To speak of this journey toward personal growth and health is like trying to describe a small forest. One could spend a lifetime exploring and attempting to share the endless nuances of life energies within the delicate balance of a particular ecosystem. Ultimately to truly comprehend the fullness of even a small environment it would be best to abide quietly within one until one becomes intimate with their surroundings. If fortunate, a Master Guide may emerge who themselves have already truly learned to thrive within the small forest. What a life blessing this would be.
I will share of how a Master Guide emerged in my life. A Master Guide, a human soul, dedicated as one soul to guiding the growth of other souls. This dedication of the Master to the other, facilitates learning, healing, and growth of the recipient. While in the presence of the Master Teacher, Supreme truths are imparted over time. Learning, healing and growth flow through the Master from there Ultimate Source of Divine Energy to the student. Abiding in this flow of empowerment the student eventually discovers that they have available this very same Divine Power, not only through the teachings of Master but rather through Something More.
This guiding and teaching is the dynamic experiential process of the Master and student journeying together. This deeper distinctive nature of a Master Teacher and Guide will be explored within the narrative stories that follow. The stories are of my having been blessed in this life to have journeyed with an authentic Life Master. Specifically, I hope to offer insights as they were carefully taught and modeled to me over decades of journeying with, and abiding in the presence of a Shaolin Kung Fu Grand Master affectionately known by so many as Dr. Nick. Shaolin means a Small Forest.
And so I will tell stories of travels. When I was young, I lived in Singapore. My father was there as an executive for General Electric. Singapore, back in the early 1970’s, was still a young nation and a sublime tropical paradise. Lush green foliage producing fresh ripe fruits as only a blessing of nature can offer. The Straits of Singapore provided a short cut between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. This amazing place was a melting pot of the world’s cultures.
While there, as an untamed child in the fourth grade, I had the most amazing Teacher. Her name was Ms. Mennon. She recognized the opportunity that her young students had living on this amazing tropical island. Every week she would take our class on a field trips to historical, religious, or cultural sites that represented various cultures. More than this, she spent a great amount of time preparing us to understand different cultures and especially their various religions. She, as an amazing young teacher, would culminate her instruction with actual visits to Hindu Shrines, Muslim Mosques, Buddhist Temples, and so much more. This is why I had the privilege of actually visiting beyond beautiful Shaolin Buddhist Temples when I was young. I was taken to a world inhabited by Buddhist Priests and the student monks. I experienced the Small Forest.
Ms. Mennon prized me. I felt it and knew it not only through her nurturing, but through her gentle confrontation. I was a bright, but certainly not always a well behaved child. There was a moment in a sacred place during a ceremony where I made an immature remark. She gently said, “Johnny, not you.” And with these words I saw my error and become not shamed into silence, but enlightened into understanding.
When I returned to the United States my world view had been incredibly expanded. Actually fitting in with others my own age was often challenging. I was forever changed. Although, I was still not a little angel by any means. My interest in world cultures and especially Far Eastern thought would remain a constant.
For many of my young peers here in the United States, the Far East was represented by martial arts and fighting. For me the martial arts I saw on television and in movies I knew was most often a parody, or in my thought process then, a joke. You see, I had sat in theaters with the people of the island as they cheered and laughed at these films. I knew they simply were not the full reality of what I had witnessed, first hand, in the Shaolin Temples. I always hoped to find a stream, or authentic linage, of the beautiful arts I had witnessed. This search went on for many years.
Then one day, in my early thirties, at the suggestion of a friend, I went to visit a martial arts studio. After so many years of finding only highly westernized forms of the arts, I was solidly skeptical. Instead, this time, to my delight, I discovered a soft-spoken gentlemen who in no way sought to impress me. Within moments of being in his presence, and watching him move, I recognized the Spirit of the Shaolin Temples. He carried the essential quality of energy I had sensed in my youth while on school field trips. Dr. Nick emerged as my Mentor.
Over time I would come to learn that his titles included: Kung Fu Master, Reverend, Doctor, and Professor among others. He had authored books, taught thousands across the continents, and is recognized as one of the premier psychologists of our time. Furthermore, and most significant, he is a world class holistic Mentor, or Life Coach. A listing of his accomplishments requires pages upon pages to recount. I will offer a few highlights as can be found in published materials. One can substantiate all of the following in the “The Soul of Success,” wherein is one of Dr. Nick’s many publications.
“Throughout his four-decade career as a licensed psychotherapist, life coach, mental trainer, optimum performance professional and sports psychology expert, Dr. Cooper-Lewter has served as a senior pastor, tenured full professor, visiting full professor, distinguished lecturer, chaplain resource (mentor), workshop facilitator, and a motivational speaker.” This gentle man was one of the worlds top sports Psychologists; having worked with multiple National Football League teams and Major League Baseball teams, Masters Golfers, historic Olympic athletes, top professional fighters including Jerry Quarry and Muhammad Ali.
“He has worked with universities, seminaries, churches, agencies, foundations, and institutes around the world. Dr. Cooper-Lewter is called the ‘Inmate Whisperer’ by Capital Trial Attorneys because of his ability to facilitate inmates sharing difficult psycho-social histories.” An example of his level of psychological practice included working with death row inmates as their last therapeutic encounter prior to their executions.
According to the Carolinian Magazine Dr. Cooper-Lewter is “…the “Soul Whisperer.” “He ‘coaches hearts to empower minds’ to embrace their God-given potential.”
