One of the things people don’t always see is the hours spent studying before you even step on the mat. This photo captures something real me at training, phone propped up, watching elite kata performances between rounds.

It’s not just about drilling techniques over and over. To compete at the highest level, you have to understand what the best in the world are doing. How they move, how they breathe, where they place every single detail. I watch kata from JKS World Championships, Japanese masters, anyone I can learn from.

Training for the JKS World Cup in Brazil means leaving nothing to chance. Every spare moment at the dojo becomes an opportunity, whether that’s on the mats working on Unsu or sitting down analysing footage frame by frame. My coaches always say that karate is as much mental as it is physical, and I’ve really taken that to heart.

Being a 2nd Dan Black Belt at 13 doesn’t mean I’ve got it all figured out. Far from it. It means I know how much more there is to learn. That hunger to improve never stops, and honestly, that’s what I love about this journey.

If you want to follow along as I prepare for Brazil and see what goes into representing England on the world stage, give me a follow on Instagram and TikTok. And if you’d like to support my journey, every contribution to my GoFundMe helps make this dream possible. Let’s go! 🇧🇷🥋

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

For a full guide, see Medicine Ball Slams Build Explosive Power for Karate.

For a full guide, see Youth Karate Strength Training Hurricane Warm Up Drill.