by robb buckland » Tue May 22, 2012 9:32 pm
Friends,
Thursday night I ran 2.5 hr seminar for Buzz Durkins' students in Atkinson , NH and had the pleasure of hanging out with our mentor George Mattson , and some of the most wonderful martial arts students it has been my pleasure to meet. My lesson plan contained the core principles and concepts that Joe wants every BB to teach in the JLFS (i.e. movement, turning skills, changing angles, the Jab, high volume of offense, and bridging the gap, understanding how to deal with different styles of fighters.) I was only able to gloss over these concepts with drills but the class LOVED IT !!!
I think optimistically about Joe’s condition even though I know the reality that some day I will be losing one of my best friends to cancer.
I look forward to teaching a lesson plan at Summerfest that Joe had taught me over and over at various camps and confrences years earlier using the “zig zag” entry to bridge the gap. I worked this skill for over a year before getting it down . I eventually started teaching this tactical skill to my students where I finally began to understand the brilliance of this subject matter. He told me how he and Bruce Lee worked on refining this skill and what key mistakes to avoid when entering the pocket.
Over the last 30 years Joe Lewis taught me more lessons in my home, in the kitchen, in front of the fridge, in resturants and parking lots, and in the living room while watching fights on TV rather than in the gym, Yes Ive attended dozens of seminars but no better than when I was with him in private.
He talked about marital arts stuff 23 hours a day with 1 hour for practical jokes.
Every experience with Joe Lewis is like a private lesson while he is speaking to you. He captures your attention from the first moment he speaks to the last word he says to you.
Let Joe Lewis know that he is in your prayers and heart.
I want to ask every one to print out a 8x10 photo of you and Joe Lewis, sign it with something personal, put it into a simple certificate frame (for a few dollars) and send it to Joe Lewis. Mark the package with “PHOTO” on the outside so someone knows to open it and place the photo on his wall. We want to cover his wall (at the VA) with memories of his friends and students. Every day he wakes up, we want him to see the wall growing larger and larger with more photos. We want him to know that we miss him and that we have not forgotten him!
Please send photo and card to:
Joe Lewis
Coatesville Veterans Administration Medical Center
Geriatrics & Extended Care (138A-H)
1400 Blackhorse Hill Road
Coatesville, PA 19320-2096[/b]