[Applause] hi Emma jidoka now if you don’t know
hi Emma jidoka now if you don’t know
hi Emma jidoka now if you don’t know what that is
what that is
what that is the term judoka is used to describe
the term judoka is used to describe
the term judoka is used to describe someone who practices the martial art of
someone who practices the martial art of
someone who practices the martial art of Judo and even though if how the number
Judo and even though if how the number
Judo and even though if how the number of different roles and titles throughout
of different roles and titles throughout
of different roles and titles throughout my lifetime identifies a judoka because
my lifetime identifies a judoka because
my lifetime identifies a judoka because the life lessons I’ve learned in judo
the life lessons I’ve learned in judo
the life lessons I’ve learned in judo are responsible for everything good in
are responsible for everything good in
are responsible for everything good in my life and continue to guide my actions
my life and continue to guide my actions
my life and continue to guide my actions today you see as a child I needed help
today you see as a child I needed help
today you see as a child I needed help my mother who is a wonderful person has
my mother who is a wonderful person has
my mother who is a wonderful person has battled mental illness my entire life
battled mental illness my entire life
battled mental illness my entire life bipolar disorder and illness as cruel as
bipolar disorder and illness as cruel as
bipolar disorder and illness as cruel as it is unpredictable
it is unpredictable
it is unpredictable growing up bipolar disorder or the
growing up bipolar disorder or the
growing up bipolar disorder or the illness as I like to call it dominated
illness as I like to call it dominated
illness as I like to call it dominated our lives there was no space for me at
our lives there was no space for me at
our lives there was no space for me at all so over time and without any sort of
all so over time and without any sort of
all so over time and without any sort of positive outlet I began to build up
positive outlet I began to build up
positive outlet I began to build up feelings of anger and frustration by the
feelings of anger and frustration by the
feelings of anger and frustration by the age of 10 I had so much rage built up
age of 10 I had so much rage built up
age of 10 I had so much rage built up inside of me that I physically wanted to
inside of me that I physically wanted to
inside of me that I physically wanted to break something so one day when I was
break something so one day when I was
break something so one day when I was watching television and saw kids my own
watching television and saw kids my own
watching television and saw kids my own age practicing karate and breaking
age practicing karate and breaking
age practicing karate and breaking boards with their bare hands I knew this
boards with their bare hands I knew this
boards with their bare hands I knew this was something I had to do fortunately
was something I had to do fortunately
was something I had to do fortunately when I talked to my dad about it he said
when I talked to my dad about it he said
when I talked to my dad about it he said there was a karate dojo located right
there was a karate dojo located right
there was a karate dojo located right across the street from his work but when
across the street from his work but when
across the street from his work but when we went down to register the head
we went down to register the head
we went down to register the head instructor said I had to be at least 16
instructor said I had to be at least 16
instructor said I had to be at least 16 years old before I could join karate so
years old before I could join karate so
years old before I could join karate so he suggested that I try judo instead now
he suggested that I try judo instead now
he suggested that I try judo instead now as 10 years old at the time so waiting
as 10 years old at the time so waiting
as 10 years old at the time so waiting six years to do something that I really
six years to do something that I really
six years to do something that I really wanted to do seem like an eternity so
wanted to do seem like an eternity so
wanted to do seem like an eternity so reluctantly I decided to give judo a try
reluctantly I decided to give judo a try
reluctantly I decided to give judo a try lesson one
lesson one
lesson one clear your mind at first you don’t seem
clear your mind at first you don’t seem
clear your mind at first you don’t seem to be the exact opposite of what I
to be the exact opposite of what I
to be the exact opposite of what I wanted to be doing for example we had
wanted to be doing for example we had
wanted to be doing for example we had begin every practice with a ritual
begin every practice with a ritual
begin every practice with a ritual called muxo this involved us kneeling
called muxo this involved us kneeling
called muxo this involved us kneeling down closing our eyes and taking several
down closing our eyes and taking several
down closing our eyes and taking several slow deep breaths for what seemed like
slow deep breaths for what seemed like
slow deep breaths for what seemed like forever
forever
forever apparently it was the intention of this
apparently it was the intention of this
apparently it was the intention of this practice for us
practice for us
practice for us to clear our minds and refocus our
to clear our minds and refocus our
to clear our minds and refocus our attention towards judo prior to the
attention towards judo prior to the
attention towards judo prior to the start of every session now this was
start of every session now this was
