Living the Martial Arts Lifestyle
Dojo Digest
Joe Lewis: Gearing Up to Win the Fight of His Life
AUGUST 2011
By Rob Colasanti, Ambassador of the Martial Arts
Exclusive Story About Joe Lewis’ Brain Cancer Surgery and Recovery
Joe Lewis photo courtesy of Joanne Allen
AUGUST 2011
www.DojoDigest.com
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Joe Lewis: Gearing Up to Win the Fight of His Life By Rob Colasanti, Ambassador of the Martial Arts
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few days ago, I was in my study wrapping up the latest book project with my good friend, Matt Furey, when my phone rang.
It was Randy Reid and he was calling to ask if I’d be willing to write a 650-word column for his DOJO Digest magazine. We spoke for a few minutes and before we hung up, I agreed. As I began writing, however, my “column” for the first issue kept growing larger and larger. Ultimately, it developed into an exclusive, BREAKING NEWS feature that reveals the true story that everyone has been waiting to read about a martial arts hero who, on July 14, 2011, was diagnosed with a life-threatening brain tumor in his left temporal lobe. My mission in writing this piece is to provide the accurate facts, as well as to dispel some of the baseless rumors surrounding the emergency brain surgery of one of the most respected, beloved, accomplished and iconic figures the martial arts world has ever known. Of course, I’m referring to THE one-and-only “Golden Boy of Karate”…the legendary Joe Lewis. As you read this exclusive article, please keep in mind that I wrote it with the express consent of my dear friend and DojoDigest.com
mentor, Joe Lewis, who gave the go-ahead. Why did he gift me with the honor of relaying this message to the industry? Indeed, it’s because of the longstanding relationship of trust that Joe and I have cultivated during the past 25 years. As you can see in some of the photos the editor decided to include, I’ve known Joe since I was just 15 years old. Most importantly, Joe knows in his heart that I am a true friend, a trusted messenger of his word and that I have no agenda, other than to help him in any way possible. Furthermore, Joe is a man of supreme dignity and he wants others to know the TRUTH about the health crisis he is now battling. Another thing I should mention: Many of the details you’re about to read were given to me by the senior-most officials of Joe Lewis Fighting Systems, the people who were with Joe before, during and after his brain surgery. These good folks are the “family members” Joe personally appointed to consult with me on his behalf for the purposes of compiling this article, thereby making this information as close to the source as it can be. Here now are the facts leading to Joe Lewis’ brain tumor diagnosis, what went down after he heard the news and how you can do your part to help him make a speedy recovery. AUGUST 2011
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The Champ Is Still Fighting! This is where Joe’s brain tumor related symptoms actually began. Joe was having difficulty remembering simple lines while filming, and as an experienced actor, this has never before happened to him. •
June 23rd – Joe flew back to the USA and quickly began preparing for his trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, which was scheduled for the next day. According to Mike Allen, Executive Administrator of JLFS, “When Joe returned from Thailand, he said the food there was horrible and immediately wanted to go find a Chick-fil-A. (Laughter). Joe received some needed rest, medication to treat his toe infection and stomach sickness and plenty of good food. He was feeling much better; but this is when he first mentioned to me that he was experiencing blurred vision and fatigue. I figured it was just because he had been working so hard.”
A Chronology of Events With the help of Joe Lewis Fighting Systems’ (JLFS) Mike Allen, Dennis Nackord, Phil Maldonato and Brian McNally, I have pieced together the following chronology of events leading to Joe Lewis’ emergency brain surgery. •
June 10th – Joe flew to Annapolis, Maryland for the annual Wounded Warrior Expo, which was hosted by Master Dane S. Harden. Wounded Warrior is an organization that provides support to injured U.S. troops returning from combat.
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June 11th – Joe was an honored guest instructor at the Wounded Warrior Expo’s fundraising camp.
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June 12th – Joe left for Thailand to film his part in a new martial arts movie called Kill Em All. Once he arrived, he began working 14 hours per day in harsh conditions. At one point, he injured his big toe and it became infected. Then, before leaving the country, Joe became sick to his stomach from drinking some bad water.
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June 24th – Joe, now in Little Rock, conducted an intense Black Belt test for students in his organization.
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June 25th – Joe hosted his mid-year training camp at Danny Dring’s Living Defense Martial Arts, in Little Rock. He put on a daylong, stellar performance for all the attendees. After the camp, Joe started feeling tired and his vision began to blur. Everyone, including Joe, just thought it was because he had been working so hard during the past month.
