Gary 'Smiler' Turner

About Gary

I’m someone who strives to be a ‘serial champion’ – I want to be the best at everything I do. This is perhaps highlighted by my sporting achievements over the last 30 years that has taken me to win thirteen World Titles across a variety of fighting sports. I still compete professionally at fighting sports in MMA (Mixed Martial Arts, often incorrectly termed ‘Cage Fighting’), Kickboxing, Thai Boxing, and K-1. I hold Black Belts in Judo, Ju Jitsu and Kickboxing and started way back in 1976, turning professional in the early ‘90’s and I am still look to compete today. I have been in British Teams for Judo, Kickboxing and Ju Jitsu.

The ‘Smiler’ nickname arose in the early 90’s from magazine articles which picked up on my friendly sporting attitude and sense of humour – even during a fight! I’m well known for really enjoying my sport and often smiling during fights, and I guess the nickname fits.

I have and do receive much media coverage for my fighting. My fights have been shown live on Sky Sports and also on Channel 5, Eurosport, and Bravo to name a few in this country, and too many channels around the world to note. I have appeared in Films as a ‘Stunt Fight Performer’ and as myself in programmes such as Channel 4’s ‘The Guantanamo Guidebook’. In this last programme I was filmed whilst being subjected to 48 hours of interrogation at the hands of US Delta Force. This highlights the lengths that I will go to in order to get understanding! I do this, so that you don’t have to, you can just use my experiences to help you.

I have carried out numerous radio interviews in the UK and around the world including the BBC. Media and newspapers around the world have given me much coverage of my fighting and related work. Recently magazines have been covering my sports performance work with Professional Fighters.
For many years I have been a speaker for seminars, workshops and talks. These have included for technical elements of my sports, sports performance, and technical elements of my hypnotherapy work. These have been delivered to corporate clients, sports clubs, practice groups, and speaking clubs. I have also spoken to the Army Boxing and Judo Teams, and this has led me to pick up a role as a Subject Matter Expert for the British Army.

I am constantly learning and developing and aim to be the best at everything I do. This keeps me studying hard and on top of my game, seeking out knowledge and practice. I am currently studying a variety of related topics such as psychology, sports psychology, neuroscience, cognitive linguistics, and the works of my peers. During this process I have built up a network of the best people and resources around me. So if I don’t know the answer, I know where to look.

I currently have a portfolio of work that involves roles as a Sports Performance Expert, Hypnotherapist, and Personal Trainer.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look at who I am, and what I do. Please feel free to get in touch:

To book in for a one-to-one appointment with me please contact via:

Email: gary@garyturner.co.uk
Telephone: 07879 624646
Location: Church Crookham, Hampshire