Training with Jon Xue Zhang this Saturday was honestly one of the coolest experiences I have had in a long time. Jon is an incredibly experienced martial artist, actor, and stunt performer who has worked on some massive projects. Getting to learn from someone like that is something I will never take for granted.

We met up and got straight into it. The session was intense but in the best way possible. Jon took me through loads of different drills and exercises that I know will help my karate going forward. It was different to my normal training but that is exactly why it was so valuable.

Learning Beyond Technique

One thing that really stood out was how much we talked between drills. Jon has so much knowledge and experience from his career in martial arts and the film industry. He has worked as a stunt coordinator and performer on major productions and his understanding of movement is incredible.

But the biggest thing he wanted me to take away from the whole session was something that sounds simple but is actually really hard. Breathing. Staying calm. Being relaxed.

He kept coming back to this idea that tension is the enemy. When you are tense you are slower and you tire out faster. When you can breathe properly and stay relaxed even under pressure everything flows better. I have heard coaches say this before but the way Jon explained it and made me feel it during the drills really made it click.

Applying It to Karate

I was thinking about this on the drive home. In kumite especially I sometimes hold my breath or tense up when things get fast. If I can learn to stay loose and breathe through it I know my reactions will be sharper and I will last longer in tough rounds.

This is the kind of learning that does not come from a single session though. It is something I need to keep working on every single training day.

Massive thank you to Jon for giving his time and sharing his knowledge. It meant a lot and I genuinely cannot wait to train with him again.

You can find Jon on Instagram at @jonxuezhang where he shares his martial arts and stunt work.

If you want to be part of this journey and support my training you can help here: https://gofund.me/1727dc4e6

Follow along on TikTok: tiktok.com/@jakob.de.brum