My Friend Gene

December 2nd, 2020. My birthday.
Mary Moore Seawright Park.
The south side of Austin, Texas.

It’s just the three of us. Three generations of movers, educators. Three men doing nothing more in life than attempting to show our fellow humans that there is a better way; that there is a deeper side to all of us; that compassion and love will take one much further through life than fear and hate.

The air is right. Crisp and inviting. There are a few passersby. They pay us no mind.

We each have a healthy obsession with human movement, martial arts, and psychology, amongst a few other things.

We meet here today to move around with Gene, the wiser and most experienced of us. I love making this trek, albeit I don’t do it enough.

Gene has over 40 years in the martial arts. He’s got street experience that most of us can’t fathom. Moving with him is like moving through a river. One moment you’re getting lost in the flow. The next moment you’re doing what you were taught not to do…you’re fighting the rapids. You get dropped into a hole and just when you feel the lack of air becoming a problem, he sets you free. You see, Gene never sets out to harm anyone. He reminds us that we are training, we are learning…and we don’t hurt our friends.

It’s always good. Not only is he fun to move with, but he also has a very beautiful way of helping you to question things you thought you knew to be true. He’ll never tell you you are wrong, unless it’s obvious, but you will walk away thinking deeper and reconsidering. This is what good teachers do. Critical thinking has become a lost art…not when you’re around Gene, though.

The best part about the day…

Gene tells us of a time he spent a year in meditation. With tempo, without missing a beat, and with great conviction, he says:

“I couldn’t hit a red light, the squirrels were at my feet, and complete strangers were coming up to me and hugging me…not just hugging me, but putting their arms around me and squeezing me.”

The power in that message has not left me. This is something I stalk like a hunter. I’m learning that may not be the move, however, It seems the more you seek that type of peace, the more fleeting it becomes. Maybe it’s just one of those things…it just is. You just have to, simply, BE.

I’ve met two people in my life who walk with a peace that can only be described as Christ-like. Gene is one of those people. I can’t think of a better way to have spent a few hours on my birthday than to be training with The Gene Smithson. Two months later and I’m still thinking about it. I am eternally grateful.

Thanks again, Gene.