Years ago when I started in martial arts there were many superstars. Of course Bruce Lee was the first to break into films but the tournament competitors at the time were huge stars in the small world of karate competition. There was Mike Stone, Chuck Norris, Skipper Mullens, and Joe Lewis. All of these champions have a story to tell, but I must relate to Joe Lewis’  background.
To call him a prodigy would be an understatement. Lewis came from North Carolina and focused on academics and sports in his youth. He took up weightlifting in the family’s basement and got his bodyweight up to 225 lbs. with large amounts of front squats, bench pressing to 405, and 190 lb. curls. He joined the Marines and after a period in Paris Island, was shipped of to Okinawa. He entered a gym looking for wrestling and weightlifting gear and discovered Karate. He immersed himself in it. Okinawa at the time had incredible instructors and Lewis took to it like a duck to water. He was also fortunate to have both spare time since he did not drink, and a sparring partner named John Korab who was also a boxer. His workouts were legendary. He would sidekick the heavy bag for one half hour for each leg, punch the makiwara for a thousand strikes per hand, spar without rest, and then spend warm down time doing pushups, pullups, squats, and stomach work. His body weight dropped to 195lbs but this created a physique of bone, muscle, veins, and will. His academic background made him a thinking fighter and one who never left a stone unturned in his quest for knowledge. Once stateside Lewis tore up the Karate circuit. He was too fast, too powerful, and an instant success. He would drop opponents with a sidekick seconds after the match started. Occasionally despite being the American, National, International, and World Champion, Joe Lewis would lose to a backwoods town favorite. Usually by judges who were friends of the small town hero. Once a local guy, upon winning, proclaimed, "I beat Joe Lewis!". Joe turned to the guy and said, "So your famous because of me?", or something to that effect. He meant, "Do you want to be famous for winning or famous because the person you beat was famous?"

The value of this observation is do you want to be known for being you or for something you did, happened to you, or for someone or something you are associated with? This theme is consistant in society where people dress in styles closely associated with particular groups. Others simply gravitate twards others who have similarities.

As a child I remember the older generation sitting in a room in Portage, Pennsylvania and talk about their illnesses for over three hours. I was just a kid, but had to walk outside about fifteen minutes into the circle of pain as I called it. These people simply wanted to validate their identity by having themselves associated with an illness or operation. The same of course goes for any type of addiction. How long do you want to be known as an ex-junkie, or former drunk? When you are walking down the street, do you want people to say, "That is John Smith!", or "He used to be fat!"? It seems convenient to "tag" people with names. As children, we called the lady who drove our school bus, "Mrs. Bus driver". We thought it was cute, she didn’t. We could blame others for their lack of sensitivity, but to be empowered, we have to take responsibility and deal with it ourselves. Do you walk around in clothing that says, "I play tennis", "I’m richer than you", or "I get dirty for a living"? Remember, there is nothing wrong with any of these, but do you want to walk around all your life known as the guy who dropped his pants at the office Christmas Party?

This same game can be played with letters after your name, or attaching yourself to your profession exclusively. You can be Bob the Plumber, or rather Bob, who is a husband, father, good citizen, and great beach volleyball player who happens to do plumbing for a job. I remember being introduced to someone. They couldn’t help themselves. I was in my perpetual jeans and flip flops and they were wearing a suit sweating like pig in Florida’s summer heat. They looked me up and down and said, "Hi, I’m John, I’m an Attorney at Law. I told him, "Thanks for telling me, I’ll speak more slowly." I have no clue of John’s character, family, experience, or sense of humor. He led with his face and those in the fight game understand what that means.