start of every session now this was incredibly difficult for me at first
incredibly difficult for me at first
incredibly difficult for me at first plus I thought it was totally ridiculous
plus I thought it was totally ridiculous
plus I thought it was totally ridiculous hey but if this is what needed to happen
hey but if this is what needed to happen
hey but if this is what needed to happen before they were gonna let me be people
before they were gonna let me be people
before they were gonna let me be people up then fine now at first I merely just
up then fine now at first I merely just
up then fine now at first I merely just tolerated this practice but then one day
tolerated this practice but then one day
tolerated this practice but then one day something happened that completely
something happened that completely
something happened that completely changed my perspective on it I was
changed my perspective on it I was
changed my perspective on it I was sitting at home in my living room when
sitting at home in my living room when
sitting at home in my living room when suddenly and for no rational or apparent
suddenly and for no rational or apparent
suddenly and for no rational or apparent reason my mother came up to me and
reason my mother came up to me and
reason my mother came up to me and completely lost it on me which if you’re
completely lost it on me which if you’re
completely lost it on me which if you’re at all familiar with bipolar disorder
at all familiar with bipolar disorder
at all familiar with bipolar disorder can be a pretty common occurrence
can be a pretty common occurrence
can be a pretty common occurrence however in past when I’ve been attacked
however in past when I’ve been attacked
however in past when I’ve been attacked by her illness it would leave me feeling
by her illness it would leave me feeling
by her illness it would leave me feeling devastated and I’d retreat upstairs to
devastated and I’d retreat upstairs to
devastated and I’d retreat upstairs to my bedroom where I’d often spend the
my bedroom where I’d often spend the
my bedroom where I’d often spend the rest the day up there alone in tears but
rest the day up there alone in tears but
rest the day up there alone in tears but on this particular occasion I remember
on this particular occasion I remember
on this particular occasion I remember getting up going to my room closing the
getting up going to my room closing the
getting up going to my room closing the door kneeling down closing my eyes and
door kneeling down closing my eyes and
door kneeling down closing my eyes and taking several slow deep breaths I
taking several slow deep breaths I
taking several slow deep breaths I cleared my mind of my interaction with
cleared my mind of my interaction with
cleared my mind of my interaction with her and then decided to refocus on how I
her and then decided to refocus on how I
her and then decided to refocus on how I was gonna spend the rest of my day
was gonna spend the rest of my day
was gonna spend the rest of my day then I opened my eyes got up and went
then I opened my eyes got up and went
then I opened my eyes got up and went outside to play with my friends and that
outside to play with my friends and that
outside to play with my friends and that was the moment where I truly understood
was the moment where I truly understood
was the moment where I truly understood the value of this practice that by
the value of this practice that by
the value of this practice that by engaging in muxo I could not only clear
engaging in muxo I could not only clear
engaging in muxo I could not only clear my mind of any unpleasant experiences
my mind of any unpleasant experiences
my mind of any unpleasant experiences that I might have but I could also then
that I might have but I could also then
that I might have but I could also then choose what I wanted to focus on now
choose what I wanted to focus on now
choose what I wanted to focus on now this was quite a revelation for me
this was quite a revelation for me
this was quite a revelation for me because up to that point in my life I’d
because up to that point in my life I’d
because up to that point in my life I’d been a total prisoner to my interactions
been a total prisoner to my interactions
been a total prisoner to my interactions with others how they treated me
with others how they treated me
with others how they treated me determine whether or not it was going to
determine whether or not it was going to
determine whether or not it was going to be a good day or a bad day but in that
be a good day or a bad day but in that
be a good day or a bad day but in that moment I learned that by engaging in
moment I learned that by engaging in
moment I learned that by engaging in muxo I could control the way in which I
muxo I could control the way in which I
muxo I could control the way in which I would experience the world lesson to go
would experience the world lesson to go
would experience the world lesson to go with the flow okay so maybe muxo was not
with the flow okay so maybe muxo was not
with the flow okay so maybe muxo was not so bad but I still wasn’t sure about
so bad but I still wasn’t sure about
so bad but I still wasn’t sure about judo because the next thing I learned
judo because the next thing I learned
judo because the next thing I learned was completely contrary to the idea that
was completely contrary to the idea that
was completely contrary to the idea that I would one
I would one
I would one turn my body into a lethal weapon
turn my body into a lethal weapon
turn my body into a lethal weapon believe it or not I learned that the
believe it or not I learned that the
believe it or not I learned that the literal meaning of the word judo was get
literal meaning of the word judo was get
