I think secret of my longevity is that I haven’t really been hit that much my
haven’t really been hit that much my
haven’t really been hit that much my style of fighting is that boxer which is
style of fighting is that boxer which is
style of fighting is that boxer which is more movement
more movement
more movement and I don’t brawl with a person so I’m
and I don’t brawl with a person so I’m
and I don’t brawl with a person so I’m not really exchanging these punches and
not really exchanging these punches and
not really exchanging these punches and getting hit a lot and I feel that’s one
getting hit a lot and I feel that’s one
getting hit a lot and I feel that’s one of the main reasons why I’m still in
of the main reasons why I’m still in
of the main reasons why I’m still in this game my father is a dancer and he
this game my father is a dancer and he
this game my father is a dancer and he still teaches dance and growing up I
still teaches dance and growing up I
still teaches dance and growing up I always wanted to be a dancer emulate my
always wanted to be a dancer emulate my
always wanted to be a dancer emulate my father and my goal in life was to be
father and my goal in life was to be
father and my goal in life was to be that prima ballerina even though there
that prima ballerina even though there
that prima ballerina even though there were no black prima ballerinas around I
were no black prima ballerinas around I
were no black prima ballerinas around I was going to be the first for me dance
was going to be the first for me dance
was going to be the first for me dance was always telling a story without words
was always telling a story without words
was always telling a story without words you know if you’re sad you’re happy
you know if you’re sad you’re happy
you know if you’re sad you’re happy watching it will change how you feel and
watching it will change how you feel and
watching it will change how you feel and that resonated with me as a young child
that resonated with me as a young child
that resonated with me as a young child because I was shy growing up so for me
because I was shy growing up so for me
because I was shy growing up so for me not to say anything but to tell you
not to say anything but to tell you
not to say anything but to tell you everything that’s what dance meant to me
[Music]
[Music] to become a grandmaster was a big dream
to become a grandmaster was a big dream
to become a grandmaster was a big dream of mine when I was growing up it turned
of mine when I was growing up it turned
of mine when I was growing up it turned out there were no black grandmasters
out there were no black grandmasters
out there were no black grandmasters around which doesn’t make any sense
around which doesn’t make any sense
around which doesn’t make any sense I wasn’t bent on becoming the first
I wasn’t bent on becoming the first
I wasn’t bent on becoming the first black Grandmaster I wanted to become a
black Grandmaster I wanted to become a
black Grandmaster I wanted to become a grandmaster that’s what mattered I was a
grandmaster that’s what mattered I was a
grandmaster that’s what mattered I was a fan of all these great players through
fan of all these great players through
fan of all these great players through history and the word Grandmaster just
history and the word Grandmaster just
history and the word Grandmaster just resonates no matter where you are in the
resonates no matter where you are in the
resonates no matter where you are in the world but in chess it’s just you know
world but in chess it’s just you know
world but in chess it’s just you know goo the gods of Mount Olympus he’s good
goo the gods of Mount Olympus he’s good
goo the gods of Mount Olympus he’s good I’m sure I’m going to lose the first
I’m sure I’m going to lose the first
I’m sure I’m going to lose the first game you all come together to visit my
game you all come together to visit my
game you all come together to visit my dad on a Sunday he would cook us
dad on a Sunday he would cook us
dad on a Sunday he would cook us pancakes and we’d sit around and play
pancakes and we’d sit around and play
pancakes and we’d sit around and play all kinds of games that he was a great
all kinds of games that he was a great
all kinds of games that he was a great games player he was sharp
games player he was sharp
games player he was sharp he’s always predicting different things
he’s always predicting different things
he’s always predicting different things in games and explaining to us the logic
in games and explaining to us the logic
in games and explaining to us the logic of how you figure things out and not
of how you figure things out and not
of how you figure things out and not really got us into the seriousness of
really got us into the seriousness of
really got us into the seriousness of games in the analytical side of games
games in the analytical side of games
games in the analytical side of games and trying to play well and not just
and trying to play well and not just
and trying to play well and not just horsing around and putting putting
horsing around and putting putting
horsing around and putting putting pieces down or putting dominoes down if
pieces down or putting dominoes down if
pieces down or putting dominoes down if you made a mistake we’d all call you on
you made a mistake we’d all call you on
