DJonathan Horne’s Olympic career began in front of the TV. But no, as there are so many people, the game is broadcast on TV. And action movies. With Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan And Chuck Norris. Like many children and young people in the 1980s and 1990s, Horn was fascinated by the martial arts of Hollywood’s great heroes.
Because he wanted to emulate them, he found a way karate. And fell in love with this sport. “The whole philosophy, self-discipline, mutual respect, speed and elegance combined,” he was enthusiastic, “all of which fascinated me from the beginning.” It still does today.
Horne participated in his sport. He became one of the best karate in the world. In the sub-discipline of kumite, unlike kata (freestyle), people directly fight each other, and the heavyweight wins what should be won. Horn became the European champion, world champion, and number one in the world.
But he is not yet an Olympic champion. It doesn’t work at all, because karate will only have its Olympic premiere in Tokyo. However, it is only one of the five temporary sports that allow the host country to choose. In Paris 2024, it was lost in the program again. The opportunity is unique.
More than just “cutting boards”
Olympia, the motherland of karate, is a big stage for martial arts. “A wonderful experience”, as Horn said, even though there is not much enthusiasm in the empty stands. He hopes to have an advertising influence on his sport. “Currently, karate is still related to breaking the board,” he complained, only half-joking.
But now it is about gold, silver and bronze medals. For Germany. Suddenly, this country has a different view of martial arts. Look, Horn hopes, what motivates him. A mixture of strength, coordination and focus. A sport that challenges both body and mind.
Anyone who visits Horn in Kaiserslautern’s dojo can hardly believe that the best karate in the world has been formed here at least for a while. In the backyard in the middle of an old working-class district, a narrow red stone staircase leads to an inconspicuous little house.
Everything looks a little shabby, but at least it has been repaired. Even in the entrance area: take off your shoes. This is a Japanese tradition. Karate also has a lot to do with etiquette. Anyone who enters or exits the sports room must bow.
However, once inside, it is obvious that a master in his field is actually being trained here. Hundreds of trophies and trophies are arranged in the training area. Horn started his first karate training when he was five years old. Four years later, he changed clubs and never again.
To this day, he still works with his coach Uwe Schwehm. It’s been more than 25 years now, the silver wedding anniversary, you can say. “Being together for so long,” Schwem told the Die Rheinpfalz newspaper recently, “not many people can accept it.” Especially in exciting competitive sports.
Hunter rather than prey
Horne and Schwehm endured it. After so long, you will face a new sharing experience. “The Olympics is the greatest goal of every competitive athlete,” Horn said before the game on Saturday. But for him, existence is not everything. “If I participate in a competition somewhere, the gold medal will always be the goal,” he announced. The same was true on the penultimate day of the Tokyo Olympics.
He is one of the most popular people. Even competitors, especially Gogita Arkania of Georgia and Sajad Ganjzadeh of Iran, certainly have similar claims. Horn used a technique to counter the pressure of his favorite character psychologically. “I don’t think I am a hunter, I think I am a hunter in every game,” said the 32-year-old.
So he “doesn’t feel that someone is taking something from me”, but he can get something for himself. After all, competition is largely determined in the mind. Therefore, psychological stability is essential. “Anyone can hit and kick,” he said. “But being present at the right time and making the right decision is great art.”
Tokyo blockbuster
Horn mastered art. He has proven this many times. He is 1.94 meters tall and weighs 95 kilograms. He is pure muscle but extremely agile. The son of a German mother and an American father is a model athlete who perfectly combines sports and aesthetics. Before each battle, he would review his guiding principles in his mind. One of them: “Know your strengths!” For him, especially the strength, speed, and the necessary concentration. He can use it to grab any opponent. Also in Tokyo. Also on the big stage of the Olympic Games.
Who knows: maybe at this moment, one or another karate career will restart in front of German TV. In any case, you should no longer rely on Hollywood. Even the popular Netflix series “Cobra Kay” recently paid tribute to the popular “Karate Kid” of the 80s: the good days of the martial arts genre seem to be temporarily over. In any case, Jonathan Horne has a different plan. He said that he wanted to launch his own “blockbuster” at the Olympics. “The main character”, that’s for sure, “I like to play there.
