today we’re living in the time where it’s very important to have strong
it’s very important to have strong
it’s very important to have strong people as societies grow you know it
people as societies grow you know it
people as societies grow you know it kind of feels like you know everything’s
kind of feels like you know everything’s
kind of feels like you know everything’s closing in on you I mean we have social
closing in on you I mean we have social
closing in on you I mean we have social media I mean we have sites on social
media I mean we have sites on social
media I mean we have sites on social media like MySpace and every time you
media like MySpace and every time you
media like MySpace and every time you look around it seems like it’s just not
look around it seems like it’s just not
look around it seems like it’s just not enough space and people don’t know that
enough space and people don’t know that
enough space and people don’t know that the space that they’re in belongs to you
the space that they’re in belongs to you
the space that they’re in belongs to you often I deal with kids that come to
often I deal with kids that come to
often I deal with kids that come to school and when they get to school they
school and when they get to school they
school and when they get to school they realize that they’re they have some
realize that they’re they have some
realize that they’re they have some expectations and we’re all made out of
expectations and we’re all made out of
expectations and we’re all made out of the things that were prepared with we
the things that were prepared with we
the things that were prepared with we start out kind of like this canvas okay
start out kind of like this canvas okay
start out kind of like this canvas okay it’s empty from the time we’re born and
it’s empty from the time we’re born and
it’s empty from the time we’re born and then people give us things that will
then people give us things that will
then people give us things that will help us to arrive to moments when we get
help us to arrive to moments when we get
help us to arrive to moments when we get to those moments are we prepared for
to those moments are we prepared for
to those moments are we prepared for those moments because we were given the
those moments because we were given the
those moments because we were given the things that we need to well we have an
things that we need to well we have an
things that we need to well we have an opportunity in front of us that we’ll be
opportunity in front of us that we’ll be
opportunity in front of us that we’ll be able to capitalize on because of faith
able to capitalize on because of faith
able to capitalize on because of faith that means things that are predetermined
that means things that are predetermined
that means things that are predetermined things that have been decided before we
things that have been decided before we
things that have been decided before we got there or will we be destined for the
got there or will we be destined for the
got there or will we be destined for the moments that we arrive to which means
moments that we arrive to which means
moments that we arrive to which means that there was something that we did and
that there was something that we did and
that there was something that we did and there were a certain set of tasks that
there were a certain set of tasks that
there were a certain set of tasks that we carry out there was a certain
we carry out there was a certain
we carry out there was a certain preparedness that we had that will help
preparedness that we had that will help
preparedness that we had that will help us get to the moments this is one of the
us get to the moments this is one of the
us get to the moments this is one of the biggest moments of my career as a judo
biggest moments of my career as a judo
biggest moments of my career as a judo player judo means the gentle or easy way
player judo means the gentle or easy way
player judo means the gentle or easy way now by looking at this photo you’re
now by looking at this photo you’re
now by looking at this photo you’re probably saying that don’t look too easy
probably saying that don’t look too easy
probably saying that don’t look too easy and it don’t look too gentle what’s
and it don’t look too gentle what’s
and it don’t look too gentle what’s funny is I’ve been the guy even though
funny is I’ve been the guy even though
funny is I’ve been the guy even though in this picture I’m the guy that’s on
in this picture I’m the guy that’s on
in this picture I’m the guy that’s on top I’ve been the guy that’s on the
top I’ve been the guy that’s on the
top I’ve been the guy that’s on the my childhood was much like that I feel
my childhood was much like that I feel
my childhood was much like that I feel like I started on the bottom because I
like I started on the bottom because I
like I started on the bottom because I came up in a single-parent household and
came up in a single-parent household and
came up in a single-parent household and one of the biggest things was I didn’t
one of the biggest things was I didn’t
one of the biggest things was I didn’t quite have a support system that will be
quite have a support system that will be
quite have a support system that will be able to help me sometimes you know a
