I’m really excited for the end-of-year celebrations, but honestly, I’m even more excited to get back to full-time training in January when the dojo opens again. I’m looking forward to everything next year will bring, lots of competitions, hours and hours of training, and the chance to keep improving. At this point, it’s not about learning new techniques anymore. It’s about getting better at what I already know, making small adjustments, and finding that moment when everything clicks, the kata feels perfect on that day, and my kumite is as precise as it can be in the moment I need to take the point.

I know it won’t be easy. Training will be hard, doubts will show up, and there will be challenges. But I’ll get through it. Fear is just a feeling that comes up sometimes, it’s normal, but it doesn’t hold me back. That’s when I really start getting better than I was before.

For now, it’s time to rest, enjoy the break, and get ready to come back strong in 2026 with the help of my amazing coaching team at CDMA.

For a full guide, see Jakob’s Hard Work, Determination, and Growth.