“Reverend Dr. Cooper-Lewter’s first book, Soul Theology: The Heart of American Black Culture that was co-authored with Dr. H. H. Mitchell, has been well received around the world. His book, Black Grief and Soul Therapy, has earned him the designations of the Black Jung and the American Fanon.” His dedication to the empowerment of African Americans is historic. The parameters of his work are world wide.
Beyond his many degrees and achievements, what was most significant to me, is that I intuitively recognized the authenticity of the Shaolin Kung Fu he taught from my experiences as a youth living in the Far East. Over time I would learn the genuine historical lineage of this Kung Fu style known as San Soo flowed directly back centuries to a Qwan Yin Shaolin Temple. The journey of San Soo form the Far East to the continent of North America has been carefully and concisely documented in historical research. What is most remarkable was I had encountered a rare direct branch of authentic Shaolin Kung Fu.
It is noteworthy that the San Soo style of Kung Fu flowed through Chinese Grand Masters until it came to the United States. Once in the West, this particular style of Kung Fu has continued to grow and can be found, for the most part, primarily through caucasian branches. Through Dr. Nick I was gifted with a direct established lineage from the first Chinese Masters through a rare branch that grew through three subsequent African American Kung Fu Grand Masters.
Dr. Nick the third Lau Sifu or Grand Master of the African American lineage devoted much of his life to the advancement of those with whom he shared his African American heritage. His level of eclectic Mastery included no less than twenty one established martial arts disciplines, one of which is the core San Soo style. This is an extremely rare level of Mastery within human history; ultimately achieving him the very rare rank of Supreme Grand Master.
I continued to study under the warmth of his guidance since the day I first met him more than a quarter of a century ago. I believe it has always been a bit of a surprise that a thin, average size, high-strung, caucasian young man would decades later become the Grand Master next in this ancient Shaolin Kung Fu lineage. Certainly a unique accomplishment for the wild child of Singapore. Ultimately I would be granted, as Dr. Nick’s namesake, the Chinese name given to him “Kung Ling.” The name then representing his eclectic “Afro-Asiatic” style is Kung Ling Kung Fu. The Grand Master shared, “Kung Ling Kung Fu means the wise one who builds up the virtue of the people through discipline over time.”
Dr. Nick is one of most amazing people I have ever had the privilege of sharing my journey on this Earth with. I sought out as much of his teaching as I possibly could. I came to cherish him as a Grand Master, Teacher, Mentor, Life Coach and friend. There is no doubt he is one of healthiest energies and most positively influential people in my life. The knowledge he shared with me over the years of philosophy and practices can only be slightly shared in my stories. The realms of physical, mental, and spiritual energy poured into me by this truly premier Master Life and Soul Teacher is one of the greatest blessings of my life.
Dr. Nick has spent his life investing his soul into others. I am only one of the many, many souls who have been helped along the way through his dedicated work. This writing doesn’t attempt to venerate Dr. Nick. He would not have wanted this. Rather, the motto of his Kung Fu studio was “Fear Only God.” As a man, he was a down to earth, a humble human being. He is also one of wonderful exemplars who walked quietly among us in our world. A gentle soul with the Power of the universe flowing through him.
The Power of Gentleness
Dr. Nick sought to teach all of his students to be holistically healthy. He did this in a myriad of ways. Of the many teachings I gained from Dr. Nick, of particular importance to me, is an understanding of the power of gentleness. Dr. Nick watched me carefully. He observed how I interacted with other students in his Kung Fu studio, and when the moment was right he taught me this lesson.
When I first met Dr. Nick I was in my early thirties and approaching life with a continual sense of inadequacy. I always felt as though I was making up for lost time that came from poor past decisions and some hard luck. I was always hoping for a break. When any opportunity seemingly arose, I scrambled after it. This fostered distressing internal desperation and subtle external aggressiveness.
My aggressive approach to growth and achievement led to a haphazard intensity. I found myself advancing in some areas, while often being knocked down and even further back in others. I would have held without question that my motives were sincerely good; for myself, and others. I could have clearly defended how almost every goal I was pursuing was for the greater benefit of all. Yet, Dr. Nick observed others were not perceiving my best intentions in the same way. Much to my frustration, confusion and despair, I continually found myself dealing with others defensiveness.
All of this; the sense of inadequacy, internal desperation, external aggressiveness, and haphazard intensity stemmed from my need to bolster my ego. Dr. Nick helped me to see why this pattern kept occurring in my life. He helped me to realize why others were reacting to me in defensiveness.
One day Dr. Nick invited me into his office. There in privacy, one-on-one, he said to me “John, you have some qualities.” and then went on, “Others see your qualities, but they perceive you as intensely wanting to pursue your own goals. Your goals are clearly your plans, or your will, and your creative ideas are mostly good, but you intimidate people. You clearly carry power, and people recognize your power. They sense your intense energy. I am confident you mean your energy for good, but to others it appears questionable. People have to question whether they should trust you.” His confrontation had the gentleness of a soft breeze, and landed with the power of a flying side kick.
He drove the lesson home further. “If you want to move forward you will find it difficult. Others will often continue to perceive you as questionable. Once they get to know you they will trust you more, but will always remain guarded. Are you a threat who could turn completely against them? Are you a power that is going to overtake them? Even as a born leader you will not be followed without doubt. And you will be considered a questionable leader to other leaders no matter how wonderful your ideas or goals. Even with the most sincere intentions, people will most likely react by being on guard around you.”
