Director Jake Kasdan’s Red One (2024) starred Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and J.K. Simmons as Callum Drift and Nick aka Santa Claus. The $250 million Red One was not a box office hit, so far making $182 million worldwide. Yet, Red One was the highest streamed movie on Amazon Prime with over 50 million views in its first 4 days. Although critics pretty much dismissed Red One, despite its imperfections I loved it. I loved its touching message.
At the North Pole, the jacked Rock’s Cal spotted equally jacked J.K. Simmons’s Santa Claus repping 315 pounds on the military press on his first set. Cal gave Nick his letter of resignation as Chief of Security, Santa’s Special Bodyguard.
Nick asked, “I want to know why?”
Cal said, “I love the kids. It’s the grownups that are killing me.”
Cal explained, “You say it all the time, Nick. ‘We choose everyday who we want to be.’ …They (grownups) act like none of that matters!”
Wise Nick said, “It’s not our job to change people, Cal. People change themselves. We just show them that we believe in them. All of them. Because we know who they really are. Deep down. We know that somewhere inside every lost grownup is the kid they once were. Our gift is that we can see that. Even when they can’t. We work for the kids, Cal. Even when they’re not kids anymore.”
I cried. I was that lost grownup.
I was the short fat ugly nerdy kid, who wasn’t good at any sports. I got that I not the son that Dad wanted. I was his greatest disappointment in life. I was weak and goofy looking. I was not good enough for Dad. I was not good enough for anyone, especially me. I spent much of my adult life proving that I was strong enough, that I was good enough. However, being more of anything would never be enough. That’s just the human design.
When I was 12 years old, martial arts superstar Bruce Lee was my hero. Bruce was strong, powerful, and so handsome. I wanted to be like Bruce Lee. I wanted to be strong, be handsome, not get pushed around. I wanted to be the man, who I could be proud to be. But I didn’t know how. I became the lost grownup.
About 35 years ago, I began Aikido training with the late Mizukami Sensei. When I started, I had to prove that I was good enough, because I knew deep down inside that I wasn’t. Sensei got that. He got me. He said, “Just train.” I didn’t have to get somewhere, prove anything, or be someone else. For the first time in my life, I could be me. That was good enough. I was good enough, too.
Sensei was a father to me. He taught me what it is to be a good man, be of service to others, and make a difference. Who I am, the man I’ve become, is because of Sensei.
Many years ago, Mizukami Sensei met Bruce Lee at his home in Hollywood Hills. Sensei said that he watched Bruce move this massive punching bag with his punches and kicks. Maybe Sensei saw Bruce Lee inside me, who I wanted to be when I was 12-year-old. Possibly. Still, Sensei saw inside me, the little boy who desperately wanted to be a good man, but didn’t know how. He believed in me. He got me to believe in myself, too.
For 25 years until he passed away, Sensei taught me Aikido. I listened. I put my head down. I put in the work. I worked on myself, not on others. I’m Godan (5th degree black belt), because of Mizukami Sensei.
The late Mizukami Sensei taught both Ishibashi Sensei and me. Ishibashi Sensei now teaches me. Ishibashi Sensei said, “Everything I have, is because of Mizukami Sensei.” That’s who Sensei was for both of us. He saw the good inside us.
I work with my therapist Lance Miller to heal my childhood trauma and depression. Lance asked, “Where do you think you would be, if you had not met Mizukami Sensei?”
I said, “In many ways, Mizukami Sensei saved my life. I think I might not be here without him.” That was not hyperbole. Sensei saved my life and gave me life. Who I am, the life I have is because of Sensei.
Sensei saw inside me, the kid who wanted so badly to be good enough, but never could be. Rather never thought that he could be. I was lost. Sensei created the space to be myself and become as great as I could be. He believed in me. I began to believe in me, too. Yeah, Sensei saved my life. I’m forever grateful to him and for him. Although he passed away several years ago, his light still shines inside me. He always stands beside me, too.
Like Mizukami Sensei did for me, I look for the good in others, look for the kid inside that they once were. I look for who they wanted to be in life. Believing in others empowers. That makes a difference and gives them life. That may even save a life. That was Mizukami Sensei’s gift to me. I pass that on to others, for their kid inside, for the kid they once were. Amen.
—
Photo: iStock