able to help me sometimes you know a
able to help me sometimes you know a village is the most important thing
village is the most important thing
village is the most important thing sometimes more important than faith
sometimes more important than faith
sometimes more important than faith faith the things that have been
faith the things that have been
faith the things that have been predetermined you have a village you
predetermined you have a village you
predetermined you have a village you have a support system that’s going to
have a support system that’s going to
have a support system that’s going to help you be able to succeed help you to
help you be able to succeed help you to
help you be able to succeed help you to hone your skills your life skills your
hone your skills your life skills your
hone your skills your life skills your critical thinking skills to culminate to
critical thinking skills to culminate to
critical thinking skills to culminate to a moment where you could be successful
a moment where you could be successful
a moment where you could be successful and capitalize on those moments and then
and capitalize on those moments and then
and capitalize on those moments and then some of us don’t have all of those
some of us don’t have all of those
some of us don’t have all of those things so today I give you judo judo was
things so today I give you judo judo was
things so today I give you judo judo was invented in 1882 by dr. Joe Gore
invented in 1882 by dr. Joe Gore
invented in 1882 by dr. Joe Gore O’Connor dr. Connor was a member of the
O’Connor dr. Connor was a member of the
O’Connor dr. Connor was a member of the Olympic Committee he also worked in
Olympic Committee he also worked in
Olympic Committee he also worked in government
government
government dr. Cano was an educator and judo was
dr. Cano was an educator and judo was
dr. Cano was an educator and judo was invented his teaching said that judo was
invented his teaching said that judo was
invented his teaching said that judo was invented to help people practice and
invented to help people practice and
invented to help people practice and train their mental and physical ability
train their mental and physical ability
train their mental and physical ability to help cultivate the spirit that means
to help cultivate the spirit that means
to help cultivate the spirit that means help you prepare your mental ability and
help you prepare your mental ability and
help you prepare your mental ability and train your mental ability and train your
train your mental ability and train your
train your mental ability and train your physical ability to culminate to a point
physical ability to culminate to a point
physical ability to culminate to a point where your spirit is alive some of the
where your spirit is alive some of the
where your spirit is alive some of the greatest things about life starts with
greatest things about life starts with
greatest things about life starts with our spirit the most passionate moments
our spirit the most passionate moments
our spirit the most passionate moments in our life will be the things that help
in our life will be the things that help
in our life will be the things that help us get to the moment everything that
us get to the moment everything that
us get to the moment everything that helps us get to moments this competition
helps us get to moments this competition
helps us get to moments this competition was a national championship when I was
was a national championship when I was
was a national championship when I was younger I never thought that I would go
younger I never thought that I would go
younger I never thought that I would go that far with judo I was nine years old
that far with judo I was nine years old
that far with judo I was nine years old I was a hundred and sixty pounds and
I was a hundred and sixty pounds and
I was a hundred and sixty pounds and like I thought nobody wanted to play
like I thought nobody wanted to play
like I thought nobody wanted to play with me because every time I try to play
with me because every time I try to play
with me because every time I try to play basketball
basketball
basketball they look me up and down they’d be like
they look me up and down they’d be like
they look me up and down they’d be like nah this ain’t gonna work and the reason
nah this ain’t gonna work and the reason
nah this ain’t gonna work and the reason why is because when it was time to run
why is because when it was time to run
why is because when it was time to run down the court I wasn’t too too sure I
down the court I wasn’t too too sure I
down the court I wasn’t too too sure I wanted to do that you know I stand at
wanted to do that you know I stand at
wanted to do that you know I stand at the other end they were like hey what
the other end they were like hey what
the other end they were like hey what are you doing
are you doing
are you doing there you are you cherry-picking
there you are you cherry-picking
there you are you cherry-picking I was like who got some cherries you
I was like who got some cherries you
I was like who got some cherries you know yeah you know that was my thing my
know yeah you know that was my thing my
know yeah you know that was my thing my thing was kind of stated myself if