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June 26th – Joe flew to Washington Dulles Airport, picked up his car and began driving home.
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June 27th – Joe arrived at his home in Wayne, Pennsylvania at approximately 3:30 a.m.
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June 30th – Joe flew to Texas to spend the 4th of July weekend at his good friend, Chuck Norris’ ranch. (See blog post at robcolasanti.com for more details and a special photo taken in front of Chuck’s lake.) Joe had a great time with the Norris’ and a few other close friends, including Bill Wallace and Alan Steen.
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July 5th – Joe left Chuck Norris’ ranch and returned home to Pennsylvania. While at Dennis Nackord’s school, some of the Black Belts noticed that Joe was having trouble remembering names. Seventh-Degree Joe Lewis Black Belt Phil Maldonato noticed that Joe just wasn’t himself. Here, Joe began experiencing additional symptoms, such as memory loss and nausea, while his burred vision DojoDigest.com
The Champ Is Still Fighting! worsened. •
July 6th – Phil Maldonato speaks to Dennis Nackord, senior executive of JLFS, about his concerns involving Joe’s apparent change in cognitive behavior. Something was noticeably wrong.
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July 7th–12th – Phil Maldonato, Dennis Nackord and Brian McNally (one of Mr. Nackord’s Black Belts) work on arranging for Joe to see a general practitioner. Simultaneously, they began putting Joe’s DD214 paperwork in order, so he could be admitted to the VA hospital in Pennsylvania, if necessary.
he is a “Champion of Champions,” as Arnold Schwarzenegger once shouted to Joe in Columbus, Ohio. I’m really happy and thankful to God to report that Joe continues to grow stronger by the day; and despite the nasty side effects of his medication, it appears to be working. Next, in late August, Joe will begin six weeks of radiation treatments. Once his surgical wound is healed on the inside and outside, Joe will also begin chemotherapy. According to Mike Allen, “Joe is a good patient. The doctors were astonished at how fast Joe began to recover. Many patients don’t start to come around for days following a surgery of this magnitude. Within hours, Joe was able to sit and even talk a little. This is a tribute to the sheer strength, physical condition and determination of Joe Lewis.”
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July 13th – Brian takes Joe to a local doctor, who prescribes CAT scans.
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July 14th – Thanks to the connections of Brian McNally, Joe was quickly admitted to the VA hospital in Pennsylvania, where he underwent CAT scans. A grade-four tumor was detected on Joe’s left tempo“A hundred years from now it will not matter what deral lobe. gree Black Belt I was, the number of world titles I had
won, or how much money my martial arts school had grossed…but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a student…what you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.”
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July 15th – Joe was rushed to Lancaster Neurological Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
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July 18th – At approximately 12 p.m., Joe underwent emergency brain surgery, which endured for nearly four hours. The tumor was successfully removed. At approximately 7 p.m. on the 18th, Joe awoke to the company of Phil Maldonato and Brian McNally. Within six hours, Joe was communicating normally.
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July 22nd – Joe Lewis leaves the VA hospital and heads home to begin the healing process.
The Road to Recovery I have been in regular communication with Joe Lewis via email; and I spoke to him very recently by phone. I’m happy to report that there has been plenty of good news since he’s had his surgery. Mainly, I want you to know that Joe has been progressing a little more each day, further demonstrating to the world that DojoDigest.com
Joe Lewis
Allen added, “Joe has an extremely healthy body and this will go a long way towards helping him with his recovery. Even the doctors commented that at age 67, Joe has the body of someone who is at least twenty years younger.”
Regretfully, as I’m writing this article, Joe’s vision is still fuzzy. One of his eyes is still black and his eyelid on that side is hanging low. The swelling from the surgery is still evident on his head and neck, too, though the metal staples have been removed from the six-inch incision on the left side of his head. Worst of all, according to Joe, is the steroid and antibiotic pills. They are making him lethargic. Also, he recently had a nasty case of thrush in his throat (a fungus infection), due to the antibiotics he’s had to take. This made it painful and difficult for him to speak for a while. Furthermore, it’s very hard for Joe to sleep and eat at this early stage, due to the side effects of the medication he’s taking. All in all, Joe’s spirit is 100% intact, but his physical condition and appearance is not pretty at the moment. The bottom line is that Joe Lewis is in the fight of his life… and a little later in this article, I’ll tell you’ll how you can do AUGUST 2011
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The Champ Is Still Fighting! ican Kickboxing,” his career was not defined by Ali/Fraziertype fights. Most of Joe’s fights ended with him WINNING… and often the victory was fast and furious a la his historic 1970 fight against Greg “Om” Baines, where he swiftly won the first-ever kickboxing match in North America. Third, I can tell you for certain that Joe Lewis showed absolutely no signs of having any kind of “pugilistic dementia” whatsoever. His mind has always been as sharp as a razor and his memory is still truly unbelievable to this day. Joe can recall details from thirty and forty years ago like they happened yesterday. This is NOT the mark of someone who has suffered brain damage from fighting. So, how did a man as strong, healthy and physically gifted as my friend, Joe Lewis, have a brain tumor of all things?