Then he taught, “There is great power in gentleness. You will need to develop an authentic presence of gentleness. Gentleness is not weakness. True gentleness is great power under control. Again, your energy is powerful, you are a natural leader. If you want to have others stop being on guard against your power they will need to perceive that your energy as under control. They will sense this if you are authentically at peace. Peace is our highest virtue. If others are in the presence of peace they will trust you as an intensely powerful and good leader, and other leaders can trust you as someone to share power with.”
He said slowly, “You as my student must demonstrate over time that you have learned the power of gentleness. This authentic gentleness will come along with peace and confidence through disciplined meditation and practice. If you choose not to learn this lesson, then at some point I will not teach you further. For now, I will continue to teach you Kung Ling Kung Fu and entrust you with extremely powerful skills. You will find as your power increases so will your gentleness, and as your gentleness increases so will your power. This is the circular power of gentleness.”
I have pondered this lesson for decades now. I have strived to practice the power of gentleness and the incredible depth of teachings associated within it. I still carry an intense energy. Incredibly though, I have also found myself in a constant flow of growth, and sustained holistic health. What’s most important, I have achieved goals well beyond any of the previous dreams my ego could have dreamed or desired. I have through the decades had the privilege of leading thousands of people toward greater holistic health.
In essence, I was stumbling or tripping, over my own powerful gift of energy. Since this time, I have often seen how we can all trip over our gifts. My intense energy was and still is an attribute. It has continued to be a blessing in many areas of my life. But only when balanced with the circular power of gentleness. How often, I have seen myself and others stumbling over what is actually our most powerful attributes. That is to say, having difficulties arise from areas that are our greatest strengths.
The ego is not some inherent evil to be extinguished. My ego wasn’t bad. I simply needed some humility and a good teacher. There is a delicate balance of recognizing the power afforded us in humility. Humility is at the heart of gentleness. The humility of recognizing where the Divine Power within each of us originates. By the blessing of a Master Life Coach, I was made aware of my ego. And through this same blessing and personal effort I have sought to practice the power of gentleness, thus healing my distressed ego.
How blessed I was to have a Kung Fu Grand Master of the caliber Dr. Nicholas Cooper-Lewter who dedicated so much one-on-one nurturing to me. He carefully brought forth and facilitated so many healthy changes to the very nature of who I am.
Why are You Here?
Through Kung Ling Kung Fu Dr. Nick cared for so many souls on so many levels. He was certainly not there to simply teach martial arts. Every student was given the opportunity to learn and grow under his warmth and nurturing care. Students were always more than just students. Whether they would come for only one class and never return, or come for a few classes, or stay for years; all would be welcomed and treated as though each was infinitely important, and given special attention. All were first taught basic physical Kung Fu stances for balance.
Dr. Nick taught us how this more nurturing approach was actually is in stark comparison to ancient times when it was very challenging for a student to be accepted into a Shaolin Temple. He shared that in ancient times aspiring students would have to stand at the gate of the temple for days, while being told to go away. This challenged prospective monks to be very cognizant of their choice to enter a temple. Once allowed into the temple grounds they would only be allowed to cook, clean, and do other chores for two to three years before being directly taught. True intention was tested in forms far greater than would be acceptable by most aspiring western martial arts students today.
Still the Master, Dr. Nick, balanced the ancient with the contemporary. He would very gently ask new Kung Fu students to consider, “Why are you here?” This question was asked with warmth, yet, challenged the student to begin practicing honest self appraisal, self awareness and clarity of intention. The Kung Fu Master was inviting the student to begin to develop self awareness through pondering their true intentions for visiting his studio, and wanting to learn Kung Fu.
The Master was careful to teach only basic concepts of Kung Fu until he was certain students could be trusted with incredible power he had to offer. Many people sought out Kung Fu, as other martial arts trainings, in order to simply learn to fight. Questionable students were not shown the door and rejected. They were first given the opportunity to become more self aware. From this there would often surface internalized anger, rage, and corresponding fear. Many needed to release traumas. Many students needed healing much more than they needed the ancient Kung Fu skills of self defense. It would not be uncommon to see the Master carefully move the students through self awareness to a needed release.
There were those who only wanted the status of a black belt. Although this was a common goal, very very few would persevere. This goal often stemmed from a need to heal a wounded ego. Interestingly, once a small amount of the actual power of Kung Fu was imparted, many would find their egos satisfied and fade from the studio; never fully realizing they were standing at the threshold of unbounded potential growth. There were also students who sincerely didn’t know why they were there. Eventually over time a few came to understand, or intuitively grasp the amazing opportunity for holistic growth they were encountering.
Understanding one’s initial intention was only one level of this teaching. With the question, “Why are you here?” Dr. Nick was inviting the student to begin an ongoing discipline of self awareness. Self-analysis and reflection is one of the perpetual practices of healing and growth. The ability to internally maintain honest self appraisal is an integral component in a holistic lifestyle of growth.
Immediately there was another lesson within the lesson. The deeper lesson of balance. This suggestion of humbly looking inward was never meant to be an exercise for self depreciation by over focusing on our imperfections. Sometimes we create our own problems, and sometimes life brings difficulties not of our making. We should be careful not to self blame for the sufferings that are not from our own making. The Master would teach, that balanced self awareness includes recognizing also that which is good in us, even if the good entails struggle. A really healthy aspect of appraising oneself, is identifying the assets we already have. Balance calls then for neither arrogance or self loathing.
