Congratulations goes out to Adam Jackson for being chosen as the student to be spotlighted for December 2002. Adam Jackson is a 15 year old black belt from Blytheville, Arkansas. He has been competing on the NASKA Circuit for three years and has been world champion in traditional weapons for two of those years.

He began his martial arts career at the young age of 7 when he joined a local martial arts school. He developed an interest in karate like most kids did from TV. Although mom and dad weren’t sure the interest would last, Adam proved he had a natural ability for it. He quickly began to enjoy training a lot and began competing in local tournaments throughout the mid-south. He was very interested in learning about weapons, especially the Bo and he sought special training with it.

In 1999 Adam began to compete on the Regional Sport Karate Circuit and moved on to NASKA during the year 2000 while he was still an underbelt. In his first full year as a black belt in 2001 he became the traditional weapons world champion at age 13 and continued to win the division in 2002 as a 14 year old. Since beginning tournaments, he has won over 400 trophies.

Adam has trained in several places, including Blytheville, Arkansas, Benton Kentucky, Memphis, Tennessee and Bowling Green Kentucky. He joined Team KIKS in Louisville, Kentucky in 2000 and has been a shinning member of the team for three years.

Martial Arts is very important to Adam and occupies much of his time. When he is not competing or practicing, he is often conducting seminars on the bo or performing for local groups, including nursing homes and the DARE organization. He appears each year on the local St. Jude telethon in Blytheville with his martial arts.

Adam feels that his training in Tae Kwon Do and Karate helps to keep in focused and goal oriented. As a freshman in high school, he maintains a 4.0 GPA and has already scored high enough on his ACT when he was a 7^{th grader to enter most colleges. He knows there are many challenges ahead and his martial arts training will help direct him. One of the nicest thoughts he says is that his accomplishments show that kids can be a positive influence and role model for others (kids and adults alike.) This submission comes from reporter Sensei Mark Huard snd our choice for December 2002.}