Joe Lewis with the author, Rob Colasanti, having fun as usual.
your part to help him recover, quickly.
Did Joe’s Tumor Stem From Headshots? Once the news of Joe’s brain tumor reached the public, my phone and inbox lit up like a Christmas tree. One question that I’ve been asked in nearly every single conversation is, “Do you think this tumor is a result of Joe taking blows to the head?” This question has come up so frequently, that I will take a moment to address it here. In all cases, my answer to this question has been, “I seriously doubt it!”
The reality is that nobody knows and no one ever will know for sure. According to Dennis Nackord, “Why the tumor appeared is a mystery; something we can’t solve. My belief is that it was a totally random event.” However, if we were to speculate, one could wonder if the tumor stemmed from when Joe was a marine fighting in the Vietnam War. Let’s not forget, the U.S. sprayed millions of gallons of “Agent Orange” between 1962 and 1971. This poison has been linked to all kinds of horrible sicknesses from Parkinson’s disease and birth defects to a wide range of cancers. Yes, cancers! Perhaps, Joe’s tumor was the result of genetics.
The three main reasons for my opinion are:
Maybe, it came from years and years of cell phone use or sleeping too close to a wireless router or from the radiation of a nearby cell phone tower, etc.
First, the Joe Lewis I know was almost always the “hitter,” not the “hittee.”
Maybe, those normally dormant cancer cells were triggered to begin growing as a result of something in Joe’s diet.
During the ‘60s, when Joe made his name by completely dominating the sport karate circuit, headshots were legal and common; however, Joe was hardly ever hit, especially in the head.
Again, we’ll never know.
According to Mike Anderson, founder of Professional Karate Magazine, “Joe Lewis was 208 pounds of solid muscle and speed. The other fighters feared him! Because he came at you with such intensity, and with such a tight defense, it was rare to see him hit, especially in the head.”
Point blank: I’ve looked into the eyes of brain-damaged fighters. They have “dead eyes.” They rarely blink; and they often slur their words when trying to communicate. They stare at you blankly and usually there is a delay before they respond to questions. The telltale signs are unmistakable.
Second, while Joe Lewis is considered “The Father of Amer-
Nothing of the sort was EVER the case with Joe. Period!
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The least probable explanation, in my view, is that Joe’s tumor stemmed from fighting.
DojoDigest.com
The Champ Is Still Fighting! So, I hope I’ve put the “headshot” question to rest once and for all.
What Does the Future Hold in Store For “The Greatest Fighter in the History of Karate?” First of all, let me tackle the “big white elephant in the room.” Everyone seems to be asking, “How long will Joe Lewis live?” Indeed, every single person who has contacted me about this matter has asked that same question. I hate that question, but let me answer it again now, honestly and frankly as I can. The fact is that no one knows how long Joe Lewis has to live except the Good Lord above. That’s it. The doctors don’t know, I don’t know, you don’t know…and Joe doesn’t know.
Take it from me; a guy who has known Joe for nearly 26 years. Joe is not just strong physically; he’s also mentally and spiritually stronger than mostly anyone else you will meet. In fact, there is a deep spiritual side to Joe Lewis that few people, other than his friend Bruce Lee, have ever had the opportunity to recognize. So, make no mistake: Joe has the necessary skills to beat this thing, more so than anyone I know. Joe is extremely healthy; and the healthier you are, the better you can tolerate the treatments and the longer you can make it. I, and everyone at JLFS, is expecting “The Champ” to make a full recovery in time.
Joe is nothing like the ordinary (and usually severely unfit) person who suddenly finds that he has brain cancer, loses hope and just decides to throw in the towel.