This approach was extremely valuable when students were having a hard time getting back on their feet after being knocked down; not just on a mat in a class. I have seen Dr. Nick gently suggest they again take time to honestly look deep within. When we humbly self assess, we then recognize areas of needed growth. Was the student using the little power they thought they had, to accomplish a goal they thought they wanted? In doing so, were they creating their own difficulties?
For example, if the student was physically strong this was recognized as an awesome gift. Still, did they over rely on their strength to stand against an opposing force and in turn take the hit, and the possible injury? Rather, could they have allowed the opposing energy to flow past them, or after further lessons even through them, without injury. To have this skill; balanced humility of honest self appraisal, self awareness and clarity of intention are imperative.
Where Dr. Nick was leading the students in this holistic lesson was to a place of being in a continual balanced flow of self-awareness and ultimately the self awareness of our place in the greater whole. All of this and more while teaching the student to develop the actual physical balance necessary for Kung Fu.
Outliving Your Enemies
Each time upon arriving at the the Kung Ling King Fu studio, I would proceed to Dr. Nicks office to offer greetings. One day, in response to my, “How are you doing?” Dr. Nick offered back, “Oh, I’m outliving my enemies.” With what I would have deemed concern, I responded back firmly, “Who is your enemy?”
Actually this response exhibited my struggle with arrogance. Although I was young, in my early thirties, and in top physical condition it was foolish for me to imply, somehow I would possibly be needed to defend a Kung Fu Grand Master. Patiently smiling Dr. Nick replied, “John there will always be enemies. You need not always respond by wanting to fight them. Sometimes that’s exactly what they want. If we fight and lose, they can claim to have defeated us. If we fight and win, they claim to be are our victims. Attacking back most often only serves to strengthen them. Conflict, division, and strife is their goal. Peace is our highest virtue. Fighting is stupid.”
He paused to see if I had grasped his teaching, “The answer is not always to defeat your enemies by seeking to destroy them. We often do not need to do anything to retaliate. Furthermore, we don’t outlive them by simply living longer than they do. We outlive our enemies by living healthy lives.” Through the years, I would ponder back and the deeper meanings this teaching offered. Over time, I would learn Dr. Nick was not just talking about human enemies. He was teaching how to outlive physical, mental, and spiritual issues. So often our true enemy isn’t the person, it’s the issue that we or they are struggling with. This applies within.
The Grand Master’s teaching is really not about fighting and destroying, it’s about healing and health. Self defense does not need to immediately resort to aggressive intervention in order to be effectual. We should be able to ask the Source of All Power for help. We can then live empowered by God, with legions of angels on our side defending us as needed. (Matthew 26:53)
But here circling back to self awareness and absolute self honesty is imperative. A hard truth is, more often than not, both sides in a conflict are acting out of their unhealthy issues. This isn’t a teaching of how we should passively allow evil to run rampant in our world. As a matter of fact, there are few people I have ever known of who have actually fought against injustice as bravely as Dr. Nick. Are we outliving our enemies? Kung Fu flows in circles. If we are not outliving, that is being healthier than our enemies; then who is truly good?
Another deeper Kung Fu teaching was taught within this lesson by the Grand Master. I remember him saying, “Beyond ourselves we can seek to teach good people to be powerfully strong. Healthy, skilled, and honorable people entrusted with confidently knowing how to defend themselves empowers good. Kung Fu is balance. By empowering others against that which is unhealthy, we are developing a systemic counterforce for good against evil. This victory can be won without any aggression.” We simply outlive our enemies.
The Greatest Love
On another occasion, while I was sitting with Dr. Nick’s in his studio office, he brought forth a question. “I know you have carefully studied the teachings of the Bible. In John 14:13 we hear Jesus teaching, ‘There is no greater love than one laying down their life for another.’ What does this mean?” It is important to qualify that Dr. Nick was in no way attacking my faith. At this time in my life I was attending a Theological Seminary, and in the process completing a couple graduate degrees.
He was reaching out to me where I spiritually was, at that time in my life. Through the years Dr. Nick would teach me more about the Christianity than any Seminary Professor I have ever had the honor of studying under. He also opened me to understanding and appreciating so much, about so many other religions, traditions, faiths and beliefs. But in order to lead me further on this journey he started where I was. The Master would say as he taught me to teach other students, “We always begin where we are.”
Of course though, caught in my prideful ego, I just wanted to give an intelligent answer, and so I responded, “It was Jesus alluding to his sacrificing himself on the cross and dying for our sins.” “Yes,” Dr. Nick responded, “That is the correct answer.” He then asked, “How can you offer the greatest love to another, as taught in this scripture?” “Well,” with me now feeling even more confident, as I had answered correctly, “I suppose if I were to die for another that would be the greatest act of love.”
Dr. Nick smiled and then asked, “So John, you are saying your life is the moment of your death?” He paused and then he proceeded. “Did Jesus give only the moment of his death on the cross for others? Did he not give other moments of his life along with the moment of his death for us? Your life isn’t only the moment of your death. It is the time you have now. Will you lay down your life, your time for others?”
For me, this teaching became a bedrock for my life’s purpose and priorities. I came to learn through this amazing Shaolin Master, that the greatest love is to lay down our lives for another by offering our life-time. Our life-time is limited. To what should I devote my time and energy? The answer is seeking to help others, by loving them along the way. Through out the years, I have learned to see this as the divine purpose of my life. Divine, because it depends on humbly seeking God’s empowerment to accomplish it.
