Hello Everyone
Well it has been just over a week since I wrote my last blog which was about Master Joyce, Master richard, and I’s 43 grading from almost two weeks ago now. Today I want to talk about my visit with Master Jogn Dube.
I was in St. Catherines this past Sunday visiting one of my Masters. Master John Dube. A quiet martial arts legend and Martial Arts Hall of Famer. I went to see him for two reasons. One was to pick up Master Joyce’s and I’s Kukkiwon certificates from our Kukkiwon grading back in October 2010. Second reason was to just have a nice quiet visit with him. Master Dube is now 71 years old now and has a few health issues so I wanted to make sure I had the chance to visit with him. He is the first person to tell me that I will be a World Champion some day. ANd he was right. I won two World Championships back in 2010. Master Dube is the one that really got inside my head and eliminated all doubts about breaking. I can now pretty much strike anything knowing I won’t hurt myself. Master Dube is the kind of Master that can really get inside your skull and make you do things you would have thought impossible before. While I was visiting with him he gave me one of his old trophies which he won after coming out of competition retirement at 51 years old. Master Dube had retired after winning the Canadian Nationals at the Canadian Games as per instructions by his Master, Grandmaster Kim. After Grandmaster Kim passed away Master Dube decided to come back to the competition circuit down in Buffalo and he was his first tournament back. This was a special tournament to him and he wanted me to have the trophy. So come by my office and take a look at a trophy from a legend.
Now while Master Dube and I were talking he had a few words of wisdom and so here they are. Hope I got it as close to what he said as possible.
” SUCCESS, SUCCESS IS WHEN I GET UP IN THE MORNING, GET DRESSED, GO DO WHAT I WANT TO DO WHEN I WANT TO DO IT AS LONG AS I DO NOT HURT ANYONE ALONG THE WAY. I COME HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY AND GO TO SLEEP. TO ME THAT IS SUCCESS.”
Master Dube also said people ask him about having lots of money as part of success and this is what he had to say about that.
“MONEY IS NOT NECESSARILY SUCESS. MONEY IS SOMETHING YOU SPEND BEFORE YOU HAVE IT. MONEY IS SOMETHING YOU USE TO BUY A BUNCH OF CRAP YOU REALLY DON’T NEED SO YOU CAN IMPRESS PEOPLE YOU REALLY DON’T LIKE. MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING. AS LONG AS YOU CAN LIVE COMFORTABLY, THAT IS SUCCESS WITH MONEY.”
Master Dube never did make tons of cash but he always fed his family and lived his life the way he wanted. We can all learn from his life. When he talks to you he is always fully engaged in your conversations and always has a smile on his family. If you ever get a chance to meet him please do so.
Hope you enjoyed reading thios blog as much as I enjoy listening to Master Dube talk.
Master Jonathan Field