Sometimes even elite karate athletes need a break from the dojo. This picture that shows Jakob got the chance to play football at the Arsenal Emirates Stadium in London with his local team SCVFC and honestly, watching him out there on that legendary pitch was something special.

As a dad you try to give your kids as many experiences as possible. Jakob trains incredibly hard for karate, sometimes five or six sessions a week plus competitions most weekends. So when his football team got the opportunity to play a tournament at the Emirates, we knew we had to make it happen.

More Than Just Karate

People sometimes ask if Jakob does anything besides karate. The answer is absolutely yes. He loves his football and plays for SCVFC here in Abingdon. The team is sponsored by Lodge Hill Garage and the lads are a brilliant bunch.

Playing different sports actually helps his karate too. The footwork, the spatial awareness, reading opponents. It all transfers across. Plus its good for him to just be a normal 13 year old sometimes, running around with his mates without the pressure of competing.

A Day to Remember

Walking into that stadium, seeing the massive stands around him. You could see Jakob taking it all in. This is where world class footballers play every week and there was my boy in his red kit ready to give it everything.

These are the moments that make all the early mornings and long drives worth it.

We are so grateful for the ongoing support from Motion Mender who keep Jakob moving with regular sports massages, Pink Coco London and PartMax who continue to back his journey.

If you would like to help support Jakob as he trains for the JKS World Championships in Brazil, please consider donating to his GoFundMe at gofund.me/jakob. Every bit helps cover travel, training and competition costs.

Follow his journey on TikTok @jakob.de.brum and subscribe to our YouTube channel JDB Sports for more content. Drop a comment and let us know what other sports you think help with martial arts training!

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

For a full guide, see Ready to start your karate journey?.