One of the ways the Grand Master lived this out in community was through the “Rites of Passage” program he ran for African American youth. He refers to this in “Black Grief and Soul Therapy.” The emphasis of cherishing African history for African American youth offered through the Dr. Nick’s Rites of Passage program, was pervasive through out his life’s work. “We generally understand ‘rites of passage’ to function in the capacity of passing along core beliefs, character requirements, life skills – in general, the culture necessary for individual citizens or villagers to find their adult place within a society. Perhaps most importantly, then rights of passage involve the transfer of essential values.” (111-112 Cooper-Lewter “Black Grief and Soul Therapy”)
This living out the greatest love is not always an easy calling. As I mentioned in my introduction, I have always been open to various beliefs since I was very young. This teaching manifested in me into a yet a deeper desire to learn Christian theology. The Grand Master began where I was.
Discovering The Black Belt Within
As considered previously, Dr. Nick was actually very careful, and selective of who he would share the martial arts portion of Kung Fu with. A consideration of his rank as a Supreme Grand Master should leave no doubt as to the effectiveness of the skills he imparted. Still, his goal was not to just teach students fighting skills. It was to teach living skills.
The emphasis of this is apparent in his approach to attainment of belts, or rank. Dr. Nick taught the following. “A Shaolin priest would be trained to go into a community and serve in all aspects of holistic health. The learning demanded in the discipline of Shaolin Kung Fu takes many years. In a Shaolin temple there were students and Masters. Two different colored sashes were worn to designate the differing attainments, one color sash for student, and another for Master.”
In order to make attainment of growing in Kung Ling (Shaolin) Kung Fu more culturally understandable to western students, Dr. Nick implemented a common approach used by most martial arts studios here in the United States. Various colored belts were awarded for the students to track their progress rather than implementing the ancient Shaolin two sash ranking system.
There was a simple white belt to start, followed by four more belt attainments as one advanced in the specific style of Kung Ling Kung Fu. “We need to be sensitive to this culture, these students, this time.” the Master explained. Everyone starts with a white belt. The first belt awarded after white was yellow. Yellow belts were a solid yellow belt as is common in martial arts studios or dojos through out the United States. The difference was each solid colored belt was then customized and had green, red and black stripes sewn in, running the length of the belt. They are actually strikingly beautiful.
Each belt, starting with the yellow would be presented in a ceremony where every higher ranking student, and the Master would offer positive compliments to the student achieving the new level of rank, or belt. Compliments about them would be specifically offered highlighting their strengths and achievements. Dr. Nick would coach the higher ranks, “The time for constructive criticism was during the classes.”
Often ceremony is an overlooked, if not disparaged, in our culture today as meaningless or empty traditions. One must remember that the emptiness or fulness of ceremony and tradition has much to do with the heart of those who are involved. If ones heart is open, ceremony and tradition are powerful ways to transfer truth. Each time the ceremony of belts presentation was done, the meaning of the belts colors would be articulated.
A yellow belt symbolically represented sunshine, inviting the student to grow in the sunshine, and loving energy of the other students, instructors, and the Master. The particular stripes each also has a meaning. The green stripe stood for growth, the red stripe for blood, and the black stripe for the power of the black belt awaiting discovery within all students.
The next level, a green belt symbolically stood for the opportunity of greater growth for the student in the sunshine of loving energy afforded through remaining in the presence of the Master, the studio, and the other students. The meaning of the green, red, and black stripes would be articulated carefully once more, as above.
A brown belt took years to attain and would be worn for years. Brown represented circling back to earth, grounding in the soil from which comes continued growth toward the heavens. Circles are very significant in Kung Fu. Not just in movement, even more in the sense of life. This is a time of learning to continually circle back and ground oneself in foundational teachings. Again, the brown belt would have green, red and black stripes running the length of the belt.
The black belt, needed only red and green stripes, slightly spaced to exhibit the black belt itself now permeating through. This level meant one had achieved becoming an Instructor. Interestingly, by the time one reached Instructor, they would have spent years already learning to instruct by refining their teaching skills. For years before, once they had first achieved yellow belts, students were encouraged to share their knowledge with white belts. This pattern remaining consistent throughout the ranks. Green belts would teach those wearing yellow and white. Brown belts teach green, yellow, and white.
Over time, students would discover the true meaning of that black stripe in the center of all belt. They would discover the Back Belt that had always resided within themselves. To become a Kung Fu Black Belt under Dr. Nick took many years. I remember the Master saying regarding the goal of achieving Black Belt ranking. “There are Black Belts and then there are Black Belts. If one simply wants a black belt they should buy one.”
To achieve Master, a rank above Black Belt, took many more years of dedication. As in ancient times, training in temples to become a Master would also take many years, often decades. As the Master taught, “Shaolin priest would be trained to go into a community and serve in all aspects of holistic health.” This was Dr. Nick’s goal for his students. One of his deepest personal goals, was to empower young African American men and women to serve within their communities. Upon their journey of discovering the Black Belt within themselves, and regardless of the rank they attained, all students would be required to somehow begin serving the community in which they lived.
