In memory of

Master Joseph L. Smith

March 21, 1944 - June 19, 2001

    Joe was my Master for over 23 years, but he was much more than just an instructor, he was my friend- one of my best and closest friends.  Joe had a special quality that immediately made you want to be around him.  He had an addictive smile, warm and humble personality, and told some of the dumbest jokes that you can imagine.  Joe and I had been through a lot, from kids being born to Joe's son passing away. More of life's ups and downs than one can imagine.  One of my favorite quotes from Joe is "There's never a problem, just another challenge to overcome."  Joe died June 19, 2001, after suffering close to a year with a rare heart condition.

    I will always have a hard time believing he's gone.  Joe was the most physically and mentally developed  person I knew and for some reason I just kept thinking he would win this battle like he had won so many others.

    One of my most cherished of the lessons I learned from Joe came during my black belt test.  I was testing for sho-dan (1st degree black belt).  This was before the days of hand and foot pads.  The test was being held in Joe's back yard on a very hot October afternoon. The test had been going on for over 4 hours and it was now time to spar.  Joe believed in sparring and sparring hard.  At one point during the 45 minute sparring session he knocked me down to the ground and began kicking me. "Get Up, GET UP!" he yelled.  "Do you think people are just going to let you up after they've knocked you down? You have to fight to get back to your feet.  Don't let them continue to keep you on the ground or they'll succeeded in killing you."

    He wasn't just talking about fighting of course, he was talking about life.  That lesson has helped me survive several attempts by people trying to keep me on the ground in my life.  Joe's death is another one of those times that I'll have to get up using that lesson he has taught.

    To the man that, next to my parents, has had the greatest impact on my life and the life of many others, Thank You Master.  You will never be forgotten and I will remain loyal to your ideals and philosophy of life and in my studies of Isshin-Ryu.

Rest in peace, I will miss you.

Sensei Dan Jones, Joe's senior student and friend.

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