At the corner of Germantown Avenue and East Phil Ellena Street in Mt. Airy stands an imposing Gothic Revival structure — St. Michael’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. A cemetery with gravestones of soldiers from the American Revolution and Civil War surrounds the building, which was built in 1896 and last held a congregation in 2016.

Looking in the stained glass from the outside, one might imagine it’s filled with pews, an altar, and an organ. However, step inside and you’ll discover something unexpected: a mixed martial arts (MMA) gym. 

Jackson Galka, owner of North Star Mixed Martial Arts, is currently in the process of moving his business from its 5904 Greene St. site to the church at 6673 Germantown Ave. In addition to heavy lifting, this ambitious venture requires a lot of teamwork. But collaboration is nothing new for Galka, who has created a strong sense of community at North Star.

Following his north star

Galka, a Chicago native, moved to Wyncote as a teenager. After attending Cheltenham High School, he went to Ithaca College and earned an English degree. Then, he floundered.

“I moved back home with my mom,” Galka said. “I didn’t really have anything going on in my life. I was eating ice cream, just not feeling good, watching ‘The Karate Kid,’ and I realized I have all this free time. So I ran to the computer and googled  ‘Philly MMA.’”

Although he grew up enamored with Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme movies, UFC, and wrestling as a kid, it wasn’t until after graduation that Galka gave MMA the old college try. He quickly grew obsessed, driving an hour and a half to a South Philly gym every day, five to six days a week.

In 2005, Galka began competing and turned pro in 2009. After some setbacks, he retired in 2012 with about 25 fights under his belt. But his MMA journey was far from complete.

“As I took my foot off the gas pedal of competing, I pushed the coaching pedal down,” Galka said.

He coached downtown and also worked as a landscaper, but dreamed of owning his own gym. In February 2017, Galka opened North Star.

Developing community

According to Galka, the mixed martial arts industry has exploded in popularity since the early 2000s. North Star has taken advantage of this growth, offering MMA, Muay Thai, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu classes to all levels of athletes, from ages 6 to 60+.

“What was sort of a weird fringe activity maybe 20 years ago is now included in conversations of people talking about how they want to get in shape,” Galka said. “[North Star] caters to professional athletes as well as people who just want to train for fun.”

Galka said the most important aspect of running North Star is not the quality of the training, but the community the athletes gain. In addition to getting physical exercise, North Star members are able to challenge themselves, make mistakes, and be a part of something bigger.

“Especially when we’re punching, kicking, grabbing, and throwing each other, there’s such a high level of trust that’s required to keep everybody safe, that if it’s not underpinned by a strong sense of community and safety etiquette and culture, it doesn’t work,” Galka said.

Kevin Kerrigan, a member of North Star, credits Galka with creating this welcoming environment.

“[Galka] acknowledges each person as an individual and teaches to their strength,” Kerrigan said. “I’ve seen folks that came into the gym that may not have been able to navigate social situations well. I’ve literally seen people blossom.”

Bringing new life to an old building

The decision to move was gradual; Galka had his eye on the church for three years before signing the lease in May 2024. Although he enjoys the spot on Greene Street, he said “the writing is on the wall” that it might be demolished and converted to a high rise.

Moving to the church presented an intriguing challenge.

“As a business owner, obviously there’s a bottom line and a desire to make money and pay my mortgage, but there’s also a desire to challenge myself, grow, and do cool things,” Galka said. “Moving to the space and adding a new floor is just a demonstration of my continued investment in the program.”

With the current renovations ongoing, including installing sprung floors to mitigate injuries, Kerrigan is confident in Galka’s vision.

“Jackson isn’t going to do anything halfway,” Kerrigan said. “I think it has the potential to be one of the nicest, most modern gyms in the country.”

Galka is working alongside his landlord Ken Weinstein to get the building ready. He hopes to interact with historic aspects of the property through social media and marketing.

Classes at the new North Star gym are scheduled to start July 28, but Galka foresees a September grand opening — with a possible Halloween celebration in its graveyard in October. As for now, construction continues and Galka remains community-oriented.

“This place is its people,” Galka said. “I’m excited to share this with everybody who’s been a part of the journey so far and anybody who wants to jump in.”

To learn more, visit northstarmma.com. Maggie Dougherty can be reached at Margaret@chestnuthilllocal.com.