On New Heights, Host Travis Kelce asked NBA Hall of Fame, Philadelphia 76ers Allen Iverson (AI), “What was your Welcome to the NBA Moment?”
AI said, “When I saw him!”
When AI and Michael Jordan shared the same basketball court for the first time. Michael Jordan is the NBA GOAT (Greatest of All-Time).
AI said of Michael Jordan, “The guy that I would not even be on this court right now today, if I didn’t have that vision, I didn’t actually wanna be like him. He made it possible in my mind; I could be an NBA Basketball Player, and then for me to see him is a moment that is gonna live in my mind forever. I’ll never forget it.”
The late Mizukami Sensei was my Michael Jordan. Sensei taught me Aikido for over 25 years until he passed away. I’m Godan (5th degree black belt), because of him and Ishibashi Sensei. Mizukami Sensei taught both Ishibashi Sensei and me.
Mizukami Sensei was like a father to me. Growing up at home, Dad scared me to my soul. Whatever I did or didn’t do only made him so angry with me. I never knew which. I only knew that I was not the son Dad wanted. I was his greatest disappointment in life. I would never be good enough for Dad. I would never be good enough for anyone, especially me. I spent much of my adult life proving that I was good enough, that I was good enough for love, for respect.
When I started training in Aikido, Mizukami Sensei got that I feared inside that I’m not good enough. Sensei said, “Just train. It’s not like you have to get somewhere.” I put my head down. Put in the work. Practice makes the unnatural, natural. I worked on myself, not on others.
I listened to Sensei, who was the Most Patient Man on Planet Earth. Although he got loud sometimes. I did my best to follow his instructions, to learn from him. I worked my ass off. I had fun, too. I was free to succeed, fail, and grow from both. For the first time in my life, I was just free.
About 15 years ago in Sunday morning Aikido practice, I trained with 14-year-old Lukas on iriminage, clothesline technique to the attacker’s head. Sensei said to Lukas, “Show me.”
I attacked Lukas. He threw me solidly to the Dojo mat with iriminage.
Mizukami Sensei said, “Jon, you’re a better teacher than me.”
Lukas and I both looked at each other in utter surprise.
I said, “I don’t think so.”
Sensei smiled. Then he walked over to help out other students in class.
No, I wasn’t better than Mizukami Sensei. He was my GOAT Sensei. Who I am, what I do, what I have is because of Mizukami Sensei. I wanted to be like him, as a Sensei, and as a Man.
Over the years, Mizukami Sensei’s words remained with me. I’ll remember them until the day, I die. What Sensei said was meaningful, because he was that meaningful to me. Sensei generously lifted me up to his level of greatness. We shared life together. Sensei shared the greatest part of himself with me. I’m forever grateful for that.
That Sunday morning Aikido practice was my Welcome to My Life moment. All I ever wanted was to train and teach Aikido, like Mizukami Sensei. Aikido gives me life as it did for Sensei. In many ways, Sensei saved my life. He gave me life. I have a meaningful life, have a life that I love, because of Mizukami Sensei.
Sensei passed away several years ago. Still, he stands by my side. He’s there when I need him, when I fear inside that I’m not good enough. Sensei’s profound gift was the possibility that I can be great. Just train. It’s not like I have to get somewhere.
As Sensei, I pass on all that the late Mizukami Sensei bestowed to me. One day, I’ll say to the student, “You’re a better teacher than me.” That’s meaningful legacy. That honors the late Mizukami Sensei’s legacy.
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Photo: iStock
