The crowd roared as the San Fernando Valley 15-year-old, Jermaine Soto Jr. “Triple J,” victoriously raised his fists in the air.
Last Saturday, Dec. 14, judges named Jermaine, who represented the United States, the winner of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) international youth competition against South Korean fighter Yong Jae Lee.
Lee was fast-moving about the ring, but Jermaine dominated with his powerful attacks – eventually cornering Lee and slowing him down with targeted blows to his legs. After three explosive two-minute rounds, and some adjusting to an unfamiliar point system, Jermaine came out on top.
“That is the best feeling in the world,” said Jermaine about taking home the win, which secured him a place as the only youth fighter on the WAKO U.S. team.
His success is a reflection of his dedication to the craft and all the tireless hours he puts into training. It means he pushed himself, not only physically, but more importantly mentally, to overcome whatever was in front of him to persevere.
“When you’re in there, you want to win so bad, it feels like you’ll do anything. Before I fight, I tell myself I don’t care what happens in there, I’m willing to die tonight,” said Jermaine. “At this level, everybody’s good, and it just comes down to who wants it more.”
For the young kickboxing and Muay Thai champion – holding titles such as the first-ever World Championship Muay Thai (WCK) Junior World Champion – combat sports are more than just an afterschool activity, they are a way of life.
“I like the thrill,” said Jermaine about the adrenaline rush from being in the ring. “It makes you feel alive.”
The Dynamic Duo
Born and raised in Sylmar and Arleta, Jermaine trains daily with his father, Jermaine Soto, at their gym in Arleta, the West Coast Combat Center.
“This is our life. This is what we do,” said Soto, an internationally recognized combat sports champion, holding titles such as the World Boxing Council (WBC) Muay Thai Champion, the WCK Champion, World Taekwondo (TKD) Champion and the National Karate Champion.
With around a dozen belts between the two of them, and a string of medals and trophies, this father-son duo competes to win. This year alone, Jermaine was undefeated in all seven fights he competed in.
“It’s amazing,” Jermaine said about being the top youth fighter in the U.S. “But you can’t get too comfortable because there’s always that person behind you that’s … pushing to get on your level.”
Jermaine started training in jiu-jitsu before he was even 4 years old. Around the age of 6, he went to one of his dad’s Muay Thai matches for the first time and decided this was what he wanted to do.
“It was just unreal,” recalled Jermaine, finding it hard to put into words the feeling he got watching that fight. One year later, he participated in his first competition.
Soto retired from fighting about two years ago and now dedicates his time and efforts to coaching and training Jermaine, passing down his knowledge and experience from decades of being in the ring.
“It was devastating,” Soto joked about when Jermaine first decided to follow in his footsteps. “This is a rough sport. It’s not a forgiving sport. … This is a sport where you’re going to get injured. … Anything can happen.
“It’s a lot of emotions that go into being a father, a coach and a trainer,” said Soto. “First and foremost, that’s still my son. … I don’t want him to get hurt. I don’t want him to feel bad. I don’t want him to lose.”
Soto is a ball of nerves before all of Jermaine’s fights, even to the point of throwing up. But with his dad’s support, Jermaine remains calm and collected.
“He’s all I need,” said Jermaine. “He’s back there comforting me. He knows what to do because he’s been there. That’s what’s so good about having a dad, and a coach, and a fighter, that has done it so many times.”
More than a Fighter, More than the Fight
“He’s not just a fighter. He’s a martial artist,” said Soto.
For Jermaine, combat sports are about practicing discipline and having fun. His days are regimented, from the food he eats to the time he spends training his body. On the days he practices before school, Jermaine said he feels more focused in class.
“It really overall helps your life,” said Jermaine. “It teaches you to have discipline.”
Now, Jermaine runs his own structured taekwondo class out of West Coast Combat Center, where students from ages 5 to 13 can earn up to a black belt.
“They’re doing so well in their overall life with him mentoring them,” said Soto. “So there’s a lot more to it than just the fight.”
Outside of combat, Jermaine also plays the flute. The instrument, he said, helps him prepare his body and mind for these competitions.
“It’s really good to get your mind away from things. It’s like meditating,” said Jermaine. “And it’s bettered me with my breathing.”
In combat sports, he added, your mental stamina can be more important than your physical strength.
Representing His People
At his current skill level, Jermaine has outranked all other youth in the area – now competing nationally and internationally. However, last Saturday, the WAKO fight was held locally in Burbank – for the first time in years, he could share the win with his gym, his family, his community.
And Jermaine was surprised to see just how many people from the community came to support him, adding that it felt like the whole venue was there to see him fight. He is empowered knowing that others can see themselves in him.
“I like to represent my people,” said Jermaine. “I’m representing the people that support me, the people that hate on me. I’m representing everybody in the valley, everybody in the U.S.”
The fight almost had Olympic implications. Designed as a qualifier round for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, Jermaine competed in front of an Olympic committee.
Kickboxing and Muay Thai were shortlisted among seven other sports to be added to the 2028 Olympics, but ultimately they were not included in the upcoming games. Although disappointed by the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision, WAKO president Roy Baker believes it’s only a matter of time.
“My team and I firmly believe that kickboxing is one of the most dynamic, exciting and modern combat sports in the world, destined to rightfully take its place at the Summer Games in the future,” said Baker in an interview with insidethegames.
It may not be at the next summer games, but down the line, don’t be surprised if Jermaine is one of the first U.S. representatives of kickboxing in the Olympics.
“He’s making such a big name for himself as a youth. I can only imagine how it’s going to be when he turns 18,” said Soto.