literal meaning of the word judo was get this the gentle way I know right that
this the gentle way I know right that
this the gentle way I know right that the basic principle of judo was not one
the basic principle of judo was not one
the basic principle of judo was not one of aggression but one of flowing with
of aggression but one of flowing with
of aggression but one of flowing with things now in Japanese this is referred
things now in Japanese this is referred
things now in Japanese this is referred to as say do Kazan yo or maximum
to as say do Kazan yo or maximum
to as say do Kazan yo or maximum efficiency minimum effort that just as
efficiency minimum effort that just as
efficiency minimum effort that just as water flows effortlessly through around
water flows effortlessly through around
water flows effortlessly through around obstacles when it meets resistance in
obstacles when it meets resistance in
obstacles when it meets resistance in nature when a judo throw is properly
nature when a judo throw is properly
nature when a judo throw is properly executed that too feels effortless okay
executed that too feels effortless okay
executed that too feels effortless okay sure
sure
sure needless to say I was totally skeptical
needless to say I was totally skeptical
needless to say I was totally skeptical about this at first but then I had that
about this at first but then I had that
about this at first but then I had that one moment the moment that anyone who
one moment the moment that anyone who
one moment the moment that anyone who has ever fallen in love with judo has
has ever fallen in love with judo has
has ever fallen in love with judo has experienced the very first time you
experienced the very first time you
experienced the very first time you successfully throw someone with a judo
successfully throw someone with a judo
successfully throw someone with a judo technique I remember it like it was
technique I remember it like it was
technique I remember it like it was yesterday I was practicing with my
yesterday I was practicing with my
yesterday I was practicing with my partner and then suddenly and completely
partner and then suddenly and completely
partner and then suddenly and completely accidentally I turned in at exactly the
accidentally I turned in at exactly the
accidentally I turned in at exactly the right moment the next thing I knew my
right moment the next thing I knew my
right moment the next thing I knew my partner was flying high over my head and
partner was flying high over my head and
partner was flying high over my head and crash landed down hard on their back
crash landed down hard on their back
crash landed down hard on their back beside me it was awesome
beside me it was awesome
beside me it was awesome a joy like I’d never experienced before
a joy like I’d never experienced before
a joy like I’d never experienced before in my entire life and it didn’t require
in my entire life and it didn’t require
in my entire life and it didn’t require strength or force and it felt like I’d
strength or force and it felt like I’d
strength or force and it felt like I’d done nothing to make it happen
done nothing to make it happen
done nothing to make it happen except move in exactly the right way at
except move in exactly the right way at
except move in exactly the right way at exactly the right time sadiel Kazan no
exactly the right time sadiel Kazan no
exactly the right time sadiel Kazan no maximum efficiency minimum effort I now
maximum efficiency minimum effort I now
maximum efficiency minimum effort I now truly understood what this meant I had
truly understood what this meant I had
truly understood what this meant I had no idea how to make it happen again but
no idea how to make it happen again but
no idea how to make it happen again but that didn’t matter because I was hooked
that didn’t matter because I was hooked
that didn’t matter because I was hooked now and determined to try and master
now and determined to try and master
now and determined to try and master this principle my commitment to going
this principle my commitment to going
this principle my commitment to going with the flow began to help me at home
with the flow began to help me at home
with the flow began to help me at home too I began to notice the difference
too I began to notice the difference
too I began to notice the difference between whether or not I was dealing
between whether or not I was dealing
between whether or not I was dealing with my mother or the illness and was
with my mother or the illness and was
with my mother or the illness and was able to respond accordingly when the
able to respond accordingly when the
able to respond accordingly when the illness was there I just stayed away
illness was there I just stayed away
illness was there I just stayed away but when my mother was herself we began
but when my mother was herself we began
but when my mother was herself we began spending time together
spending time together
spending time together through this I got to experience her
through this I got to experience her
through this I got to experience her warmth the compassion humor and the
warmth the compassion humor and the
warmth the compassion humor and the wonderful mother and woman that she was
wonderful mother and woman that she was
wonderful mother and woman that she was without judo I’m not sure that I ever
without judo I’m not sure that I ever
without judo I’m not sure that I ever would have been able to experience this
would have been able to experience this
would have been able to experience this gift and for that I will be eternally
gift and for that I will be eternally
gift and for that I will be eternally grateful
lesson three effort is accomplishment