you made a mistake we’d all call you on it and we’re really thinking about
it and we’re really thinking about
it and we’re really thinking about exactly what we should be doing so that
exactly what we should be doing so that
exactly what we should be doing so that was important to us and I think that was
was important to us and I think that was
was important to us and I think that was a big part of us being more competitive
a big part of us being more competitive
a big part of us being more competitive and learning to be analytic in
and learning to be analytic in
and learning to be analytic in everything we did my family is highly
everything we did my family is highly
everything we did my family is highly competitive and it’s just something that
competitive and it’s just something that
competitive and it’s just something that as a youngster I knew that I just want
as a youngster I knew that I just want
as a youngster I knew that I just want to beat my brother’s I think that’s it I
to beat my brother’s I think that’s it I
to beat my brother’s I think that’s it I think
think
think just growing up with these older
just growing up with these older
just growing up with these older brothers who are always doing something
brothers who are always doing something
brothers who are always doing something and I was the only girl I was the
and I was the only girl I was the
and I was the only girl I was the youngest child and I wanted to run with
youngest child and I wanted to run with
youngest child and I wanted to run with the boys you know you can’t tell me that
the boys you know you can’t tell me that
the boys you know you can’t tell me that I couldn’t do what you’re doing
I couldn’t do what you’re doing
I couldn’t do what you’re doing my brother Maurice was a year older than
my brother Maurice was a year older than
my brother Maurice was a year older than me he was in every class before me and
me he was in every class before me and
me he was in every class before me and if I went into that class the teacher
if I went into that class the teacher
if I went into that class the teacher would say oh yeah maurices sister oh and
would say oh yeah maurices sister oh and
would say oh yeah maurices sister oh and no he’s such a great student if I got an
no he’s such a great student if I got an
no he’s such a great student if I got an ID he had gotten a 95 so I always tried
ID he had gotten a 95 so I always tried
ID he had gotten a 95 so I always tried to beat him
to beat him
to beat him Venetia was shy it took unleash a while
Venetia was shy it took unleash a while
Venetia was shy it took unleash a while even to get out of her shell she was
even to get out of her shell she was
even to get out of her shell she was always the baby sister she was always
always the baby sister she was always
always the baby sister she was always the one who had to protect she was the
the one who had to protect she was the
the one who had to protect she was the one who played the worst I remember in
one who played the worst I remember in
one who played the worst I remember in the games national fishing she’s she’s
the games national fishing she’s she’s
the games national fishing she’s she’s maybe the most competitive of all of us
maybe the most competitive of all of us
maybe the most competitive of all of us [Music]
me being in that ring with someone is
me being in that ring with someone is being able to move that piece along
being able to move that piece along
being able to move that piece along which is my opponent to the spot we’re
which is my opponent to the spot we’re
which is my opponent to the spot we’re not just kidding me against you it’s
not just kidding me against you it’s
not just kidding me against you it’s pitting me against how I can control
pitting me against how I can control
pitting me against how I can control whatever you do
I came to America when I was 12 years
I came to America when I was 12 years old and my mother had raised enough
old and my mother had raised enough
old and my mother had raised enough money I also figured out getting our
money I also figured out getting our
money I also figured out getting our papers getting our green card in place
papers getting our green card in place
papers getting our green card in place so that she could bring us all up I knew
so that she could bring us all up I knew
so that she could bring us all up I knew I had a mom I knew my mom existed I saw
I had a mom I knew my mom existed I saw
I had a mom I knew my mom existed I saw her a few times
her a few times
her a few times but to actually finally know that I was
but to actually finally know that I was
but to actually finally know that I was going to live with her be with her be
going to live with her be with her be
going to live with her be with her be raised by her be in the same house with
raised by her be in the same house with
raised by her be in the same house with her was a dream it’s really a dream come
her was a dream it’s really a dream come
her was a dream it’s really a dream come true and I remember bragging to my
true and I remember bragging to my
true and I remember bragging to my friends in Jamaica that I was going to
friends in Jamaica that I was going to
friends in Jamaica that I was going to go to the United States and live the
go to the United States and live the
go to the United States and live the life and when we came to United States I
