Jackson White Hall of Fame Interview

I first recall meeting Jackson White when I encountered him in the form of a tough opponent during MAI’s first Clash of The Titans event... Even as far back as 1989 Jackson was already an established figther within the TAGB ranks.

More than twenty years on and still competing, Jackson White remains an inspirational force within Taekwondo.

Bob Sykes: Jackson, welcome to MAI. could you please tell me how you originally got involved in Taekwondo?
Jackson White: I used to work for a well known car manufacturer in Leamington and many years ago I noticed how a colleague was always getting into trouble and fights with other co-workers... Eventually we became friends and I said to him ‘look man, you need to calm down and you need to think about taking up a martial art.’ This chap started learning Tae Kwon Do and he would show me the kicks he was learning. I was really impressed by the power and variety of leg techniques so, every break time, we would share our knowledge of martial arts with each other - we became really good friends. Furthermore, at this point I had already participated in other martial arts such as Shotokan Karate, Kung Fu, Jiu-jitsu and Aikido, but very quickly I took up Tae kwon do and have never looked back...

What was it about TKD that impressed you most?
I was taken back by the dynamism of Tae Kwon Do, the philosophy of the art and the fitness training required to become a competent practitioner. Having done other martial arts, I realised how static they were by comparison and TKD became so addictive. The power and the variety of kicks was what really impressed me. I was also happy that, at that time, I could train six days a week for £5 per month - happy days!

Take it from someone who knows, you’re without doubt a heavy hitter... how much of an influence has full contact and kickboxing been in your overall development as a fighter?
Let me tell you man, from my full contact days, your hands are as lethal as your feet... the ability to keep your opponent at a distance with your feet is good, however, at close range you need to be able to use your hands with speed and accuracy. It’s all well and good to be able to throw high kicks and fast punches, but if you’re not conditioned to take punishment, then you’re already disadvantaged. You have to be able to absorb heavy kicks and punches, otherwise the pain becomes a distraction when you face any opponent. A good fighter always respects his/her opponent!

Do you still compete?
Absolutely, TKD is in my blood... I am now fifty-five and I became the over 50s 2009 world champion in Croatia last year.

Why do you still compete?
Listen man! I’m a competitor and TKD is in my blood! as long as there is a division for me to fight in I will keep fighting as long as I can!

Is competitive TKD good for everyone?
Tae Kwon Do caters for everyone man... in my clubs we have whole families who come and train and enjoy various levels of competition - from children to the over 40s for both male and female events... You can compete in patterns, sparring and destruction events at tournaments at whatever level... I encourage people to experience tournaments at least once, because I feel it is a good way to further understand the art and build confidence and self esteem.

What major attributes can a TKD practitioner hope to attain from competitive combat?
Competitive TKD is a real confidence booster man! It also allows people to develop their skills and apply what they are taught in a relatively safe environment. I feel people become better all round practitioners because they have more control and become both mentally and physically stronger. TKD is a way of life, the whole philosophy and tenents that underpin the foundations of the art create a well balanced competitor.

How often do you train and what, these days, does your training mainly consist of?
Currently I am training twice a week for myself and go to squad training when I can, just to keep an eye on the young competitors to see how they are progressing. I also run two classes in which I also participate with my members. When I train, I’ll do patterns, basic floor work, pad work, sparring and, most importantly, fitness training.

Jackson, what would you define as being the secret behind your longevity?
My secret? there’s no secret man, it’s about having passion, dedication and devotion. I have loved martial arts since I was about eleven - ever since I saw my first episode of The Green Hornet with Bruce Lee, back in Jamaica in 1966... At this point, I knew I would participate in martial arts and here I am, forty-four years later. The people who have encouraged and inspired me are the people I have trained with throughout the years... People like Dave Oliver, Ajit Singh, Dev Barrett, Kenny Walton, Bob Howell, Patrick Carter and every student that has achieved their black belt through my instruction - especially my son, Jackson White junior.  

One final question, my friend. what do you think you’d be doing today if you’d never taken up Taekwondo?
Good question man! My first love has always been music and I think that I would have probably been some kind of musician... These days, to relax, I normally play my guitar and have recently taken up the saxophone.

Bob Sykes