Joe Lewis
Tribute Article
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A Joe Lewis Story -
The Tribute





By: Bruce Steven Crary
A humble student....

     
   
    When you think of the “Perfect Martial Arts Fighting Machine,” whom do you think of?  Bruce Lee?  Benny “The Jet” Urquidez?  Joe Lewis?  How about the “Perfect Boxing Machine?”  Mohammad Ali?  Sugar Ray Robinson?  Mike Tyson?  
    Now, let’s say that you had a chance to learn from the one and only master coach who could teach you all of the physical and mental attributes that would enable you (depending on your level of commitment) to become as good as or better than all of them. What would that be worth to you?
    Well, my fellow, students, fighters and instructors, if you did not have the opportunity to fight or spar with him, attend one of his many very informative seminars, or even better, be one of the very few who was able to secure private lessons with him, you unfortunately have lost the chance to train with one of the greatest fighting, thinking and coaching geniuses of our time - “Grandmaster Joe Lewis”.
    Saturday morning, September 1st, I received a call from my former student (now my instructor), Grandmaster Randall Flaherty who regretfully informed me that my friend and mentor, Joe Lewis, had passed on.  I was deeply saddened, knowing that the world had just lost the “Einstein of Martial Arts Training”.  
    Those of us who had the unique privilege of knowing Joe personally will always place in high esteem the invaluable knowledge that only Joe Lewis was able to impart.  I offer my sincere regrets and condolences to Joe’s family and close friends.  Joe will continue to live on in the hearts and minds of thousands, due to his incredible intelligence, brilliance and charisma.
    Although I had not seen Joe for many years, all of the training I received from him still burns in my mind as I view those who wish to excel in any and all forms of self-defense and/or fighting training.  This is why I have decided to write several articles in honor of Joe’s memory and legacy.  Even though Joe never wanted to be called a “Grandmaster”, I will refer to him (out of respect to his family) as: “Grandmaster Lewis”.  If anyone deserves that title, “Grandmaster Joe Lewis” is the one.
    It was 1972, and I was 16 years old, training at Tracy’s Kenpo Karate School in San Jose, California.  I loved training, because it had helped save me from a life of peril and uncertainty (more about that later).  I noticed a picture on the wall of some incredibly muscular dude doing a seemingly impossible flying kick.  I innocently asked one of my instructors, “Who the heck is that dude?”   
    “That is no ‘dude’,” my instructor stated sharply, snapping his head toward me, “That is ’World Heavyweight Karate Champion Joe Lewis’, and if you quit calling him ‘dude’, I might let you attend one of his seminars.”
I never called Grandmaster Lewis, “dude” again.
    By the time I was 18 years old, I had been training (and teaching) every day for two years.  I loved to fight full contact, and was very serious about self-improvement.  But, most importantly, I loved to teach, and teaching others to improve became my passion. I was invited to attend a Joe Lewis seminar by my instructor, Mike Burrell, and was told to read one of Lewis’s articles in Karate Illustrated.  The article talked about angular attack, independent motion, upper body mobility, as well as many other principles of training, all of which were over my head at the time. I was determined to learn, apply and teach these principals, however.  Little did I know that within the next two years, I would be learning many of the specific details of what Grandmaster Lewis was masterfully communicating.
    When Mike Burrell pulled up and let Grandmaster Lewis out of the car, we all just stood there as Joe Lewis smiled at everyone and carried his giant bag of sparring equipment into the school, disappearing with Mike Burrell into the office.  
    We all (about one hundred of us) waited in the main training room for Grandmaster Lewis to appear and begin the seminar, and I wondered what deep training secrets we would learn, and I must confess, I was praying that Joe wouldn’t want to spar with me.  I had heard what he had done to some competitors, and frankly I liked my face, ribs and spleen.  
    I did not know then what Joe would teach me later - fear elimination, mindset, runner, jammer, blocker and much, much more…
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