Ian Jackson

About Ian Jackson

"Ian Jackson is something of a philosopher.
He's a deep thinker with a talent for seeing
common things in uncommon ways, for cutting through
the fluff to the heart of matters, for linking
apparently separate ideas."

Joe Hendeson Editor, Runners World


Ian Jackson has been playing the edges of athletic performance for a long time. He has played those edges as a competitor exhibiting considerable athletic gifts as a long-distance distance runner, swimmer, big wave surfer, skin diver, soccer player, yoga adept, and student of classical ballet. Whichever physical challenge has engaged his interest over the years, Ian has pursued the exploration of potential with determination seeking the key to power, grace, and endurance. His engagement in these various pursuits has been conducted with an intensity, commitment, and focus that he has also brought in equal measure to the role of coach.

As a trainer for Olympic athletes and corporate executives, as an Ironman triathlon competitor, and respected adviser to 7-Eleven's America's Team --the first American cycling team to enter the Tour de France in 1986, Ian performs at a consistently high level. Whatever his role, and whoever it is that seeks his expertise, Ian's level of devotion is never higher than when it comes to guiding those honestly seeking to improve. From the average to those naturally gifted and performing at a very high level, Ian is equally available.

Jackson took up cycling when he was involved in dance training in California during the 1970's where at the Palo Alto Dance Theatre he studyied classical ballet with Richard Gibson . During his studies with Gibson, Ian distilled fundamental ideas of the great art of classical ballet and translated these lessons learned into a powerful technique for delivering strength and endurance on the bike. His abilities did not go long unnoticed and eventually caught the attention of --among others, Talbot's Racing Team which in 1980 engaged him to help set a new cycling speed record for the city hall to city hall ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

Not content to simply follow conventional lines of thought, Ian has a gift for drawing analogies from disparate traditions to illustrate how it's possible to organize and harness our inner resources. The ideas of those such as Milton Erikson, Moshe Feldenkrais, Hans Selye, B.K.S. Iyengar, Joe Henderson, Joel Kramer, and Ernst Van Aaken, among others have been instrumental in Ian's efforts to articulate the path he's discovered to our naturally given ability in achieving ever higher levels of performance; higher than we might otherwise think possible. Over the years there are a few who have listened, and many more that haven't. But for those that have followed Jasckson's suggestions, they've collected some impressive rewards.