Also, Joe is receiving plenty of love and support and recently wrote this touching quote, “At first, dozens of phone calls hit me hard. Then, I started getting hundreds of ‘get-wells’ from my 3,500-plus membership and JLFS association clients. Every one of them knocked a deep hole full of tears in my heart and stomach every time I read one---I was shocked. I never had any remote idea that so many people around the world cared that deeply about me.”
My belief is that Joe will outlive any odds the doctors give him; and he will blow past any and all statistics relating to this illness. By a long shot!
As you can gather from Joe’s words, the support is there. In situations like this, however, every little bit counts…and the rule of thumb is the more the better.
What I can tell you is that we’re dealing with Joe Lewis here, not your average guy. BIG DIFFERENCE!
So, what’s the point of guessing?
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need.
How YOU Can Help Joe Lewis Recover won’t be shy. I’m asking you to do me a personal favor and help me to help my good friend, Joe Lewis, during this time of
There are two main ways you can step up to the plate:
Register at this link for the event: http://joelewisfightingsystems.com Plain and simple, I’m asking you to come join me at the event, so we can show our support for Joe together.
1. Show Your Support by Attending Joe’s Next Event
Now, if you’ve never been to one of Joe’s events, let me just tell you that you’re in for a real treat. His conferences are simply outstanding.
First, you can attend the 12th Annual Joe Lewis Research Conference taking place in Tampa, Florida, October 6–9.
You’ll experience training sessions from some of the wisest and most talented martial artists in the world. This event
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The Champ Is Still Fighting! is “For Real!” The networking is great, the camaraderie is second to none, the banquet is always a blast and the workouts will challenge every fiber of your being. Of course, this is also your opportunity to visit with Joe in person.
ebration that is sure to go down in the history books. Please take a moment to register NOW at http://joelewisfightingsystems.com. I look forward to seeing you there!
2. Visit friendsofjoelewis.com and make a donation.
Perhaps, you’ll want an autograph or a photo. Maybe, you just want to tell “The Champ” how much he’s inspired you during your martial arts journey.
Second, the good folks at Joe Lewis Fighting Systems have launched a Web site at http://friendsofjoelewis.com.
Whatever the case…this is your opportunity and you should seize it!
As you can imagine, Joe must go through a period of rehabilitation, during which time he will be unable to work. No one can say for sure how long this process will take.
At the same time, you being there will help give Joe the motivation and encouragement to “keep fighting the good fight.” Yes, your support is the best medicine of all. This event is quickly becoming a true “Who’s Who” of the martial arts world. I have a feeling it will be packed with all kinds of martial arts celebrities and notables. The networking will be huge! So, I hope that you will be part of this one-of-a-kind cel-
A Few Final Words While Joe Lewis is widely recognized as one of the greatest martial artists to ever walk the face of the Earth, his focus is presently on something much more important to him than the titles he’s won. A few days ago Joe wrote, “Right now, all ego stuff is completely out of my mind, fighting championships, high rank, whose the best, filming, magazines, and any of all that other EGO stuff that suffocates our real lives. Please understand--I have two real children, Cameron and Kristina, and I’m so bad off I have yet to be able to speak to either of them over the phone in nine days.” Sure, Joe is a legend that history will never forget; but above all, we must remember that Joe Lewis is a human being…and above all… he’s a dad. In the near future, I anticipate there will be a number of fundraisers designed to help Joe fulfill the last remaining goal he has. That goal is not to make another movie, be inducted into another Hall of Fame or be on the cover of another magazine. Joe’s main goal now is to leave behind a college fund for 8
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So, Joe needs some financial assistance now. Whether you are a direct student, a down-line student or a fan that has benefited from his inimitable career, it is time to give back a little if it is at all within your means. Those wishing to make a one-time OR monthly donation can contribute $10, $25, $50, $100 or more by visiting www.friendsofjoelewis.com. No amount is too small and monthly contributions can be cancelled at any time. his kids. So, when the time is right, I will let you know how you can become involved via my robcolasanti.com Web site, Facebook, perhaps DOJO Digest and any other available resource at my disposal. I’ll keep you posted. In the meantime, if you’re interested in sending Joe Lewis a letter, card or gift, then please mail it to:
Joe Lewis c/o The Nackord Karate System P O Box 1506 Southeastern, PA 19399 That’s it for now. Hope to see you at Joe’s conference in October! Yours in the Martial Arts,
Rob Colasanti Ambassador of the Martial Arts robcolasanti.com DojoDigest.com
The Champ Is Still Fighting!