This vital aspect of serving the community was paramount in Dr. Nick’s teaching. “Soul therapists who attain ‘passage’ will possess traits of availability, reliability, respectability, incorruptibility, empathy, consistency, dedication, and faithfulness in growth of their people. They will understand and help the community practice beliefs and strategies designed to counteract all forms of injury, recognize a wide variety of reactions and responses to trauma with the community, and understand that problems of survival can be met by relinquishing a lesser need and emphasizing the restorative functions of healthy core belief. In other words, ‘passaged’ soul therapists – not only emancipated but liberated – will honor the experience their people have while seeking to ‘make sense’ of their own experience.” (113-114 Cooper-Lewter “Black Grief and Soul Therapy”)
Discovering the Black Belt within oneself is actually much more than just finding a potential toward self attainment. It is discovering the true divine nature within oneself that is meant to serve others.
Kung Fu is Being Kung Fu
In the earlier story regarding the “Power of Gentleness,” I shared how the Grand Master said to me, “I will continue to teach you Kung Fu and entrust you with extremely powerful skills.” He did continue to teach me for decades, and although he has now passed on to a different realm, I believe the warmth of his teachings continues to influence me as I continue to grow. Dr. Nick explained that he could offer insights, teachings, and encouragement, but becoming Kung Fu was up to the student, through discipline over time.
Kung Fu would either be a healthy aspect of their life, if they lived it out, or, it would remain only ink on paper. “Kung Fu is being Kung Fu.” he would teach, “We are Kung Fu. Kung Fu actually only exists when it is lived out through us.” Within those first class interactions the new student would be taught to develop physical balance, by learning basic stances, and how to allow their bodies to begin flowing in physical cycles of movement as they began to internalize deeper lessons.
The new student would also be introduced to Kung Fu as a lifestyle. Through the years, there has developed various ways to try and specifically define Kung Fu. The Chinese language itself is highly symbolic, and, as with most languages, it incorporates multiple meanings, or semantic fields to individual words. The meaning of Kung Fu is no exception. I like using the simple definition I was taught to me by Dr. Nick. “Kung Fu means discipline over time.” This definition of Kung Fu recognizes the dynamic aspect of lifestyle. Discipline lived out through sincere concerted effort. This effort over time leads to growth and health.
Authentic Kung Fu is a healthy lifestyle sustained over years. One can apply the same concept of becoming Kung Fu by practicing a discipline over time, to any field of endeavor. If someone has sought to refine skills in a profession, interest, or talent for many years, then they are by definition Kung Fu. If you have shown great discipline over time in a specific practice, you could say you are Kung Fu. For example, one may be a Kung Fu Chef, a Kung Fu Mechanic, a Kung Fu Writer, or a Kung Fu Musician, and so on. Dr Nick was to inviting each student to become Kung Fu in everything they were. Kung Fu doesn’t become Kung Fu until it is manifested.
Yet again, there are deeper levels of lessons to be learned here. Dr. Nick, the Supreme Grand Master manifested Kung Ling Kung Fu. He embodied the truths he taught. It was my hope that each of these stories reveals how this world class Grand Master was the exemplar of dedicating his soul to the growth of other’s souls. One day, sitting in his office, Dr. Nick shared with me. “There are different ways people perceive power. Some see power as best held closely, not shared with others. This fear based perception of power, sees it as limited and therefore to be guarded. Another way to look at power is that it is unlimited. We can share power with others and in doing so increase its presence among us. This should not be done haphazardly. Although the power of Power can be offered inexhaustibly, sharing ones power needs to be done with discernment.”
Dr Nick wasn’t just teaching how to rightly share power, rather more how to live in a flow of the Source of Power. He taught how this flow of Power entails the dynamic circular process of openly and gracefully receiving Power; while putting forth disciplined, honorably intentioned, self effort to abide in this Power. Abiding in the flow of Powerful Energy facilitates health. In the encouragement toward combining grace with healthy self effort, we are able to honorably live in the power of Power.
Many new students struggle with balancing gracefully receiving, while putting forth self effort to abide in Power. If we think of them in only linear terms of polar opposites, then we will be continually creating unnecessary division and confusion. Self effort, without accepting the grace of assistance, leads to imbalance wherein one can easily become overly self reliant, overly self confident, and arrogant. Just as harmful, accepting the graceful gift of assistance from beyond oneself, without some response of honorable self effort, can lead to the imbalance of expectation, dependent demand of provision, disgraceful laziness, and rude ingratitude.
“A plant seeks to grow.” the Grand Master would describe, “Plants put forth effort to grow in whatever environment they are afforded. The blessing of life, the blessing of environment, and even the blessing of seeking to grow are all by God’s grace. A gardener can help the plant to flourish. Everything circles back to the simple reality that the plant seeks growth. Kung Ling Kung Fu is a small forest, a growing art.” He then gave me an actual plant that decades later I still nurture.
Rather than a linear balance, we see a deeper lesson of circular balance emerge. Together in a circular flow with the Ultimate Powerful Energy Source, God, we can gracefully accept Power beyond ourselves, while doing what we can do, to remain assessable to this Power. From this we abide or live in a consistent dynamic flow of Power. The circular balance of dynamic flow is the deeper lesson of consistent presence. Kung Fu is manifested, or more articulately said; co-manifested, as we live out the balance of circular empowerment with the Source of All Power.