thing was kind of stated myself if
thing was kind of stated myself if somebody could use me if somebody would
somebody could use me if somebody would
somebody could use me if somebody would appreciate me then I will feel good but
appreciate me then I will feel good but
appreciate me then I will feel good but I never know I never knew if if somebody
I never know I never knew if if somebody
I never know I never knew if if somebody would appreciate me I thought I was
would appreciate me I thought I was
would appreciate me I thought I was gonna do very very well when they came
gonna do very very well when they came
gonna do very very well when they came to football I was big after all but I
to football I was big after all but I
to football I was big after all but I mean I was nine years old again I was a
mean I was nine years old again I was a
mean I was nine years old again I was a hundred and sixty pounds I know men now
hundred and sixty pounds I know men now
hundred and sixty pounds I know men now that just weigh 160 pounds so at nine
that just weigh 160 pounds so at nine
that just weigh 160 pounds so at nine years old I thought it was an advantage
years old I thought it was an advantage
years old I thought it was an advantage with football until I got on the field
with football until I got on the field
with football until I got on the field and people’s mind was like whereas birth
and people’s mind was like whereas birth
and people’s mind was like whereas birth certificate there they would say he’s
certificate there they would say he’s
certificate there they would say he’s not playing with my kid and that led me
not playing with my kid and that led me
not playing with my kid and that led me to be in a position to have to play with
to be in a position to have to play with
to be in a position to have to play with 15 year olds when I started playing with
15 year olds when I started playing with
15 year olds when I started playing with 15 year olds I began being bullied at
15 year olds I began being bullied at
15 year olds I began being bullied at 160 pounds among kids my age I wasn’t
160 pounds among kids my age I wasn’t
160 pounds among kids my age I wasn’t scared of anybody I knew the odds were
scared of anybody I knew the odds were
scared of anybody I knew the odds were in my favor but I never thought that I’d
in my favor but I never thought that I’d
in my favor but I never thought that I’d end up in a position where the odds
end up in a position where the odds
end up in a position where the odds weren’t in my favor is far our size that
weren’t in my favor is far our size that
weren’t in my favor is far our size that I wouldn’t be able to substantiate if
I wouldn’t be able to substantiate if
I wouldn’t be able to substantiate if somebody called me a name if somebody
somebody called me a name if somebody
somebody called me a name if somebody pushed me too hard so one day I’m in a
pushed me too hard so one day I’m in a
pushed me too hard so one day I’m in a bathroom after school I’m eating a
bathroom after school I’m eating a
bathroom after school I’m eating a sandwich now I know a lot of you are
sandwich now I know a lot of you are
sandwich now I know a lot of you are saying what does the dude doing with a
saying what does the dude doing with a
saying what does the dude doing with a sandwich in the bathroom busy that
sandwich in the bathroom busy that
sandwich in the bathroom busy that hungry like that he got you know I know
hungry like that he got you know I know
hungry like that he got you know I know he’s 160 pounds was he 160 pounds you
he’s 160 pounds was he 160 pounds you
he’s 160 pounds was he 160 pounds you just taking sandwiches to the bathroom
just taking sandwiches to the bathroom
just taking sandwiches to the bathroom that wasn’t that wasn’t the thing the
that wasn’t that wasn’t the thing the
that wasn’t that wasn’t the thing the reason that I was in the bathroom was
reason that I was in the bathroom was
reason that I was in the bathroom was because I would try to sit at the table
because I would try to sit at the table
because I would try to sit at the table with other kids and when I tried to sit
with other kids and when I tried to sit
with other kids and when I tried to sit at the table with other kids they would
at the table with other kids they would
at the table with other kids they would talk about me when I ate so I would duck
talk about me when I ate so I would duck
talk about me when I ate so I would duck away I will confine myself somewhere and
away I will confine myself somewhere and
away I will confine myself somewhere and I just wanted peace I knew I couldn’t
I just wanted peace I knew I couldn’t
I just wanted peace I knew I couldn’t get suspended my mom said some makes
get suspended my mom said some makes
get suspended my mom said some makes some expectations for me that would say
some expectations for me that would say
some expectations for me that would say hey I explain I expect you to go to
hey I explain I expect you to go to
hey I explain I expect you to go to school I expect you to learn and I
school I expect you to learn and I
school I expect you to learn and I expect you to represent our family well
expect you to represent our family well