lesson three effort is accomplishment okay so now I was totally committed to
okay so now I was totally committed to
okay so now I was totally committed to judo but I still wasn’t very good at in
judo but I still wasn’t very good at in
judo but I still wasn’t very good at in in fact for the first two and a half
in fact for the first two and a half
in fact for the first two and a half years of my judo career I lost every
years of my judo career I lost every
years of my judo career I lost every single match in competition then when I
single match in competition then when I
single match in competition then when I turned 13 I was offered the opportunity
turned 13 I was offered the opportunity
turned 13 I was offered the opportunity to play soccer for a pretty high-level
to play soccer for a pretty high-level
to play soccer for a pretty high-level team but when I learned that making that
team but when I learned that making that
team but when I learned that making that team would mean I’d have to quit judo I
team would mean I’d have to quit judo I
team would mean I’d have to quit judo I felt torn so I went to talk to my coach
felt torn so I went to talk to my coach
felt torn so I went to talk to my coach about it and even though that
about it and even though that
about it and even though that conversation took place over 30 years
conversation took place over 30 years
conversation took place over 30 years ago today I can still see a vividly in
ago today I can still see a vividly in
ago today I can still see a vividly in my mind I remember going up to her after
my mind I remember going up to her after
my mind I remember going up to her after practice and explaining my dilemma to
practice and explaining my dilemma to
practice and explaining my dilemma to her in great detail she listened
her in great detail she listened
her in great detail she listened intently and then at the end looked me
intently and then at the end looked me
intently and then at the end looked me straight in the eyes and said I think
straight in the eyes and said I think
straight in the eyes and said I think that you should choose soccer because
that you should choose soccer because
that you should choose soccer because you have no natural ability in judo ouch
you have no natural ability in judo ouch
you have no natural ability in judo ouch now I feel like I need to say that she
now I feel like I need to say that she
now I feel like I need to say that she was not at all being cruel
was not at all being cruel
was not at all being cruel she was actually thoughtfully commenting
she was actually thoughtfully commenting
she was actually thoughtfully commenting on what she’d observed for me up until
on what she’d observed for me up until
on what she’d observed for me up until that moment still I was mad and I wanted
that moment still I was mad and I wanted
that moment still I was mad and I wanted to prove her wrong but a part of me
to prove her wrong but a part of me
to prove her wrong but a part of me wondered if maybe she was right that was
wondered if maybe she was right that was
wondered if maybe she was right that was probably the part of me that had lost
probably the part of me that had lost
probably the part of me that had lost every single match up until that moment
every single match up until that moment
every single match up until that moment anyways I left our conversation feeling
anyways I left our conversation feeling
anyways I left our conversation feeling even more confused than when I’d arrived
even more confused than when I’d arrived
even more confused than when I’d arrived but as it was quietly exiting the dojo
but as it was quietly exiting the dojo
but as it was quietly exiting the dojo on that day a poster with a picture of
on that day a poster with a picture of
on that day a poster with a picture of the founder of Judo on it dr. jiguro
the founder of Judo on it dr. jiguro
the founder of Judo on it dr. jiguro Cano caught my eye on it was a quote
Cano caught my eye on it was a quote
Cano caught my eye on it was a quote which read with effort there is always
which read with effort there is always
which read with effort there is always accomplishment and I don’t know but
accomplishment and I don’t know but
accomplishment and I don’t know but something about those words in that
something about those words in that
something about those words in that moment resonated so deeply within me
moment resonated so deeply within me
moment resonated so deeply within me it didn’t matter whether or not I was
it didn’t matter whether or not I was
it didn’t matter whether or not I was winning or losing at judo
winning or losing at judo
winning or losing at judo I was already accomplishing things just
I was already accomplishing things just
I was already accomplishing things just by trying inspired by those words I
by trying inspired by those words I
by trying inspired by those words I decided that I was gonna continue to try
decided that I was gonna continue to try
decided that I was gonna continue to try and not just try I was gonna work hard
and not just try I was gonna work hard
and not just try I was gonna work hard harder than anyone and that was the
harder than anyone and that was the
harder than anyone and that was the moment when I chose judo or should I say
moment when I chose judo or should I say
moment when I chose judo or should I say when judo chose me lesson for always
when judo chose me lesson for always
when judo chose me lesson for always seek help I awoke the next morning with
seek help I awoke the next morning with
seek help I awoke the next morning with a renewed hope in my ability to be
a renewed hope in my ability to be
a renewed hope in my ability to be successful at judo in fact I got up