The Source Energy flows to us and through us to others, and from others to us. This is what the Supreme Grand Master Reverend Doctor Nicholas Cooper-Lewter lived out with me as I abided in his presence. Dr. Nick often spoke of “Going to the next level.” What he was really doing was reaching me where I was at, while teaching me the greater truth of who I could be, if I simply grasped who I really was. This was being manifested by living out who he really was. “The essential most important secret for becoming all we were intended to be begins with a knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of ‘Who is the Who in Who we Are?” (Cooper-Lewter, “The Soul of Success” 359)
My biological father died when I was seventeen. He who rarely spoke to me of anything spiritual or religious in nature. One the few things regarding spirituality he said to me shortly before he died was, “John, people speak of heaven and hell and what this means after we die. I think a lot of this life right now is heaven or hell. It’s what me make it. Sadly, son I have made life hell. I hope you don’t make the same mistake.” I understand my father had a very difficult upbringing, and yet achieved many things. I honor my father even though I know he struggled greatly.
I am grateful for Dr. Nick for having spent time to teach me spiritual truths. In our last conversations before his passing he clearly emphasized the lessons of building heavens to me. The Grand Master shared, “Kung Ling Kung Fu means the wise one who builds up the virtue of the people through discipline over time.”
“Build heavens even where hells might exist.” (Cooper-Lewter, “The Soul of Success” 361) “Love like you never have been hurt, lead with love even more when others choose not to. Love is the creative force that builds heavens.” (Cooper-Lewter, “The Soul of Success” 361)
The Swan
At this moment of writing these words, I am staying in a cabin near the top of a small mountain. One of the many such mountains in the Alleghenies of West Virginia, a part of the Appalachian Mountain range. I choose to come to this cabin to set aside a time. A pilgrimage, and a homage, to honor the life of the Supreme Grand Master Reverend Doctor Nicholas Charles Cooper-Lewter. Dr. Nick passed during my writing of these stories. There is a worldwide pandemic raging and due to the threat of contagion there can be no large personal gatherings. As I am here in these mountains I plan to attend his virtual funeral which is being held today. I didn’t want to work, attend Dr. Nick’s virtual Celebration of Life and Home-Going Service, and return to work, work, work, so I came here to the Appalachians.
Clouds surround me as the day moves from sunshine to rain and back again. Before me is a panorama of the dense green, green forests covering waves of mountains as far as the eye can see. The clouds that drift across the sky are dressed in grays as they floating across the blue sky. It’s as if they are softly retelling of a past time, a blue and gray tragic story of so many who breathed their last under these beautiful trees during the Civil War. The breeze now moving through the trees, seems to whisper a grief stricken warning. In the world below these mountains, are so many, who even now are still divided by unhealthy ideologies.
After I had made arrangements to travel here, Stephanie, Dr. Nick’s wife, called and asked if there might be sometime I could travel from where I live in Wisconsin to North Carolina and pick up all of the Master’s martial arts weapons, equipment, and library. It was one of his final wishes that I be entrusted with these. As the wonderful flow of life works, during this getaway to West Virginia to pay homage to the Grand Master I would be only a few hours from her new home. I arrived in North Carolina to find Stephanie and young Nick Jr. having just moved into a beautiful home the night before. She was exhausted and so I spent a day, yesterday, helping with toting boxes. As I moved boxes, Stephanie and I went through so many beautiful personal affects of this amazing man, including pictures of some of history’s most famous athletes, and articles written by and about Dr. Nicholas Cooper-Lewter.
Although licensed in various states as a diagnostic level practitioner, he chose to promote himself as a Life Coach in his private practice. Dr. Nick at this time would have been working with a professional NFL football team. It would be in 2018 that Dr. Nick would be diagnosed with Leukemia.
In one of the boxes, we ran across copies of the book “The Soul of Success.” The box was unopened as it were left to be discovered by us. This was Dr. Nick’s final publication. A book that was a compilation of authors addressing various aspects of what it means to be successful. Dr. Nick’s article was really meant as a forerunner to yet another greater book he was working on. He had shared with me at length over the last months regarding his hope to get his final book completed before he passed. He struggled through treatments and fog to finish his book as he fought against this disease. Upon running across the still sealed up box I was gracefully given a copy.
Today is Dr. Nick’s virtual funeral.
The service is beginning now and I will pause to attend.
Something has gone wrong with my being able to connect via cell phone as planned. I will miss the Grand Master’s funeral. Still, as I think about this writing, A Small Forest, and my being here in this cabin, right now, it feels ordained.
I just began to read the “The Soul of Success.” for the first time and discovered, “Wretched No More: A Champion’s Choice” by Dr. Nicholas Cooper-Lewter. This article is really written as a message to Nicholas Jr., his son, who was 4 years old at the time of its writing. Nicholas Sr. was 68 when he wrote this article. He already had other grown son’s, and daughter’s, when he and Stephanie had little Nick. An important note here, the name Nicholas means victory of the people. In this article, one of the greatest sports psychologists, and life coaches in history, recognized that his son, (today, 10 year’s old) would most likely face much of his life without his Dad. So, this article is literally written directly to Nick Jr. The first subheading is, “One Man’s Message To His Son And To The World.” (Cooper-Lewter,“The Soul of Success” 355)
In a brief opening autobiography Dr. Nick shares of an agonizing childhood where his biological mother was forced to give him over to his Aunt to be raised. Then his suffering under horrendous and humiliating abuse at the hands of his Aunt. All while not being told the truth of who his actual mother was throughout his childhood. He shares how years later his biological mother upon her death bed disclosed to him, “I have watched painfully how you have spent your lifetime trying to be acceptable and seeking appreciation to prove your right to exist. You have been a champion in training who has never felt like a champion. Momma understands what it means to believe no matter how hard you try that you will never be good enough.” (Cooper-Lewter, “The Soul of Success” 358) His biological mother then pleaded with him in her final words, “Promise me! Get off of my cross, and live your life… resurrected.” (Cooper-Lewter, “The Soul of Success” 359)
Dr. Nicholas Cooper-Lewter then offers in this article, for his son, Nicholas Jr. and the world, five “Nuggets” on how to be a champion. “Nugget 1: Who is the Who in Who am I? Biologically, Psychologically, Sociologically, and Spiritually?” In this first nugget he refers to the simple story of the Hans Christian Andersons “The Ugly Duckling.” He shares how he became a “recovering ugly duckling.” Beyond this, “I was challenged to let them (other ugly ducklings) know spring was coming and they would have the chance to embrace the swan they always were.” (Cooper-Lewter, “The Soul of Success” 359) There is so much packed in four brief paragraphs under this first “Nugget.” Because this is now a more rare article, with no further publications available, and since much of this writing reflects my being one of the ugly ducklings this man helped to become a champion swan, it is therefore worth quoting two of the following paragraphs in whole.
