From the time he entered his first competition —where he won both the black-belt sparring and the black- belt kata divisions — until he emerged as full-contact kickboxing heavyweight world champion, Joe Lewis was the most colorful personality in the martial arts.
A two-time Black Belt Hall of Famer, Lewis brought quickness and finesse into the ring, along with the power to unleash a knockout punch or kick from either side. During his competitive years, he was perhaps the most intimidating adversary any martial artist could have.
Then there was the other side of Lewis, one that was equally intriguing. He was a teacher, an innovator, a role model and a mentor. Those two very different facets are what made Joe Lewis such an influential force in American karate. Here is the Warrior Way of Joe Lewis.
Motivation to Teach
Lewis observed that “only about 10 percent of the people in martial arts enjoy combat or any type of sparring.” That’s likely what motivated him to begin conveying his tactics and strategies to all who wanted to learn. He devised different ways to connect with those who claimed they couldn’t fight. He advised them to stay away from fancy moves and stick with practical applications related to their objectives. “You don’t have to be flashy,” Lewis would say. “You have to be fundamental.”
Because he was a fighter at heart, Lewis sought to teach others to unleash their inner warrior. He preached that warriors are never bound by useless or outdated moves; they have to be able to count on every technique they throw. And that’s exactly how he fought: He stuck with the basics, moves he’d polished through years of hard work. As such, he could step into the ring with complete trust in every technique he planned to use, and that’s the type of confidence he sought to instill in others.