expect you to represent our family well and I didn’t really know how to do that
and I didn’t really know how to do that
and I didn’t really know how to do that when I wasn’t being accepted so one day
when I wasn’t being accepted so one day
when I wasn’t being accepted so one day I’m willing on some kids in the bathroom
I’m willing on some kids in the bathroom
I’m willing on some kids in the bathroom and I’m eating the sandwich and I’m
and I’m eating the sandwich and I’m
and I’m eating the sandwich and I’m fighting these kids because one kid made
fighting these kids because one kid made
fighting these kids because one kid made me drop my
me drop my
me drop my and I’m like TJ who’s gonna make me beat
and I’m like TJ who’s gonna make me beat
and I’m like TJ who’s gonna make me beat you up today and he’s like I’m gonna go
you up today and he’s like I’m gonna go
you up today and he’s like I’m gonna go get somebody else and we gonna jump you
get somebody else and we gonna jump you
get somebody else and we gonna jump you so they come back to the bathroom and
so they come back to the bathroom and
so they come back to the bathroom and when they get to the bathroom I’m there
when they get to the bathroom I’m there
when they get to the bathroom I’m there I’m bigger than them they’re my age
I’m bigger than them they’re my age
I’m bigger than them they’re my age they’re my grade but like I’m bigger
they’re my grade but like I’m bigger
they’re my grade but like I’m bigger than these kids and I’m taking advantage
than these kids and I’m taking advantage
than these kids and I’m taking advantage of the situation and there’s this little
of the situation and there’s this little
of the situation and there’s this little short guy and I say short because he’s
short guy and I say short because he’s
short guy and I say short because he’s about five seven who walks in the room
about five seven who walks in the room
about five seven who walks in the room and he breaks to fight oh he hurt
and he breaks to fight oh he hurt
and he breaks to fight oh he hurt himself in the process a little bit I
himself in the process a little bit I
himself in the process a little bit I probably lost all etiquette I probably
probably lost all etiquette I probably
probably lost all etiquette I probably lost all home training because I was
lost all home training because I was
lost all home training because I was yelling and screaming at this guy and I
yelling and screaming at this guy and I
yelling and screaming at this guy and I was yelling at anger because all I knew
was yelling at anger because all I knew
was yelling at anger because all I knew how to do is try to meet my mom’s
how to do is try to meet my mom’s
how to do is try to meet my mom’s expectation and I wanted to go out I
expectation and I wanted to go out I
expectation and I wanted to go out I want to represent well I wanted to do
want to represent well I wanted to do
want to represent well I wanted to do the great thing but I had I had lost my
the great thing but I had I had lost my
the great thing but I had I had lost my place and I had got tired of being
place and I had got tired of being
place and I had got tired of being bullied these kids were my age but I was
bullied these kids were my age but I was
bullied these kids were my age but I was being pushed by two older kids and then
being pushed by two older kids and then
being pushed by two older kids and then verbally I’ve been challenged by the
verbally I’ve been challenged by the
verbally I’ve been challenged by the younger kids so he challenged me to do
younger kids so he challenged me to do
younger kids so he challenged me to do judo that was the ultimate challenge it
judo that was the ultimate challenge it
judo that was the ultimate challenge it made perfect sense
made perfect sense
made perfect sense while one day I would join the ultimate
while one day I would join the ultimate
while one day I would join the ultimate challenge judo team that will give me
challenge judo team that will give me
challenge judo team that will give me the opportunity to travel the world now
the opportunity to travel the world now
the opportunity to travel the world now I’ve been on every continent besides and
I’ve been on every continent besides and
I’ve been on every continent besides and art soccer probably more than once to
art soccer probably more than once to
art soccer probably more than once to compete and represent our country
but my greatest accomplishment is being
but my greatest accomplishment is being able to be valuable to my community
able to be valuable to my community
able to be valuable to my community coming up in that land of Georgia we had
coming up in that land of Georgia we had
coming up in that land of Georgia we had a lot of expectations I grew up around
a lot of expectations I grew up around
a lot of expectations I grew up around people like Andrew Young who would come
people like Andrew Young who would come
people like Andrew Young who would come down to my school which was Southwest
down to my school which was Southwest
down to my school which was Southwest middle school now named after his wife
middle school now named after his wife
middle school now named after his wife genes how young will come down to my
genes how young will come down to my