I trust this conveys the depth of who this man, Dr. Nick; was. “The essential most important secret for becoming all we were intended to be begins with a knowledge, wisdom, and understanding of ‘Who is the Who in Who we Are?’ What we value guides our choices. We are Beings who experience emotions and attach values to our experiences. Love, the active substance of God, must be mediated in relationships by people conscious (aware of our spiritual potential) and committed by choice long enough and strong enough for it to be impressed as real. Love is an activity that recognizes our Spirit in the spiritual treasure each of us is, and encourages the full manifestation of God’s intended (or innate) potential in us. “We are Beings that inherit life experiences from others and we ultimately choose what to believe and value about our past, our present, and our potential future. How I interpret the feelings and what I value I give them is a key to becoming a true champion. Getting stuck in wretched experiences or in my case a history of many types of confusing, mixed messages, loving and non-loving experiences, and letting experiences tell me who I am allows the “No-s” to rule my life – making winning more important than being a champion. A person may lie and cheat and win. Being a champion is more about character, which bubbles up in times of challenge.”
“Nugget 2: Champions and Championship Chatter Are By Choice” “Champion choices and Chatter start young. We reflect what is modeled consistently and repeatedly heard as truth in our valued relationships.” (Cooper-Lewter, “The Soul of Success” 360) “Today’s challenges are best met by really knowing ‘Who is the Who in Who I am’ and practicing and playing out that clear understanding. Be and Become who you were created originally to be, more and certainly no less. This will allow the Champion in us to emerge victorious. (Cooper-Lewter, “The Soul of Success” 360)
“Nugget 3: Bio-Psycho-Socio-Spritual Health and Performance Package” Dr. Nick uses “Bio-Psycho-Socio-Spritual” is a descriptor of the holistic nature of our being. “Asking, answering and evaluating each of the elements in our Bio-Psycho-Socio-Spritual Champion’s Health and Performance Package at each stage of our progress is essential. Self analysis questions suggested are, “What are my requirements today to reach my goal of champion? What do my goals require of me, this day? Have I done what is required today or am I doing what is required, this day.” (Cooper-Lewter, “The Soul of Success” 360)
Because of the greater story still emerging even now as I am writing this the last two “Nuggets” need to be shared in their entirety.
“Nugget 4: Daddy, I Want to be a Champion” “Son, champions embrace the ‘Who’ at the center of ‘Who they really are.’ This nugget eluded my mothers – we are called to be creative artists and methodical students building heavens, even where hells have existed. Taking 100% responsibility for what we have control over and no more or less, is crucial. “Championship Choices – Embrace the best choices in any moment to be and become all we were intended to be. “Championship Chatter – Insist on uplifting and constructive conversations even with ourselves. “Championship Culture – Build heavens even where hells might exist. “Championship Caring, Concern, and Compassion – Love like you never have been hurt, lead with love even more when others choose not to. Love is the creative force that builds heavens. “Son, who you believe is the ‘Who’ in ‘Who you are’ shapes your dreams, influences your outcomes, determines what you are required to do, how much disappointment you can take and how to keep overcoming any odds placed before you in life.”
“Nugget 5: Son, you are a swan” “My mothers want me to tell you this to make sure you experience the meditated love of the One who is the ‘Who’ in you. I refuse to pass on the Wretchedness. Pass on the love, son starting with yourself. That is what real champions do. “I will love you even when I die. How will you know? It will be in your DNA. “As always, “Your Dad.” (Cooper-Lewter, “The Soul of Success” 361)
The story continues. I spent the day on the little mountain in quiet reflection dedicated to a honoring Dr. Nick’s life. As nighttime came, the clouds drifted away, and the night sky lit up with fireflies and stars. I found a comfortable rock and with aid of a couple old blankets reclined to star gaze. The constellations caught my attention and so for fun, I successfully downloaded an application to my phone for identifying them.
A little technological wonder that identifies what ever part of the sky you point it toward, and superimposes artistic ghost like images surrounding the constellations representing their ascribed character. 11:00 pm came around, and as I was planning to white water kayak early the next morning, I decided it best to acknowledge my Mentor once more speaking forth a strong heart affirmation to the heavens, and then head back to the cabin to sleep. This is when the constellation I have always known as the Northern Cross caught my attention. In a moment of curiosity I held up my cell phone, and newly downloaded application, to see what formal name it had as a constellation. “Cygnus” appeared and a beautiful ghost like image of a Swan lit up the night.