life and when we came to United States I
life and when we came to United States I had lots of hopes that we’re gonna live
had lots of hopes that we’re gonna live
had lots of hopes that we’re gonna live in a penthouse apartment with a pool on
in a penthouse apartment with a pool on
in a penthouse apartment with a pool on the roof I remember when we got on the
the roof I remember when we got on the
the roof I remember when we got on the airport and we were driving down the
airport and we were driving down the
airport and we were driving down the boulevard and I saw a garbage on the
boulevard and I saw a garbage on the
boulevard and I saw a garbage on the streets that I didn’t expect and then we
streets that I didn’t expect and then we
streets that I didn’t expect and then we pull up to this two-story building and
pull up to this two-story building and
pull up to this two-story building and on the corner or four burnt-out
on the corner or four burnt-out
on the corner or four burnt-out buildings I looked around was like burnt
buildings I looked around was like burnt
buildings I looked around was like burnt out buildings garbage on the street ugly
out buildings garbage on the street ugly
out buildings garbage on the street ugly looking building robots of living and I
looking building robots of living and I
looking building robots of living and I look at my mother and I said who are we
look at my mother and I said who are we
look at my mother and I said who are we visiting and she was so hurt by the line
visiting and she was so hurt by the line
visiting and she was so hurt by the line she looked at me she said this is we
she looked at me she said this is we
she looked at me she said this is we gonna live
gonna live
gonna live my mom raised us as a single parents you
my mom raised us as a single parents you
my mom raised us as a single parents you know that you had to do everything for
know that you had to do everything for
know that you had to do everything for yourself
yourself
yourself my mom is working I have to go to school
my mom is working I have to go to school
my mom is working I have to go to school come home do everything that you want
come home do everything that you want
come home do everything that you want done get it done so I think growing up I
done get it done so I think growing up I
done get it done so I think growing up I was self-sufficient and always had a
was self-sufficient and always had a
was self-sufficient and always had a purpose Roundhill was just gunshots
purpose Roundhill was just gunshots
purpose Roundhill was just gunshots every night that’s what I remember
every night that’s what I remember
every night that’s what I remember I’d be inside studying chess and the
I’d be inside studying chess and the
I’d be inside studying chess and the gunshots would be going off somewhere
gunshots would be going off somewhere
gunshots would be going off somewhere you could hear them off in the distance
you could hear them off in the distance
you could hear them off in the distance it’s like the drug dealers were letting
it’s like the drug dealers were letting
it’s like the drug dealers were letting everybody know who runs the neighborhood
everybody know who runs the neighborhood
everybody know who runs the neighborhood and he just wanted to be inside you had
and he just wanted to be inside you had
and he just wanted to be inside you had to be inside I think that chests allowed
to be inside I think that chests allowed
to be inside I think that chests allowed me to focus on something when that
me to focus on something when that
me to focus on something when that environment was just disgusting to be
environment was just disgusting to be
environment was just disgusting to be I wasn’t outside all the time went to
I wasn’t outside all the time went to
I wasn’t outside all the time went to school went to dance came back home
school went to dance came back home
school went to dance came back home study and so the cycle continues
my story’s funny getting from dance to
my story’s funny getting from dance to boxing I had no interest in boxing
boxing I had no interest in boxing
boxing I had no interest in boxing growing up and it wasn’t until I was
growing up and it wasn’t until I was
growing up and it wasn’t until I was injured I tore my meniscus and that
injured I tore my meniscus and that
injured I tore my meniscus and that stopped my dance career completely I was
stopped my dance career completely I was
stopped my dance career completely I was I was studying at Alvin Ailey’s I was
I was studying at Alvin Ailey’s I was
I was studying at Alvin Ailey’s I was dancing six to eight hours per day and I
dancing six to eight hours per day and I
dancing six to eight hours per day and I couldn’t do that anymore
couldn’t do that anymore
couldn’t do that anymore I went back to school to get my college
I went back to school to get my college
I went back to school to get my college degree and just to keep in shape I
degree and just to keep in shape I
degree and just to keep in shape I started doing karate and for me dance is
started doing karate and for me dance is
started doing karate and for me dance is performance it’s all about performing
performance it’s all about performing
performance it’s all about performing and every other sport for me is the same
and every other sport for me is the same