genes how young will come down to my school and set expectations that we go
school and set expectations that we go
school and set expectations that we go back and we in in African tradition and
back and we in in African tradition and
back and we in in African tradition and work Sam Kofi go back and bring the best
work Sam Kofi go back and bring the best
work Sam Kofi go back and bring the best from the past so I would go back to my
from the past so I would go back to my
from the past so I would go back to my community and give something be a
community and give something be a
community and give something be a village for somebody else because I was
village for somebody else because I was
village for somebody else because I was being supported and I now work at a high
being supported and I now work at a high
being supported and I now work at a high school I’m able to give back I’ve been
school I’m able to give back I’ve been
school I’m able to give back I’ve been in a school system for over 15 years and
in a school system for over 15 years and
in a school system for over 15 years and my life skills help me
my life skills help me
my life skills help me sometimes we’re down when you’re down
sometimes we’re down when you’re down
sometimes we’re down when you’re down some of us especially nowadays they’re
some of us especially nowadays they’re
some of us especially nowadays they’re thinking who sees this they think about
thinking who sees this they think about
thinking who sees this they think about who sees this it’s a shock to your ego
who sees this it’s a shock to your ego
who sees this it’s a shock to your ego it’s it’s it’s it’s something that you
it’s it’s it’s it’s something that you
it’s it’s it’s it’s something that you feel like you’re not in control of but
feel like you’re not in control of but
feel like you’re not in control of but what’s in your heart gives you the
what’s in your heart gives you the
what’s in your heart gives you the ability to get back up the things that
ability to get back up the things that
ability to get back up the things that you’re built with gives you the ability
you’re built with gives you the ability
you’re built with gives you the ability to get back up sometimes we’re on top
to get back up sometimes we’re on top
to get back up sometimes we’re on top and we’re on top things happen to us
and we’re on top things happen to us
and we’re on top things happen to us like ego we’re starting to boast and
like ego we’re starting to boast and
like ego we’re starting to boast and brag about the things that are going on
brag about the things that are going on
brag about the things that are going on with us but in order to arrive to the
with us but in order to arrive to the
with us but in order to arrive to the next moment in order to stay on top
next moment in order to stay on top
next moment in order to stay on top there going to be some things that we
there going to be some things that we
there going to be some things that we have to remember we have to remember
have to remember we have to remember
have to remember we have to remember that it’s easy to be this person if
that it’s easy to be this person if
that it’s easy to be this person if we’re not capitalizing on opportunities
we’re not capitalizing on opportunities
we’re not capitalizing on opportunities we have to remember that respecting the
we have to remember that respecting the
we have to remember that respecting the fact that we all started from nothing
fact that we all started from nothing
fact that we all started from nothing and then sometimes that it was our faith
and then sometimes that it was our faith
and then sometimes that it was our faith that got us there the things that that
that got us there the things that that
that got us there the things that that were predetermined and we’re not in
were predetermined and we’re not in
were predetermined and we’re not in control of that but we were often
control of that but we were often
control of that but we were often challenged to remember that our destiny
challenged to remember that our destiny
challenged to remember that our destiny is up to us the things that we put into
is up to us the things that we put into
is up to us the things that we put into our moments the Spirit that we’re going
our moments the Spirit that we’re going
our moments the Spirit that we’re going to allow to live in those moments will
to allow to live in those moments will
to allow to live in those moments will define our essence people will remember
define our essence people will remember
define our essence people will remember us for that so we try hard life skills
us for that so we try hard life skills
us for that so we try hard life skills are very very important they’re very
are very very important they’re very
are very very important they’re very very important very very important to
very important very very important to
very important very very important to being successful
being successful
being successful judo gave me life skills there are some
judo gave me life skills there are some
judo gave me life skills there are some situations that I can think of in
situations that I can think of in
situations that I can think of in society that will probably be better if
society that will probably be better if
