Muhammad Ali, on his way to becoming the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time
It was a mildly cool night in San Diego in the winter of 1992. I was with Laurie, my girlfriend at the time, enjoying a quiet dinner at an Italian restaurant in La Jolla. We heard a great commotion at the door, and in walks Muhammad Ali, the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time. A large entourage followed behind him. As he sat down, the whole of the restaurant focused on Ali, watching his every move. We found out later he was there celebrating his 50th birthday.
I said to Laurie, “I really wish I could meet him”. She said, “Why don’t you?” I explained, “You don’t just walk up to Muhammad Ali and say hello”. She looked at me and said, “Why not?” I thought for a moment and said, “What would I say to him”? She said, “Just be yourself, and the conversation will take care of itself”. I thought, how often in life do you get a chance to meet one of your true heroes? Before I could talk myself out of it, I shot up out of my seat and walked over to him. I patiently waited for the moment he had a break in the conversation with his friends; I did not want to interrupt Muhammad Ali.
My heart pumping wildly, I put my hand out and said, “I would like to introduce myself. As a martial artist, I have always admired what you have contributed to boxing and also to karate”. I told him I was aware of how Bruce Lee and many others had emulated his footwork and movement in the ring and how the martial arts had benefited from this. He looked at me and in a very soft, gentle voice said, “You know what? Not many people know that. I am pleased that you realised where it came from. Here, let me give you my autograph”. He wrote his autograph out for me, as we continued our chat. Needless to say, I was beside myself as I thanked him and walked back to my seat.
As I sat down Laurie smiled at me and said, “See, that wasn’t so hard. All you have to do is reach out for the things you want in life”. I regret that I did not have my camera with me that night. But many years later, I look at this autograph from one of the true legends of sport in my lifetime, and I smile to myself.
The Night I Met Muhammad Ali: Getting What You Want Out of Life is an original article by Sensei Matt Klein.
“To me, the extraordinary aspect of martial arts lies in its simplicity. The easy way is also the right way, and martial arts is nothing at all special; the closer to the true way of martial arts, the less wastage of expression there is.”
Senei Bruce Lee’s Quote
That’s a wonderful story, Matt. Truly inspirational! Many of us by the time we reach adulthood, have gotten used to talking ourselves out of the things we desire in life. I suppose we become disenchanted from the various disappointments of life. The key however is to stay optimistic. We really can have everything we want in life if we walk with an open heart. I’m willing to bet Muhammad Ali could see that in you that evening and that is why he received you with open arms.
I’m sure you’re a wonderful teacher.
Thanks for sharing!
“If you always put limit on everything you do, physical or anything else. It will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them.”
Thanks for your kind words Andrew, and yes, optimism is the key, although it’s not always easy to stay that way.
Yes Shandor, limits are almost always self-imposed. Thanks for supporting my blog.
Nice story! People could have taken a photo of Ali but to have a conversation with the legend as a martial artist is a treasured moment.
Hi Matt,
I got a chance to meet him at Frank Mafnas school opening in Mira Mesa.
Growing up I admired his fighting style and how he changed boxing with his foot work. I did not know about the martial arts connection but that is not surprising. Good fighting techniques transcend styles.
Hats off to Sensei Matt ! I support what I believe in Sensei. Cheers
Thanks Kenneth and welcome to my blog. Yes, the conversation will always stick in my mind, and be treasured.
Hi John! So true, good fighting techniques transcend styles. Thanks.
Thanks Shandor. We must always stand for something.
wow Matt! that is an awesome story! Muhammad Ali is one of my favourite boxers as well 🙂 it would of been amazing if you could of gotten a photo with him!
Yes, unfortunately back then there were no iphones to take pictures with. lol Thanks for your comments Matt.
Very nice story – something can look really hard, until you get courage and do it. I believe that from the retrospective point of view, you consider this encounter as pretty easy – but it was not that easy then 🙂 Thank you for letting us know about the impact of Ali’s boxing on the martial arts…
Thanks for visiting us Radovan. You are correct as I am normally a little on the shy side, and was more shy back then. But I learned a valuable lesson that night. What you want in life is many times there for the asking.
The less effort, the faster and more powerful you will be.”
hi thank you for your interesting story but would you give a child a black gee if he comes everyday and helps but has never been to a tornament?
Thanks Samantha, for your comment. Black gi’s must be earned through hard work, they have nothing to do with tournament participation. Black gi’s are awarded to those who have taken the step of putting back into the system what they have taken out. It is a big honour in our sytem to wear the black gi.
I can understand how special it was meeting Ali I met and shook his hand in Sunderland in the 70s. A great boxer and a great man.
Thanks Carl for your comments. Yes, Ali made time for me that night, for you too, and for many others. He is a great man, one who fights for what he believes in.
that is insperational and i guess it falls back to the same principles in life if u want to do something the best thing is to just do it and then think about it after it happens im sure that was a really memorable moment that you wont ever forget.
Thanks Gianni, so many times in life the only obstacles in front of us are the ones we put up. It was an unreal event and a memory that I will always cherish.