My Friend, Joe Lewis
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ike so many others, as a young martial artist, my hero was Joe Lewis.
I was very fortunate to be the first student to join J a school that Joe frequented for many years. The school was located in St. Petersburg, Florida, and Joe lived in nearby St. Pete Beach. For approximately ten years prior to the launch of NAPMA, I was constantly exposed to the great Joe Lewis through seminars, private training sessions, social gatherings, belt exams, photo shoots, media events, the school’s TV show tapings, etc.
The author interviews Joe Lewis for Echo of Greatness; an exclusive magazine cover story and audio program for the martial arts industry. (Photo courtesy of Joanne Allen.)
Also, like so many others, I began to emulate Joe when teaching, training and fighting. I even had a replica Joe Lewis gi made, which I wore for many years after I earned my Black Belt in 1988.
available to NAPMA members, and the 20,000+ readers of Martial Arts Professional magazine. Joe was happy to be in front of our audience because he approved of NAPMA’s contribution to the martial arts community. So, I was constantly working with Joe in this win-win manner and he was always OVERLY generous with me when it came to his time, knowledge and mentoring.
Then, in 1995, my career as a martial arts instructor took a major turn. I began my 14-year journey as vice president and president of The National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA).
In my experience, Joe Lewis has always been a “giver”…and never a “taker.” Indeed, working so closely with Joe has been a tremendous honor and one that I will never forget. Let’s face it; Joe Lewis is the “real deal” in the martial arts world.
What’s interesting is that during the time I was a leader in this organization, I had the honor and privilege of working with Joe on a continuous basis. In fact, I worked with Joe more than any other martial arts celebrity, though the list of notables is VERY long.
Most importantly, I’m proud to say that during the years, I became close friends with this icon who truly is like no one I’ve ever encountered. Joe Lewis is in a category unto his own – like Bruce Lee or Elvis Presley – both of whom Joe knew personally in his youth.
Joe Lewis quickly became my inspiration and I looked upon him as THE STANDARD when it came to martial arts training.
One of my many roles was to find and deliver the best content
Those years I spent working with Joe on the industry level were some of the most memorable times of my life. What sticks with me the most is all the jokes and laughs we had. Whatever we did together, Joe always made it very fun. ALWAYS! I can still feel him slapping my back or chest, rattling me to the core with his strength, after a big joke, as we both laughed our butts off. I treasure these times. Now, more than ever, I want Joe to know it, so recently, I wrote Joe a three-page, personal letter. Finally, I spilled my guts and said all the things I’ve always wanted to say to Joe, but never did. In one section, I wrote: “I got home close to midnight. Went right to bed. But couldn’t sleep. You know why?
A purple-silk-suit-wearing, teenage Rob Colasanti in an early photo with “The Champ” (Groovy spectacles, Joe!)
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“It’s because I couldn’t stop thinking about all the good times we’ve shared during the past 25 years and all the meaning that DojoDigest.com
The Champ Is Still Fighting!
you’ve added to my life along the way. “As I laid there hour after hour, I kept thinking about all the mindblowing seminars you taught in the old days at John’s school, all the video segments we shot together at NAPMA, the interviews you and I did, all the stories we put together about you for MAPro magazine, all the industry seminars and events you and I were part of for more than a decade, all the parties and social gatherings, all the traveling you and I did together…but especially above everything else… all the laughs we had.
be another one like him. I just hope that in some small way, I’ve paid him back for all the inspiration, friendship, kindness, generosity and happiness he’s given to me. Again, please come join me at the 12th Annual Joe Lewis Research Conference, taking place in Tampa, Florida, October 6–9. You’ll be very glad you did!
“Joe – I can honestly tell you that some of the funniest times I’ve ever had in my entire life have been with you. “I can remember many times when we laughed so hard for so long that I just felt fatigued…like I had been through a workout. My stomach muscles were literally sore the next day from laughing so much thanks to you. “My friend, that’s the kind of happiness you’ve added to my life… like nobody else could. “To me, those memories are worth more than all the gold in Ft. Knox.” Yes, “The Champ” and I have enjoyed a long-term relationship that’s evolved during the years, but has always been built on trust. That’s why Joe wrote the afterword for my new book a few months ago. That’s why he and I had been discussing the writing of his autobiography throughout this year. That’s why he was comfortable with me writing the story about his sudden battle with cancer. All I can say is that there’s only one Joe Lewis. There will NEVER DojoDigest.com
Lewis and Colasanti...like two peas in a pod!
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