successful at judo in fact I got up
successful at judo in fact I got up every morning early after that and did
every morning early after that and did
every morning early after that and did push-ups sit-ups and went running for
push-ups sit-ups and went running for
push-ups sit-ups and went running for five kilometres no matter what the
five kilometres no matter what the
five kilometres no matter what the weather I never missed a judo practice
weather I never missed a judo practice
weather I never missed a judo practice and sought out every opportunity I could
and sought out every opportunity I could
and sought out every opportunity I could to get extra help and guess what
to get extra help and guess what
to get extra help and guess what slowly gradually I started winning
slowly gradually I started winning
slowly gradually I started winning matches in competition at first one
matches in competition at first one
matches in competition at first one match at a time but then one competition
match at a time but then one competition
match at a time but then one competition at a time I finished that season in the
at a time I finished that season in the
at a time I finished that season in the finals of the Canadian Championships for
finals of the Canadian Championships for
finals of the Canadian Championships for my age and weight category all because I
my age and weight category all because I
my age and weight category all because I had been able to see the accomplishments
had been able to see the accomplishments
had been able to see the accomplishments in my efforts then shortly after that I
in my efforts then shortly after that I
in my efforts then shortly after that I received some incredible news women’s
received some incredible news women’s
received some incredible news women’s judo had been named a demonstration
judo had been named a demonstration
judo had been named a demonstration sport at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul
sport at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul
sport at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul Korea as a result several of the top
Korea as a result several of the top
Korea as a result several of the top Canadian female judoka we’re gonna be
Canadian female judoka we’re gonna be
Canadian female judoka we’re gonna be training regularly at my judo club and
training regularly at my judo club and
training regularly at my judo club and some were actually gonna even moved
some were actually gonna even moved
some were actually gonna even moved there with their arrival we began doing
there with their arrival we began doing
there with their arrival we began doing judo six days a week
judo six days a week
judo six days a week these women were amazing the 14 year old
these women were amazing the 14 year old
these women were amazing the 14 year old version of myself idolized them and
version of myself idolized them and
version of myself idolized them and dreamt of one day being able to
dreamt of one day being able to
dreamt of one day being able to represent Canada on the world stage as
represent Canada on the world stage as
represent Canada on the world stage as they did plus they all had these really
they did plus they all had these really
they did plus they all had these really cool nicknames like lizard blaze zip and
cool nicknames like lizard blaze zip and
cool nicknames like lizard blaze zip and Andre the Giant and even though these
Andre the Giant and even though these
Andre the Giant and even though these women were much older than I was and
women were much older than I was and
women were much older than I was and much further along in their judo career
much further along in their judo career
much further along in their judo career they immediately embraced me and
they immediately embraced me and
they immediately embraced me and accepted me as a part of their group
accepted me as a part of their group
accepted me as a part of their group well
well
well embrace me or started beating me up
embrace me or started beating me up
embrace me or started beating me up regularly embossing me around either way
regularly embossing me around either way
regularly embossing me around either way I was a part of it seriously though I
I was a part of it seriously though I
I was a part of it seriously though I could tell that these women really cared
could tell that these women really cared
could tell that these women really cared for me and appreciated how hard I was
for me and appreciated how hard I was
for me and appreciated how hard I was working because soon I too had a
working because soon I too had a
working because soon I too had a nickname they called me rocky
nickname they called me rocky
nickname they called me rocky I loved my new nickname I immediately
I loved my new nickname I immediately
I loved my new nickname I immediately embraced it and felt empowered by it
embraced it and felt empowered by it
embraced it and felt empowered by it because for those of you who are
because for those of you who are
because for those of you who are familiar with the story of rocky it
familiar with the story of rocky it
familiar with the story of rocky it involves an unknown underdog who worked
involves an unknown underdog who worked
involves an unknown underdog who worked hard harder than anyone and when given
hard harder than anyone and when given
hard harder than anyone and when given the chance to shine shock the world was
the chance to shine shock the world was
the chance to shine shock the world was that they were able to accomplish so for
that they were able to accomplish so for
that they were able to accomplish so for me the nickname Rocky meant far more
me the nickname Rocky meant far more
