‘Those with the most potential have the least opportunity,’ says newly-elected WP Karate president
Mitchell’s Plain karate expert Jeffrey Jackson, 49, the newly-elected president of the Karate Association of Cape Town Unicity (KACTU), says he will prioritise looking out for students from disadvantaged communities in the Cape Metropole.
The association is affiliated to the Western Cape regional body, which in turn is affiliated to Karate South Africa (KSA).
Established in 2005, KSA is a member of the World Karate Federation (WKF), which is the only body recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Jackson, a multiple national title holder, knows all too well about the struggles affecting students across the city.
“Having come from a disadvantaged background myself, and excelling in sports karate, I’m dedicated to ensuring that talented young people from underprivileged areas receive the support they need,” said Jackson, who grew up in Beacon Valley.
“These kids often have the most potential but the least opportunity,” he said.
Jackson has represented the country on numerous occasions and guided many students to national level, some of them have been with him since primary school.
“I practice Goju-Ryu karate, a discipline I've dedicated my life to,” said Jackson, who has 38 years of training under his belt,
He has come a long way from winning his first international medal at the Commonwealth Games karate championships in Scotland, in 2008 to opening his first dojo at the Town Centre Library, 2000, which he says, marked a significant milestone in his career.
He now operates seven dojos under the Karate Satori banner and established Mitchell’s Plain’s first dedicated karate and fitness studio in 2020, at the Colorado Park mini mall, just before the Covid-19 pandemic was declared.
The pandemic nearly crippled Jackson’s new venture as they had just settled in their new environment with little to no funding.
But when life throws you a curve ball, you either dodge or catch it, said Jackson, who along with his family and long-time students, simply soldiered on.
A cabinet full of trophies and accolades bear testimony to all their hard work and dedication.
Growing up in a tough neighbourhood has equipped Jackson to deal with many of life’s challenges, including the death of his younger brother, Charles, himself a formal national champion, who was shot and killed at the family home in Beacon Valley last year, and of his mother, Sally who died a few months later.
For now, new challenges await as Jackson prepares to take up his official duties as WP president.
“This role carries many responsibilities, but ultimately, it means that karate in Cape Town will undergo significant, positive changes,” he said.