In 2025, LeBron James broke the 50,000-point All-Time NBA Scoring Record. In an interview on January 23, 2020, the late Kobe Bryant was asked if it was bittersweet that LeBron would surpass his own NBA Scoring Record in a couple weeks.
Kobe answered, “It’s such a juvenile thing. You play. You have a great career. I don’t understand why… You should be happy for a person, who comes after you, to be able to surpass you. Yeah, it’s kind of juvenile to think…”
On January 26, 2020, Kobe and his daughter Gianna died in a helicopter crash. Rest in peace, Kobe and Gianna. “And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
Like LeBron, Kobe worked on being the greatest that he could be. Kobe inspired his big little brother LeBron’s greatness. Nobody worked harder than Kobe being the greatest he could be every day. When asked if he had a problem with those who don’t have his work ethic, Kobe said, “I have a problem with those who expect to be great, but don’t put in the work.” Amen.
Yeah, Kobe was happy and proud of LeBron surpassing his scoring record, because he knew that LeBron put in the work, worked as hard as he did. Throwing any kind of shade on LeBron would be “juvenile”.
The late Kobe Bryant was one of the greatest NBA Players of All-Time. He won 5 NBA Championships, NBA Season MVP and 2 NBA Finals MVPs. Kobe inspired the younger generation of NBA players like LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Jayson Tatum. Kobe’s greatness begot the greatness in others. That’s the meaningful legacy. Legacy is about the future, not about living in the past.
Ishibashi Sensei told me, “We need to raise everybody’s level.” We all get better. It’s not all about me. I’ve trained in Aikido for over 35 years. I’m Godan (5th degree black belt). Sensei has trained for over 40 years. He’s Ryokudan (6th degree black belt). The late Mizukami Sensei trained both of us. Now, Cognard Hanshi trains us. We’re part of Mizukami Sensei and Hanshi’s legacy, we’re their future. Theirs is a legacy of continuing greatness.
Ishibashi Sensei instructs, “Apply the (Aikido) technique to yourself, not to the attacker.” I work on myself, not on others. That’s all I can do. Still, when I work on myself, I create the space for others to work on themselves, too. I get better. They get better. We raise the level of everyone in the Dojo. We bring everyone up with us. That’s what Mizukami Sensei did for me. That’s what Ishibashi Sensei does for me. I pass on all that I’ve received from them to others, so that they can be greater than me. That’s the purpose.
Over 25 years ago, I taught Jackson Aikido, when he started at the Dojo. Now, Jackson is better than me. Now, he teaches me. No, that’s not bittersweet. Bittersweet would be juvenile. I’m so happy and proud that Jackson surpassed me. I’m happy that he’s greater than me, that he’s a great as he can be.
Years ago, when I taught Jackson, I wanted him to be greater than me, be as great as he could be. That was my job as Sensei. Now, Jackson teaches others, who may be greater than him, someday. That’s how it works. It just works.
In Aikido, I teach children and teenagers to wait it out and enter the attack. Take a glancing blow if you have to. You’re not always going to get away scot-free. It’s one time. I teach them to throw with feeling out, throw from their one point, ki. It doesn’t matter how big and strong the attacker is, they’re stronger inside than on the outside. They’re stronger than they know. That’s what the late Mizukami Sensei taught both Ishibashi Sensei and me. That’s Sensei’s living legacy. Sensei was about the future.
By definition, I will never know my legacy. Others for whom I made a difference, others for whom I mattered, shall determine my legacy after I’m gone. Like the late Kobe Bryant influenced LeBron, Luka, and others, I can influence others to put in the work and be as great as they can be. The world is a far greater place for Kobe being in it. Perhaps, what I do and who I am helps make the world a greater place, too. That’s my sincerest wish.
I’m happy for all those who are greater than me, happy for those who will be greater than me. That’s a long way from the frightened little boy, who feared, “I’m not good enough.” Who feared inside that, “I’m not good enough for Dad.”
Legacy is about the others. Legacy is about the future. Life moves on with or without me. I want to be like water and flow. That’s just life. May you all have a meaningful life, a life that you love. Amen.
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Photo by Drew Beamer on Unsplash
