Profiles in MHS Sports

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Malibu High School Freshman Jordan Simon is a karate world champion. Photo courtesy of the Simon family

This profile on karate world champion Jordan Simon is the second piece in a series on the athletes at Malibu High School who will return next season.

Jordan Simon

At Malibu High School, there is one student with whom everybody knows not to pick a fight. No, he is not one of the buff guys on the football team. And he is not one of the tall guys on the basketball team. Rather, he is a relatively small freshman with curly red hair.

Jordan Simon may only be five-foot, nine-inches tall and 145 pounds, but he has a third-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. He has been named a world champion more times than he can count with the fingers on his right hand. In 2005, he became the 11 and under traditional weapons world champion. In 2006, he was named the world champion in the 12- to 14-age group for creative weapons and traditional weapons. In 2007, he became the overall contemporary forms world champion, the 17 and under open musical weapons world champion, and the 12 to 14 choreographed musical weapons world champion.

In addition to his karate success, Simon plays basketball and baseball for Malibu High, and he is an accomplished artist.

How does it feel to know that you are the best in the world at something?

It is a great honor to hold a world title. There are so many great competitors who I have had the opportunity to compete against. This means that I have to work that much harder to hold on to my titles.

You have competed in tournaments throughout the world. Which is your favorite place?

There is an annual Mexican International competition in Acapulco for a week each August, and that is hard not to like!

You frequently represent Team USA in international competitions. Describe the feeling of representing your country.

That is always a huge honor, and also a huge responsibility. When you represent the USA and travel to other countries, it seems that all eyes are on the members of our team. It is great to win when competing for the USA, but I feel it is even more important to represent the country well by being an example of what America is all about.

What type of karate do you practice?

I have trained in Tang Soo Do at Joey Escobar Karate in Malibu since I was three years old.

What is your favorite karate technique?

My specialty is in weapons using a bo staff (a long staff, usually made of wood).

During a typical week, how many hours do you spend training?

I typically train a couple of hours a day Monday through Friday, both at the karate studio and at my home gym. I take Saturdays off unless I have a competition, and then Sunday I train for three hours with my tournament coach, Butch Togisala.

Have you ever been forced to use karate outside of a competition?

I am trained not to use my karate unless there is no alternative.

When you are not competing, what do you do to manage your emotions?

I love to draw. It really relaxes me. I always have a sketchbook and pencils with me. You can usually find me drawing in a quiet area in between events.

Where does your passion for karate come from?

It just came very naturally. I have been doing karate so long that I do not remember ever not doing it. I could not imagine karate not being part of my life.

Who has influenced your karate the most?

Joey Escobar and his wife Ginger. They are like my second family. They have given me and continue to give me a great base for my karate. Butch Togisala, who trains me specifically for competition, is also a great influence.

What are your karate strengths and weaknesses?

My strength is that I believe I out-train my opponents. I always want to be the best athlete in the tournament, and to work harder than anyone else. I never want to lose because someone else has worked harder than I have.

My biggest weakness in sport karate is that I am not a gymnast. In several of the “extreme” events there is a certain amount of “flipping” that is required. Many of the competitors are as trained in gymnastics as they are in karate. They are really fun to watch compete.

Your family is visible at your competitions, loudly cheering and encouraging you. How has their support helped you?

My family is the reason that I get to do what I do. My parents have supported and pushed me when I have needed it at all times. They are constant travel companions to me. My sister, Sarah-Jayne, who is a junior at Malibu High, takes time out of her busy schedule to come to as many tournaments as she can. My younger brother Noah, who is a second-degree black belt but has chosen not to compete, is a constant coach for me, always giving me pointers and ideas on how to compete better.

You also play basketball and baseball for Malibu High. How does this help you karate?

I actually think that it is the other way around. I believe that karate has taught me to be disciplined, to concentrate and to train hard. The eye and hand coordination that karate requires is a huge help with my other sports, especially baseball.

How do you manage your time playing sports, going to school, practicing karate and completing your other responsibilities?

It is not a big deal at all. I love karate and my other sports, so I do whatever it takes to make sure I get to do them. Schoolwork is not nearly as fun, but I know that it is important for my future, so I make sure that I work hard and keep up with it. Malibu High has been really great about my traveling, and making sure that I get assignments in advance so I can work on them when I am away.

What are your future karate goals?

I want to keep competing until I graduate high school, and then I am not really sure. Karate is not a college sport. I have several friends who have gone into the entertainment industry. They are doing movies and television, but I am not interested in doing that right now. So, we will see.

Where do you hope to go to college? What are your career goals?

I love baseball, and hope I have the opportunity to play in college. I do not spend a lot of time at this point in my life thinking about the future. My parents tell me I will have plenty of time to do that later. I am watching my sister now go through the college process, and have decided my parents are right.