South Africa may seem very far away, but the message karate champion Jeffrey Jackson gives to disadvantaged students near Cape Town is a message understood anywhere in the world.
As a boy Jackson’s family had very little money or resources. His mother was a low-paid factory worker and his father was an unemployed alcoholic. Jackson’s future did not look very promising.
But then, one day while he was about 11-years-old, a friend introduced him to karate. With no money to afford lessons the best Jackson could do was watch from the sidelines. The instructor noticed Jackson watching after awhile and invited him onto the floor for free.
He started his training and never quit. In 1988 he received his black belt and was invited to represent his country in various international events. Twenty years later in 2008 and still competing he won his first gold medal in Scotland. When he came home he retired from competing and won his first coaching job.
Soon he was coaching on national teams and starting up his own karate school. He now owns 7 schools of karate and loves working with disadvantage kids as his giving back for what was done for him. Karate has changed his future, changed his life!
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