Jake (Yaakhov) Pinkus’, story is one right out of a movie script. Now 25, he was bullied at school from the age of seven. He then enrolled into self-defence training – and found his true calling.
Not only did he triumph over his bullies, he honed his skills to a level where he was invited to China to achieve his first Dan. “This is what changed my life forever, as the one day – while practising new techniques – I spotted a boy, same age as me, who looked like he was flying through the air and stayed there for what seemed like minutes. I found out later this technique was known as a flying front kick, called Wushu, which means Chinese martial arts.
“When I returned to South Africa, I immediately enrolled myself in Wushu and competed in the national trials where I won four golds at four different times.
“The power, flexibility and speed in Wushu are just ridiculous! We trained for nine hours a day and the discipline, focus and control over my body was unexplainable and changed my life.”
The sky is now the limit for Pinkus, who went on to represent South Africa in the first-ever Junior World Wushu Championships in Malaysia and then trained with the Beijing Olympic 1st team in China.
Pinkus competed in Bali in the Second Junior World Wushu Championships and was placed in the top 10. A torn ligament in his knee from a quad bike accident halted all his training and competitions, and for a year, Pinkus underwent gruelling physical therapy.
Pinkus recalled this dark time and said, “I was extremely depressed but I decided to turn it around and enrolled myself in a personal training course and, through studying hard and attending my physio sessions, I was back and stronger than ever with a new understanding of how the body works.”
Pinkus then enrolled and completed an Undergrad Biokinetics course and, with his ongoing training and coaching, started up his own mobile personal training programme called Tiger Trainers, teaching a form of Chinese martial arts.
Pinkus added, “But I wanted to help others medically on a much bigger scale. I wanted to have a full wellness centre with a full system of medical professionals, therapists and trainers, so I reformed Tiger Trainers to Marvel Health and have opened my very own branch at the Genesis Hotel in Glenhazel.
“We plan, not only to provide personal training but also martial arts and strength and rehabilitation for all.”
Pinkus will be returning to China mid-year to train among the top athletes in the world, travel to some ancient destinations and experience all there is to offer.
If you are interested in joining Pinkus on this adventure to China or just need advice on anything health related, feel free to get in touch or pop past the new Marvel Health gym in the hotel.
Read: Getting out of your gym contract
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