Eric Jacobson wins Pan-Am Championship gold

Eric Jacobson, pictured on the number one podium, won a gold medal at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Pan-Am Championships in Secaucus, N.J., Oct. 2-4. (Contributed Photo)

Spencer Seymour, Echo Contributor

Eric Jacobson, a Thamesford, Ont., native and teacher at A.J. Baker Public School in Kintore, captured a gold medal at the International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) Pan-Am Championships in Secaucus, N.J., Oct. 2-4.

Jacobson earned the top prize competing in the Male Master Two Purple 202-pound division, and described the moment he realized he won the gold medal.

“It was an amazing feeling,” Jacobson told the Echo. “When I wrestled, I was often the guy finishing with a bronze medal, so finally winning gold at a major international competition felt especially rewarding. It was one of those moments where you could really appreciate all the years of work that went into getting there.”

According to Jacobson, his first order of business was to share the victory with his family.

“The first thing I did was FaceTime my wife and tell my kids,” noted Jacobson. “They had actually been watching the competition as it was streamed on TV, so they got to experience it as it happened. I'm married with three kids, and having their support means a lot to me. Knowing they were watching and cheering me on made the moment even more special. Winning was incredible, but being able to share it with my family was probably the best part.”

With submissions hard to come by at such a high level of competition, all six of Jacobson’s matches were decided on points, which Jacobson said made for an intense competition.

“Competing at the international level is a surreal experience. The tournament was very professionally organized, and the level of competition was incredible. Every athlete there had earned their place, and there really weren't any easy matches. You're competing against people who have put in the same kind of work and dedication to get there, which makes the experience that much more rewarding.

“It was a great opportunity to test myself against some of the best athletes in the region,” Jacobson continued. “It made coming away with a gold medal that much more meaningful.”

The journey in combat sports when Jacobson was just in grade three, when the gold medalist first discovered the sport of judo.

“I started judo in elementary school around grade three with my dad, and I fell in love with the sport and the challenge of learning a contact sport. I was never particularly good at soccer or baseball, but I found my passion in combat sports. From there, I continued wrestling through high school and university, and later in life, I got into Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu,” Jacobson began.

“Looking back, all of those experiences have connected and built on one another. Judo, wrestling, and Jiu-Jitsu each bring something different to the table, but they complement each other really well. All the years of training and competing across those sports have helped me get to where I am today, and competing at the Pan-Am Championships was a great opportunity.”

Jacobson further explained how the experience in multiple different grappling sports helped him have success at the Pan-Am Championships.

“I think my background in judo and wrestling played a big role in my success. Those sports gave me a strong grappling foundation, and I was able to draw on that experience throughout the competition to control positions, stay competitive in the scrambles, and score points against my opponents. In my first match, I got some nice foot sweeps, which is a nice tribute to my judo experience.”

The win means Jacobson will once again compete on a global stage later this year, when he will travel to Sin City to face the best in the world.

“Winning gold means a lot, both personally and because of what it makes possible next,” explained Jacobson. “It qualifies me to compete at the World Championships in Las Vegas in December, where I'll have the opportunity to compete against some of the best athletes in the world.

“I'm really excited for that challenge. Winning at the Pan-Am Championships has given me a lot of confidence and motivation to keep pushing myself. It's a great feeling to see the work pay off, but I'm also looking at this as another step in the journey. I'm proud of what I've accomplished, and I'm looking forward to seeing what I can do at the world level.”