I can share my gifts and Passion to uplift/inspire others to live a Healthier Happier Life.
And as long as I’m happy at the end of the day doing this day and day out, I am Successful.
Contact Info:
- Address: Orangetheory Fitness 3980 W. Point Loma Blvd. San Diego, CA 92110- for Classes
Actionjax Fitness 1205 W. Moreno Blvd. San Diego, CA 92110- for Personal Training - Website: https://point-loma.orangetheoryfitness.com/
- Phone: 8317065591
- Email: actionjaxfitness@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/actionjax_fitness/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nate.jackson.750
- Other: http://www.actionjaxfitness.com/
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