Sometime during the early 2000s – just after I had seriously engaged with the internet – I found an email address for George Foreman and decided to write to him. I had read a biography of his, and discovered his interest in the monks of the Shaolin Temple in China, and how, as a Christian, he believed that spirituality and martial practice could go hand in hand, providing there exists a strong and moral guiding force. I was inspired by his come-back in his early 40s, and enthralled with the stories that I read about how he used to be strapped to the front of a lorry (cab) – and would “run” along for a mile or two “pulling” this heavy machine down the road as part of his later-life strength work-out.
Of course, all this unfolded in the lste 1980s (1987 to be exact – when he was 39), and culminated in George Foreman eventually regaining the Heavyweight Crown by knocking-out the then Champion (a right-handed southpaw) – Michael Moorer – in 1994! Although having nothing more to prove, Foreman carried-on fighting until 1997 (at 48) before hanging his gloves up for good. I have, on occasion, showed my martial arts students the fight George Foreman had with Ron Lyle in 1976. I have never seen a fight of such continuous intensity from both men. All that was at stack was their personal honour and reputation. I believe this engagement between two African-American men transcends the limitations of the sport of boxing. If they were British soldiers fighting the enemy – both would be awarded the Victoria Cross for their bravery and tenacity.
To my astonishment, George Foreman earned my personal respect by not only replying to my email(s) – but replying in a respectful, kind, and gentlemanly manner. His persona was honest and healing. Of course, I am not an American, I am not Black, and I am not a boxer. Furthermore, unlike Mr George Foreman, I do not engage in business and an useless at anything that requires making a monetary profit. On the other hand, George Foreman is such a genuinely good person that I simply cannot begrudge him his own successes – or condemn him for them. Good luck to him – and anyone else who can make money. I cannot do this – but I can recognise a truly spiritual human-being when I encounter such a person – and Mr George Foreman is just such a man. I am reluctant to speak of him in the past-tense – because I still feel the warm character that emerged through his emails around 20-years ago! He once said to me that he hates violence – but certain realities dictated that violence was needed in various stages of his life. I believe his come-back was motivated by the need to raise funds for his Church. He took the punches so that ordinary people could enter his Church, find peace, and live in love with one another. What a great man he was!
SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR) 