me the nickname Rocky meant far more than just these women cared about me and
than just these women cared about me and
than just these women cared about me and accepted me it meant that they believed
accepted me it meant that they believed
accepted me it meant that they believed in me their belief in me at a time when
in me their belief in me at a time when
in me their belief in me at a time when I did not yet fully believe in myself
I did not yet fully believe in myself
I did not yet fully believe in myself fueled my purpose to achieve my
fueled my purpose to achieve my
fueled my purpose to achieve my competitive dreams and less than 2 years
competitive dreams and less than 2 years
competitive dreams and less than 2 years later because of the hope empowerment
later because of the hope empowerment
later because of the hope empowerment love and purpose that I received from
love and purpose that I received from
love and purpose that I received from these women on a daily basis I made
these women on a daily basis I made
these women on a daily basis I made history becoming Canada’s youngest
history becoming Canada’s youngest
history becoming Canada’s youngest senior Canadian champion ironically one
senior Canadian champion ironically one
senior Canadian champion ironically one of the first people to come up and
of the first people to come up and
of the first people to come up and congratulate me after my win was my
congratulate me after my win was my
congratulate me after my win was my coach who just three years earlier
coach who just three years earlier
coach who just three years earlier suggested that I quit judo but this time
suggested that I quit judo but this time
suggested that I quit judo but this time when she approached me she looked me
when she approached me she looked me
when she approached me she looked me straight in the eyes and said today you
straight in the eyes and said today you
straight in the eyes and said today you have taught me any kid can win and this
have taught me any kid can win and this
have taught me any kid can win and this will change the way that I work with
will change the way that I work with
will change the way that I work with athletes from now on and it did and that
athletes from now on and it did and that
athletes from now on and it did and that was the moment I learned through her
was the moment I learned through her
was the moment I learned through her ability to make herself vulnerable to me
ability to make herself vulnerable to me
ability to make herself vulnerable to me in that moment that teaching and
in that moment that teaching and
in that moment that teaching and coaching was not a one-way street it was
coaching was not a one-way street it was
coaching was not a one-way street it was a collaborative partnership and that
a collaborative partnership and that
a collaborative partnership and that even though you may know a whole lot
even though you may know a whole lot
even though you may know a whole lot about something you never stop learning
about something you never stop learning
about something you never stop learning and that sometimes when we seek help we
and that sometimes when we seek help we
and that sometimes when we seek help we end up inadvertently helping others in
end up inadvertently helping others in
end up inadvertently helping others in the most unlikely and unexpected of ways
less than five contribute to society
less than five contribute to society following the 1988 Olympics we all
following the 1988 Olympics we all
following the 1988 Olympics we all decided to relocate to the new National
decided to relocate to the new National
decided to relocate to the new National Training Centre in Montreal there I met
Training Centre in Montreal there I met
Training Centre in Montreal there I met my new coach a Japanese guy who everyone
my new coach a Japanese guy who everyone
my new coach a Japanese guy who everyone respectfully referred to as sensei at
respectfully referred to as sensei at
respectfully referred to as sensei at all times at first I was afraid of
all times at first I was afraid of
all times at first I was afraid of sensei
sensei
sensei despite his serious exterior and
despite his serious exterior and
despite his serious exterior and incredibly hard training practices I
incredibly hard training practices I
incredibly hard training practices I soon came to realize just how much this
soon came to realize just how much this
soon came to realize just how much this man cared about each and every one of us
man cared about each and every one of us
man cared about each and every one of us the final principle of Judo is to strive
the final principle of Judo is to strive
the final principle of Judo is to strive to perfect oneself and contribute to
to perfect oneself and contribute to
to perfect oneself and contribute to society
society
society no one exemplified this principle more
no one exemplified this principle more
no one exemplified this principle more than sensei sensei received everyone
than sensei sensei received everyone
than sensei sensei received everyone with an open heart and an open mind no
with an open heart and an open mind no
with an open heart and an open mind no matter where you came from or what your
matter where you came from or what your
matter where you came from or what your skill level wasn’t judo but his
skill level wasn’t judo but his
skill level wasn’t judo but his commitment and dedication to us went far
commitment and dedication to us went far
commitment and dedication to us went far beyond anything that happened on the
beyond anything that happened on the
beyond anything that happened on the mats
mats
mats he and his partner who we affectionately
he and his partner who we affectionately
