Jason Lam is an emerging karate sensation with over a decade of experience. He hails from JKS England, an association that has a reputation for producing world champions and superstars. In fact, Jason is currently training to compete in Japan this summer. But let’s focus on his most recent accomplishment: winning bronze at the KSE Championships in Gloucester. To ease any concerns you have about upcoming karate competitions, he shares some much-needed advice in this interview.
How did you get into karate? Why karate over other sports?
I started karate mainly because of high school and my parents. I moved house in 2012 and you would hear from other people that it gets a bit rowdy in high school. I thought to myself, it’s best to learn some self-defence and at the time, there was a karate club down the road.
What was your day like at the KSE Championships?
The event began at 9am, starting with the younger categories and there were five different mats on the day. My first performance was at 12:30pm and I warmed up about an hour and a half beforehand. Each performance that I do ranges from a minute to three minutes long and so, in terms of getting a medal, I did two rounds of performances. I lost to the eventual winner of the category but I did enough to secure a bronze medal.
What about karate tournaments do you worry about the most?
I would say the main thing that I’m worried about is mental preparation on the day of the competition. But another little pet peeve are the mats we compete on. Sometimes they’re slippery which makes me worry about how I’m going to execute certain moves.
Is your physical health monitored and maintained beforehand? Why?
You will see that the people that perform the best and get through the rounds are in good physical condition. I train six times a week and in terms of physical preparation leading up to a competition, there aren’t any big changes. To be more specific, you start to tailor your training regime by resting and stretching in the week before the competition. Obviously, you still need to move and get that blood flowing but training isn’t strenuous on the body which ensures that you are at your peak on the day.
Let’s rewind back to your first ever tournament. What’s the best advice you could give your past self?
Always go in with a winning mentality. Let’s say you’re in the gym trying to hit a new personal best. You’re not having a good day, you’re not achieving what you usually achieve and you don’t manage to hit that personal best. Instead of having a losing mentality and telling yourself ‘I can’t do it today’, see it as a learning opportunity. It’s not the end of the world if you lose, you just need a combination of humbleness and progression.
Would you say that karate has changed you for the better? If so, how?
A hundred percent. Karate keeps me fit, gets my body moving and prevents me from being sat at home doing nothing. Honestly, if I hadn’t started, my physique would be completely different and I would probably have some health problems. It’s also had such a positive impact on my mental health. When I have bad days, I can always look forward to training and the people I train with. The association I’m in is very supportive and the kids and adults don’t hesitate to talk to you. For example, I have this 50-year-old father figure and we have nothing in common but we bond so well over karate.