Some weekends remind you exactly why you do this. Why you drive the miles, wake up early, and watch your son push himself beyond what seems reasonable for a 13 year old. This weekend was one of those.

Saturday morning started with an hour and a half session with Jordan Thomas. Intense work. Technical. Demanding. The kind of training that leaves you thinking surely that is enough for one day.

But Jakob had other plans.

Straight from that session, he headed to JKS Abingdon Squad training. No break. No complaints. Just ready to go again.

Brothers on the Mat

What makes it even better is watching Jakob train alongside his brother Nicholas. The photo above captures a moment I absolutely love. Jakob landing a clean ura mawashi geri on Nicholas during kumite sparring. The technical work covered both kata and kumite, and both boys were fully locked in.

There is something special about watching your sons push each other. They know each other so well. They know where the gaps are. They make each other better.

Monday Was Different

By Monday, the tiredness had caught up. Jakob was struggling. You could see it in his face, in his movement. But he still showed up for the evening class at 7pm. That is the part that matters most to me. Not the flashy kicks. Not the medals. The showing up when your body is telling you to rest.

And then came a very special moment.

Sensei Oliver, head of JKS Abingdon, presented Jakob with his Nidan certificate direct from Japan. His official 2nd Dan Black Belt recognition. Watching him receive that, knowing everything he has put in to earn it, was genuinely emotional.

The Journey Continues

This is what it looks like. The real version. Double sessions on tired legs. Brothers sparring hard. Struggling through Monday but still being there. And then a quiet moment of recognition that makes all the hard days worthwhile.

We are still working towards Brazil and the JKS World Championships. Every session like this one brings Jakob closer. If you want to support his journey, please consider visiting our GoFundMe at gofundme.com/f/support-young-karateka-jakob-de-brum. Every contribution helps this dream stay alive.

Follow Jakob on TikTok at tiktok.com/@jakob.de.brum to see more of the journey as it happens.