Staying focused when training gets tough is something I have had to learn the hard way. Some weeks are just harder than others. School stuff piles up. You feel tired before you even get to the dojo. But you still have to show up and give everything you have got.

This week was one of those weeks. I had a lot going on and honestly I did not feel my best going into training. But I knew I could not let that stop me. When I put my gi on and tie my belt something changes. It is like a switch flips and suddenly none of the other stuff matters anymore.

Finding My Focus

When I step onto the mat I try to block everything else out. Just me and the technique. Just me and my breathing. It sounds simple but it is actually really hard to do when your head is full of other things.

My coach always says that the athletes who make it are not the ones who only train when they feel good. They are the ones who train when they feel rubbish too. That stuck with me. So even when my legs were heavy and I wanted to just go home I stayed. I pushed through.

Why It Matters

Brazil is coming up and the JKS World Championships are not going to wait for me to feel ready. I have to be ready regardless of what kind of day or week I have had. That is what it means to compete at this level.

I am 13. I am still learning loads about myself and about karate. But one thing I know for sure is that dedication is not just about the easy days. It is about showing up when it is hard. That is when the real progress happens.

Thank you so much to everyone who has been supporting me on this journey. If you want to help me get to Brazil to represent England please check out my GoFundMe at gofundme.com/f/support-young-karateka-jakob-de-brum. Every bit of support means so much to me and my family.

You can also follow my journey on TikTok at tiktok.com/@jakob.de.brum where I post training clips and updates. Drop a comment and let me know how you stay focused when things get tough.