I have gone back and forth on whether to write this post. In the end, honesty has always been part of how we have told Jakob’s story, so here it is. This is an honest update on where things stand with the Commonwealth Karate Championships in Glasgow this November.

It is looking possible that Jakob will not be competing there. We have not ruled it out completely, but I do not want to stay quiet about where things genuinely stand either.

The truth is simple. Brazil cost more than we could fully absorb. Even with a successful fundraiser and some wonderful contributions through GoFundMe, we are still feeling the weight of it. That funding covered most of Jakob’s costs for the World Championships, and we are more grateful than words can really capture to everyone who gave, shared, or simply cheered us on. Without that support, Brazil does not happen at all.

What Grassroots Sport Actually Looks Like

But grassroots sport does not stop needing money just because one competition is over. Flights, entry fees, accommodation, the training that goes into being ready for a stage like that. It all adds up again almost immediately. Right now another major international trip so soon after Brazil is a genuine stretch for us.

Jakob does not quite understand the finances of it all, and he should not have to. What he understands is that Scotland might not happen this time. That is hard for a 14 year old who just became a World Champion and wants nothing more than to keep competing at that level.

We have talked about it as a family, honestly and openly, and he has taken it with more maturity than I expected. That is its own kind of pride for me.

This Is Not the End of Anything

Whatever happens, this is not the end of anything. It is just what grassroots sport actually looks like sometimes. Not every opportunity is guaranteed, even after the biggest win of a young athlete’s career. We wanted to say that plainly rather than let the silence do the talking.

Thank you, again, to everyone who has supported Jakob’s journey so far. It means more than you know, and it is exactly why we keep going. If you want to help Jakob get to Glasgow and continue competing at international level, you can support his journey here: gofund.me

Follow Jakob’s journey on TikTok: @jakob.de.brum