Jakob De Brum is a World Champion. I am still processing those words as I write them. At the 7th JKS International Cup in Vitória, Brazil, my 13 year old son stepped onto the mat representing England and came home with gold in Individual Kata. This was his first ever World Championships. And he won it.

I do not know how to describe what it feels like to watch your child achieve something like this. All those early mornings. All those long drives to training sessions. All those nights wondering if we were doing enough, if he was ready, if the sacrifice was worth it. Now I know. It was worth every single moment.

The Moment Everything Changed

When Jakob walked out to perform his kata in the 12 to 13 category, I could barely breathe. The Brazilian flag was enormous behind him. The crowd was loud. Athletes from all over the world were watching. And there was my boy, focused, calm, completely in the zone.

He did not hold back. He gave everything he had. Every technique was sharp. Every stance was deep. Every breath was controlled. When he finished, I knew he had done something special. But hearing the result confirmed as gold? That hit different.

Team Kumite Gold Too

As if individual gold was not enough, Jakob also came home with a gold medal in Team Kumite. His team had already secured the win before his bout in the final, but he still went out there and made it 3 to 0. That is the mentality I am most proud of. Never coasting. Never taking anything for granted.

Watching him hold that medal, England flag on his chest, surrounded by teammates who had all fought so hard together. That is something I will never forget.

What This Means For The Journey

Brazil will always hold a special place in our hearts now. This was not just a tournament. This was proof that years of dedication, discipline, and hard work can lead to something extraordinary. Jakob is 13 years old and he is a World Champion.

But this is not the end. This is a new beginning. The next stage of training starts now. The goals get bigger. The work gets harder. And we keep going.

Massive thank you to Motion Mender for keeping Jakob’s body ready for competition, to Pink Coco London for their ongoing support, and to PartMax for believing in this journey. We could not do this without our supporters.