Page 57 - Martial Science Magazine 2019 SEPT DIG

INTERVIEW

Jan Kubenka

lead them by a great example. Now I would like to reach more peo-
ple to influence them to thrive for better. I would like to accomplish
that through action movies. Motivate kids to practice martial arts
or any sports, instead of sitting home and wasting pressures time
playing only video games, or being couch potato. Instill in them the
amazing values of martial arts.

WHY MARTIAL ARTS HAD SUCH A HUGE IMPACT ON YOU?

Martial arts saved me. I was bullied cause shy, skinnies, shortest
and weakest kid in a class. I had no self-confidence. But it all chan-
ged when I started with karate and taekwondo.
After about 1 year of practice I started to compete in kumite. Every
time I stepped to the ring I was scared as hell but deep inside I knew
I had to face my fears to overcome my own obstacles. I think everyo-
ne should conquer their fears. Well, I won many fights but of course
I didn’t win them all. No one wants to lose but when I did, that loss
motivated me to train twice as hard. I was terrified to face my oppo-
nents, but at the end I realized that it was more about my internal
battle, about my confidence to stand up for myself to anyone.
It is always easier to be in your comfort zone, but that doesn’t push
you to go forward. What an amazing internal feeling of accomplish-
ment it is when you get your butt off the sofa and do something you
are afraid of and succeed. Or do something people think you are not
capable off. I love when people doubt me, make fun of me because it
motivates me to proof them wrong.

HAVE YOU ACCOMPLISED YOUR GOALS?

Still working on it, this process never ends. Goal setting is very im-
portant. It gives you motivation. I became Champion of my country
in kumite fighting at the age of 21. Shortly after I moved to the USA
and won many USA National Championships. After retiring from
competing I needed something that motivates me to continue my
martial arts training at the highest level. Since teenaged years I
wanted to do action marital arts movies so that’s where my focus is.
That’s what drives me now. Some people make fun of me but that’s