Gunning for Olympics

What started as a defence against a bully at school for young Jacob Pinkus has turned into making a living, now that he is a professional Wushu (Chinese martial art) fighter and coach.

Ranked number 14 in the world Pinkus (23) a Waverley resident said, “ As a kid at primary school, I was smacked, my face pushed against the wall by a big fat kid and I decided to take lessons in Wushu and from that day I never looked back. The bully came to me and I knocked him and he never came back.” He said started Wushu training when he was 11 years old. “I took a decision that I will live and eat Wushu,” Pinkus quipped. Now he is the Tiger Trainers coach with international experience, having participated and won numerous medals in many national and international events in junior competitions. He has represented South Africa in 2006 World Junior Wushu Championships held in Malaysia and in the same competition in Bali, Indonesia in 2008.

The well experienced coach is also a 3rd year student in Sports Psychology and Human movement Science at Wits University. The qualified personal trainer said his mission is to get to Olympics and combine the Tigers trainers with fitness club. Three years ago, Pinkus started coaching and already two boys and a girl from his stable have won Gold medals in National Wushu Championships held at Wits University earlier in March.

The proud coach said, “I work more with quality not quantity, for instance, it was their first tournament and they achieved a lot, one of the boys (18) fought with a 30-year-old opponent who has 15 years’ experience but emerged victorious.” He added that he wants to fight in the Olympics. Pinkus was trained in the real traditional Chinese martial art and he also trained with Beijing Olympic team 2008 and International Israel Wushu team in 2011.

He has won national trials in five occasions and in three different categories. His gym is at 25 Aintree Avenue in Waverley.

Details: Jacob Pinkus, 084 776 0328