he and his partner who we affectionately nicknamed mrs. sensei would routinely
nicknamed mrs. sensei would routinely
nicknamed mrs. sensei would routinely have us over for dinner and to celebrate
have us over for dinner and to celebrate
have us over for dinner and to celebrate the holidays with them he gave up the
the holidays with them he gave up the
the holidays with them he gave up the top level of their home to house judoka
top level of their home to house judoka
top level of their home to house judoka who otherwise would not have had a place
who otherwise would not have had a place
who otherwise would not have had a place to live and when I was personally
to live and when I was personally
to live and when I was personally struggling financially since they got me
struggling financially since they got me
struggling financially since they got me a job and when he saw that my working
a job and when he saw that my working
a job and when he saw that my working was interfering with my ability to
was interfering with my ability to
was interfering with my ability to perform at judo he helped to secure me a
perform at judo he helped to secure me a
perform at judo he helped to secure me a full corporate sponsorship in Japan it
full corporate sponsorship in Japan it
full corporate sponsorship in Japan it was through his example that I found my
was through his example that I found my
was through his example that I found my true purpose in life I wanted to teach
true purpose in life I wanted to teach
true purpose in life I wanted to teach inspire and help others I want it to be
inspire and help others I want it to be
inspire and help others I want it to be like sensei so many years later after
like sensei so many years later after
like sensei so many years later after retiring from competitive judo I began a
retiring from competitive judo I began a
retiring from competitive judo I began a lifelong career in public education and
lifelong career in public education and
lifelong career in public education and of course began coaching judo in my
of course began coaching judo in my
of course began coaching judo in my spare time and just like my wonderful
spare time and just like my wonderful
spare time and just like my wonderful sensei and my teammates did for me all
sensei and my teammates did for me all
sensei and my teammates did for me all those years ago I have always tried to
those years ago I have always tried to
those years ago I have always tried to lead with compassion and instill
lead with compassion and instill
lead with compassion and instill feelings of hope empowerment love and
feelings of hope empowerment love and
feelings of hope empowerment love and purpose in everyone I meet embrace the
purpose in everyone I meet embrace the
purpose in everyone I meet embrace the gentle way so now many years later
gentle way so now many years later
gentle way so now many years later as I contemplate the future of learning
as I contemplate the future of learning
as I contemplate the future of learning I can’t help but reflect on these
I can’t help but reflect on these
I can’t help but reflect on these lessons learned in past because the
lessons learned in past because the
lessons learned in past because the lessons I’ve learned in judo are
lessons I’ve learned in judo are
lessons I’ve learned in judo are timeless and would benefit anyone I
timeless and would benefit anyone I
timeless and would benefit anyone I believe that by actively teaching our
believe that by actively teaching our
believe that by actively teaching our children how to clear their minds
children how to clear their minds
children how to clear their minds refocus their attention go with the flow
refocus their attention go with the flow
refocus their attention go with the flow and see the accomplishments and their
and see the accomplishments and their
and see the accomplishments and their efforts we are providing them with the
efforts we are providing them with the
efforts we are providing them with the essential skills needed to navigate our
essential skills needed to navigate our
essential skills needed to navigate our complex and ever-changing world that by
complex and ever-changing world that by
complex and ever-changing world that by gravitating toward the things or people
gravitating toward the things or people
gravitating toward the things or people that fill us with feelings of hope
that fill us with feelings of hope
that fill us with feelings of hope empowerment love and purpose we are
empowerment love and purpose we are
empowerment love and purpose we are laying the foundation for inner peace
laying the foundation for inner peace
laying the foundation for inner peace and that educating others to lead with
and that educating others to lead with
and that educating others to lead with compassion and contribute to society
compassion and contribute to society
compassion and contribute to society through our own example is crucial to
through our own example is crucial to
through our own example is crucial to the survival of our planet for me this
the survival of our planet for me this
the survival of our planet for me this is the future of learning because the
is the future of learning because the
is the future of learning because the final lesson I’ve learned from judo is
final lesson I’ve learned from judo is
final lesson I’ve learned from judo is that by embracing the gentle way we can
that by embracing the gentle way we can
that by embracing the gentle way we can all help to make the world a better
all help to make the world a better
all help to make the world a better place thank you
place thank you
place thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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