On the New Heights Podcast, brothers Jason Kelce and Travis Kelce interviewed brothers Peyton Manning and Eli Manning. Peyton and Eli’s father is former New Orleans Saints Quarterback Archie Manning. Archie played for 14 seasons in the NFL. Travis asked what advice their Dad gave when they played football.
Two-time Super Bowl Champion and NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning said before every game, whether that was an in season game or the Super Bowl, his Dad said, “Don’t forget to have fun.”
I’m 62 years old and I have as much fun as I can for as long as I can. I’ve trained in Aikido for over 35 years, over half my life. I’m Godan (5th degree black belt). After Aikido practice, I tell Ishibashi Sensei, Ryokudan (6th degree black belt), “Thank you, Sensei. That was fun.” Sensei smiles and says, “If it’s not fun, why do it?” Exactly.
Years ago, the late Mizukami Sensei said about teaching Aikido to kids, “They’re not going to learn anything, unless they have fun.”
When I started training in Aikido with Mizukami Sensei, I had to prove that I was good enough. Sensei got that. He got me. When I was a kid, Dad scared the hell out of me. I didn’t know what I did or didn’t do that made Dad so angry with me. I was his greatest disappointment in life. I would never be good enough to for Dad. I would never be good enough for anyone, including me. I spent much of my adult life proving that I was good enough, that I was good enough to be loved, good enough to be accepted.
When I was 8 years old, I would be playing with my cousins or drawing my favorite superheroes. I waited for the other shoe to drop, for when Dad got mad at me. Whatever fun I had would evaporate and end ugly. Usually I cried, too. I was so very sad. Being a kid was not fun at all.
In Aikido, Mizukami Sensei said, “Just train.” I didn’t have to get somewhere or be someone else. For the first time in my life, I could just be me. I was safe. I was free to invent the greatest version of myself, whatever that might be. That was good enough for Sensei. That was good enough for me, too.
Yeah, Sensei yelled at me when I was a block head, not listening to his instructions. Unlike Dad, who yelled, because I was no good. Sensei spoke loudly, because I should know better, because he knew I could be better. That was the profound difference.
Sensei taught me Aikido, to be a better man, be a good man. I learned from him, because I had fun in Aikido and fun with Sensei. Sure, Sensei yelled when I didn’t listen, when I wasn’t present. When I got it, he smiled. He said, “That’s it.” That was meaningful. I smiled, too. I smiled a lot with Sensei.
As I evolved in Aikido, Sensei figured out techniques with me, discussed teaching students. He smiled when I bitched about the useless Aikido I learned in a Seminar at another Dojo. He talked me down from the ledge of my righteousness. Then Sensei showed me how to make the technique work. Sensei taught me, “Make it work.” I make myself work, too.
In many ways, Sensei saved my life. He gave me life. Everything I have that’s meaningful is because of Mizukami Sensei. Sensei is always inside me. He always stands by my side. Still, I miss having fun with Sensei. I miss not talking about the Lakers trading for Luka Doncic. I miss having breakfast with him after Sunday morning Aikido practice. I miss not watching the Chiefs play the Eagles in the Super Bowl at his house. Sensei was fun. I love him, always.
Having fun might be one of the most important things in life. Fun makes life meaningful. Don’t forget to have fun.
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Photo: Unsplash+