and every other sport for me is the same critical game that made me finally cross
critical game that made me finally cross
critical game that made me finally cross the divide was against an international
the divide was against an international
the divide was against an international masters name is adria nicholas KO from
masters name is adria nicholas KO from
masters name is adria nicholas KO from romania and i remember that afternoon
romania and i remember that afternoon
romania and i remember that afternoon and I was ironing and in the process of
and I was ironing and in the process of
and I was ironing and in the process of ironing I thought about my grandmother
ironing I thought about my grandmother
ironing I thought about my grandmother who had passed on and I remembered she
who had passed on and I remembered she
who had passed on and I remembered she used to always say jack of all trades
used to always say jack of all trades
used to always say jack of all trades master of none and I always saw it like
master of none and I always saw it like
master of none and I always saw it like a curse
a curse
a curse so this burden of this phrase on my head
so this burden of this phrase on my head
so this burden of this phrase on my head and then all of a sudden it occurred to
and then all of a sudden it occurred to
and then all of a sudden it occurred to me that it wasn’t a curse and that she
me that it wasn’t a curse and that she
me that it wasn’t a curse and that she was saying it out of love and right at
was saying it out of love and right at
was saying it out of love and right at the moment when I realized that this
the moment when I realized that this
the moment when I realized that this this burden I put on myself that that
this burden I put on myself that that
this burden I put on myself that that would always come close but never really
would always come close but never really
would always come close but never really succeed and I realized how stupid I was
succeed and I realized how stupid I was
succeed and I realized how stupid I was to have this thought and that this is
to have this thought and that this is
to have this thought and that this is woman who had long since been dead was
woman who had long since been dead was
woman who had long since been dead was was just cajoling me to be excellent it
was just cajoling me to be excellent it
was just cajoling me to be excellent it should be focused and would be great at
should be focused and would be great at
should be focused and would be great at what you do I dropped iron I started
what you do I dropped iron I started
what you do I dropped iron I started crying and I got myself together picked
crying and I got myself together picked
crying and I got myself together picked myself up and went to the game and I was
myself up and went to the game and I was
myself up and went to the game and I was playing the game and I remember
playing the game and I remember
playing the game and I remember somewhere around mu 14 I just had this
somewhere around mu 14 I just had this
somewhere around mu 14 I just had this incredible sense of calm come over
incredible sense of calm come over
incredible sense of calm come over and it was like you know what no matter
and it was like you know what no matter
and it was like you know what no matter what happens I’m going to be okay I
what happens I’m going to be okay I
what happens I’m going to be okay I don’t when today it’ll be another
don’t when today it’ll be another
don’t when today it’ll be another tournament I still have another game the
tournament I still have another game the
tournament I still have another game the next day so it would be the next day and
next day so it would be the next day and
next day so it would be the next day and I was just so calm it was eerie I play
I was just so calm it was eerie I play
I was just so calm it was eerie I play the game and just beat him easily I
the game and just beat him easily I
the game and just beat him easily I don’t feel like I’m 48 I don’t know what
don’t feel like I’m 48 I don’t know what
don’t feel like I’m 48 I don’t know what 48 is supposed to feel like I feel like
48 is supposed to feel like I feel like
48 is supposed to feel like I feel like one foot in the grave I don’t think so
one foot in the grave I don’t think so
one foot in the grave I don’t think so I’m not beat up so I will be fighting in
I’m not beat up so I will be fighting in
I’m not beat up so I will be fighting in my fifties that much I know
I never want to sit still I never want
I never want to sit still I never want to be who I was yesterday
to be who I was yesterday
to be who I was yesterday forget a year ago I don’t want to want
forget a year ago I don’t want to want
forget a year ago I don’t want to want to be who I was yesterday I always want
to be who I was yesterday I always want
to be who I was yesterday I always want to have some insight the next day that
to have some insight the next day that
to have some insight the next day that says that’s interesting
says that’s interesting
says that’s interesting Wow I mean think of it like that what
Wow I mean think of it like that what
Wow I mean think of it like that what did I learn today that’s a big question
did I learn today that’s a big question
did I learn today that’s a big question for me what did I learn today
”
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