Sometimes I look back at old photos and realise just how far we have come. This one hits different. It was taken a couple of years ago on the day I officially made the JKS England Kumite Squad.

That moment changed everything.

Standing next to Matt Price Sensei, the Head Coach, I remember feeling a mix of nerves and pure excitement. All those early mornings, the bruises, the times I wanted to quit but did not. They all led to this.

Making the squad was not handed to me. I had to earn it. Session after session, proving I belonged there with athletes older and more experienced than me. Matt Sensei saw something in me and pushed me to be better. He still does.

Looking at this photo now, I can see how young I was. But I also see someone who was ready to work. Someone who understood that getting selected was just the beginning, not the end.

What It Meant For Our Family

My dad always says that day was one of the proudest of his life. For our family it represented years of sacrifice. Driving hundreds of miles to training, missing weekends, spending money we probably did not have. But seeing me in that squad made it all worth it.

Since then the journey has only got harder and more rewarding. Training for the JKS World Championships in Brazil is the next chapter and I carry that same hunger with me every single day.

If you want to support my journey to Brazil and help a normal family give their son an extraordinary opportunity, please consider donating to my GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-young-karateka-jakob-de-brum. Every single pound helps and I am so grateful for the support.

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.