By Ron Gatewood
Sometimes the only stories we tell of Jimmy are about his fights and his victories. We spend little time discussing his compassionate side.
I have a friend who is a Buddhist Monk to whom I have given copies of the Journal. After the second issue we were discussing Jimmy and the monk stated, “I’m sure he could fight but it seems he is like a gangster and fought all the time”. That really made me think – if we only portray that side of Jimmy that’s what one may think, especially if they did not know him. This article will be an effort on my part to attempt to correct that perception.
The Buddhists believe a true master has respect for all life and attempts to relieve suffering. But again, if you knew Jimmy, he had these qualities as well. Don’t misunderstand, if you attacked Jimmy, his friends, or family, he would do his best to hurt you. So many times, we have heard him say, “So what if he calls me a name, what do I care? But if he comes to (attacks) me I’ll hurt him”. Another example of his compassion is that as a young person in China he would go fishing all day and when evening came, he took his fish to the poor who had little to eat.
Whenever one of his student’s kids was selling candy or cookies for a function such as baseball or scouts, Jimmy would have the child bring in a case of the merchandise to the studio. He put it on his desk and coerced the other adult students (especially the Black Belts) to buy some because it was for charity. The kid left that evening with a big smile on his face and money in his hand.
When kids came to class with their parents you would hear Jimmy say, “Hi, sweetheart”. He would smile and always have time to share with them. Even with Jimmy’s gruff, gravelly voice I can’t remember a small child showing any fear of him It seemed they saw through to his heart.
For all the years I sold weapons and T-Shirts in his school, he stocked the items and when they sold, he gave me all the money. He could have taken a percentage but he knew I was struggling to support a family and wanted to help. He often said he could import the weapons from Hong Kong but didn’t want to interfere with my business. When business was slow, he would reach into his supply closet and bring out a sword, look at me and wink as he walked out to the work out area and he would start a form with the weapon When he finished, he would then explain its use. Needless to say, there were several items sold on that day.
Sometimes students and instructors took the weapons on credit and didn’t pay Jimmy, but he would pay me anyway. I didn’t know this at the time as I would not have taken the money. Many students never paid and ripped him off, I know it hurt him inside but he never went after the money.
Jimmy was a soft-touch for people who were “down and out”. He always gave them a little money. One day I talked to Jimmy about the homeless, telling him I felt that a few of them really need help and they could not help themselves due to circumstances beyond their control. Most of them, however, are either drug addicts or alcoholics and they made the choice. I told him that I was tired of being bothered by begging whenever I went out. He looked at me with a scornful or worried look and pointed his finger at me “Always treat a man with respect, don’t take away his dignity It doesn’t hurt to give him a couple of bucks If you say something that takes away his self-respect it may be your fault if he doesn’t get better”. Of course, after that you feel a little smaller but his words stay with you for a long time.
I know there were some students who wanted to learn San Soo but did not have money for lessons. I’m sure they were taught for free but Jimmy kept these things quiet so I don’t know for sure who they were. He would always say. “Never embarrass people, they will go away and never come back. They must keep their self-respect” The good things he did, he didn’t brag about.
We just happened to observe them by being there.
There are other stories that I could tell you but I think maybe now you begin to see the other side of Jimmy. I’m sorry that if by showing only the martial side it caused people to think he lived only to fight.
To understand this great man, you must see both sides – he was not perfect, he was human. If you think he only taught fighting, you are wrong. He taught me more about life and living than anyone I have met in my life.
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