by Vincent Juico
Thirteen opponents have struggled to prepare for the unique challenge of facing a one-armed fighter. Fighters like Jake Peacock are rare, especially when compared to the exceptional martial artist we’re featuring in this edition of Sports Without Borders.
You see, Jake is 13-1 with 11 wins by knockout and competes as a welterweight in ONE Championship. His story is one of resilience, the continuing triumph of the human spirit over adversity, trials, and tribulations.
Jake is different because of the band of amniotic sac wrapped around his arm during the early stages of growth and development in the womb which prevented the growth of the lower part of his right arm.
![Jake Peacock [photo credit: @jake_leestriking Instagram]](http://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/460301036_1747298136038009_1887290989782849217_n-e1727021999711.jpg)
Growing up, the 5-foot-11 180 pound 31-year-old fighting out of Calgary, Alberta, Canada via London, England was constantly bullied and ridiculed and continually and relentlessly discriminated against. Taunting, offensive gestures, and name calling from bullies and school-mates as he recalled in a Sportskeeda piece in May 2023, “The bullying would just keep going and I knew it would never stop… Having a strong mindset was always there. Growing up with one hand brought it out of me more… it made me more resilient for sure… Lots of people staring at my arm and commenting on it.”
He has had success despite the circumstances. According to www.dunamismartialarts.com, “Having completed a 6 fight contract with the world famous Muay Thai promotion, Lion Fight and winning the Road to ONE tournament securing a $100,000 contract with the biggest martial arts promotion in the word, ONE Championship, Jake is 13-1 as a professional with 11 wins coming by way of KO. Currently ranked #14 in the WBC world rankings at Welterweight. He is the current WBC Canadian Welterweight Champion, North American Super-Welterweight Champion, the former European Super-Welterweight Champion. Jake Peacock is also the founder and head coach at Dunamis: Muay Thai |Kickboxing | Boxing based out of Calgary, AB.”
Football ran in the Peacock family blood as Jake’s father, Gavin Peacock was a star at English Premier League’s Chelsea Football Club, and his father before him was also a professional footballer but Jake tread a different path that would take him to other parts of the world.
The soon-to-be father of 3 was constantly bullied as a child so his parents thought it best to get him into martial arts at the age of 7 to defend himself and to also teach him the time-honored values in sports and martial arts like discipline, self-control, and hard work.
![Jake Peacock [ONE Championship photo]](http://sportsbytes.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Jake-Peacock-posing-at-PK-Saenchai-Muaythaigym.jpg)
In his early to mid-teens, the welterweight contender moved halfway across the world to Canada where he immersed himself in full-contact Kyokushin Karate.
Muay Thai and Kickboxing ushered in a new era as far as his career as a professional combat sports athlete training, fighting, and coaching is concerned.
Jake also trains, mentors, and teaches kids at Dunamis sharing and imparting the same values that he’s learned throughout his years as a martial arts practitioner.
What transpires in a typical day for Jake? As per www.sanabulsports.com, “Throughout Jake’s life, training has helped him to develop incredible discipline, sharp focus, and an outstanding work ethic. When asked what a regular day consists of, he gave us a look into the way he trains.
“I run or lift weights in the morning, along with a training session that consists of shadowboxing, bag work, and drills that are shadowboxed. I take a few hours off, during which I may be teaching private sessions and or classes at my gym. Then I train again in the afternoon, usually with my team. We spar 20-30 rounds a week, drill lots, pad work, bag work, lots of shadowboxing… 6 days on one day off.”
People can learn much from the Netflix documentary-like story of what Jake has endured as the article continues, “I would want people to hear my story and be encouraged to continue pursuing their dreams, even against all odds. I want people from all walks of life to be inspired to press on through challenging times. Life is hard, full of ups and downs and tough times, some have it much worse than others. But to stay hopeful, determined, and courageous through it all. We can all be thankful in every circumstance, for life itself is a great gift!”
He wears his faith on his sleeve, if you check out his Instagram page, you’ll see the words, “Christ’s my life, Christa’s my life”, Christa is Jake’s wife and mother of his two wonderful children, Charlie and Ellie with another one on the way.
According to www.mirror.co.uk, “There might be some skepticism and doubt, but when they see my abilities and what I’ve been able to do, hopefully that’s motivating for people and inspiring. That’s to be expected really but I hope that people will be inspired by that,” he told Sky Sports. “I’m very fortunate because the first person I trained under was Steve Groom and he didn’t even make a deal about it.
“Just like my parents, they let me get on with stuff and let me live my life. They let me figure it out and Steve is the same, both my parents and Steve have been very influential. My whole family really, my grandparents and everyone. They’ve been very influential in how I’ve developed and there’s been no ceiling over my head as far as heights I can reach.”
These days Jake has a lot to be thankful for and a lot to fight for so waking up every day and self-motivation is never a problem for him.
- Sporting the Faith - October 24, 2024
- Jake Peacock: The One - September 23, 2024
- Taiwo ‘Esepo’ Agbaje: The Featherweight Powerhouse Aiming for World Glory - September 10, 2024