society that will probably be better if we have somebody that has some training
we have somebody that has some training
we have somebody that has some training that had a controlled environment where
that had a controlled environment where
that had a controlled environment where they can practice their skills where
they can practice their skills where
they can practice their skills where they can practice saying hey man I need
they can practice saying hey man I need
they can practice saying hey man I need to get up from here life is pushing me
to get up from here life is pushing me
to get up from here life is pushing me around I know it’s hard to substantiate
around I know it’s hard to substantiate
around I know it’s hard to substantiate but do I take some of the pushing that
but do I take some of the pushing that
but do I take some of the pushing that I’m getting or should I be fighting back
I’m getting or should I be fighting back
I’m getting or should I be fighting back we need to be able to hone skills that
we need to be able to hone skills that
we need to be able to hone skills that allow us to discern if we’re going to
allow us to discern if we’re going to
allow us to discern if we’re going to take being pushed because pushing or for
take being pushed because pushing or for
take being pushed because pushing or for the reason that we’re being pushed is
the reason that we’re being pushed is
the reason that we’re being pushed is that we’re being pushed to greatness
that we’re being pushed to greatness
that we’re being pushed to greatness we’re being pushed to better things and
we’re being pushed to better things and
we’re being pushed to better things and there sometimes there’s times we got to
there sometimes there’s times we got to
there sometimes there’s times we got to push back which means we have everything
push back which means we have everything
push back which means we have everything we need we’re securing the goals that we
we need we’re securing the goals that we
we need we’re securing the goals that we have and with these goals we’re going to
have and with these goals we’re going to
have and with these goals we’re going to get to the moments that define us judo
get to the moments that define us judo
get to the moments that define us judo again gives us the opportunity to take
again gives us the opportunity to take
again gives us the opportunity to take advantage of some of the best life
advantage of some of the best life
advantage of some of the best life skills that there is it’s the innovation
skills that there is it’s the innovation
skills that there is it’s the innovation the new innovation that helps people
the new innovation that helps people
the new innovation that helps people gather their skills gather their pros
gather their skills gather their pros
gather their skills gather their pros actualize their cons and be able to be
actualize their cons and be able to be
actualize their cons and be able to be successful so in today’s society when
successful so in today’s society when
successful so in today’s society when we’re looking around for the things that
we’re looking around for the things that
we’re looking around for the things that make kids great in today’s society when
make kids great in today’s society when
make kids great in today’s society when we’re looking around for the things that
we’re looking around for the things that
we’re looking around for the things that make adults great we know that it comes
make adults great we know that it comes
make adults great we know that it comes down to what is in your spirit what is
down to what is in your spirit what is
down to what is in your spirit what is given to you sometimes our parents give
given to you sometimes our parents give
given to you sometimes our parents give us things that that’s been in us for a
us things that that’s been in us for a
us things that that’s been in us for a while and then there’s moments that help
while and then there’s moments that help
while and then there’s moments that help bring them out and then sometimes we
bring them out and then sometimes we
bring them out and then sometimes we come to places like school it’s an
come to places like school it’s an
come to places like school it’s an institution they instill things into you
institution they instill things into you
institution they instill things into you that will help you define yourself
that will help you define yourself
that will help you define yourself better yourself for the moments that’s
better yourself for the moments that’s
better yourself for the moments that’s before you but if you are ever looking
before you but if you are ever looking
before you but if you are ever looking for a way to practice skills
for a way to practice skills
for a way to practice skills to make sure that you’re mentally
to make sure that you’re mentally
to make sure that you’re mentally physically spiritually in alignment then
physically spiritually in alignment then
physically spiritually in alignment then I challenge you to do judo
I challenge you to do judo
I challenge you to do judo it’s the chess game of life thank you
it’s the chess game of life thank you
it’s the chess game of life thank you [Applause]
”
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