I first met Tommy Suggs a few years ago while working at the gym in Wichita Falls. I had the chance to have a session with him learning the split snatch and was slightly taken aback by his calm and positive coaching. I responded to this coaching style with ferver and worked hard to please him. What this did was take MY frustration or MY needs out of the picture and put the focus on his teaching. I’ve never had a more useful training session. It was beyond awesome.

Tommy came back months later to shoot some videos (one of which is my favorite of him teaching Bigg the Olympic Style Press.) He would come to the gym early in the morning, sit by my desk, eat his green breakfast and we’d talk.  Our talks of life’s experiences and how they’ve shaped us were a treasure. Tommy is very spiritual and taps into both his Native American heritage and his past struggles to find peace in the present. It is also very apparent that whoever steps on to Tommy’s path, his wish for you will be peace, love, and awareness. Our talks of training progress (or usually my lack thereof) would always come back to where my head and my heart is at and how that affects my platform time. He’s my Yoda.

Whenever I was struggling, a calm note from Tommy would appear and he would give me very simple reminders on how to approach my situations. He never put others down but made me focus on ME and my reactions to my surroundings. There were some days when just seeing a note in my inbox were enough to find moments of peace. Ya, he’s that good.

Since I’m not close with my own parents, I treasured even more the timing of his entrance into my life. He was the first person I told when Bigg and I started getting closer and I firmly believe that his blessing for our relationship is part of the spiritual rope that holds us together when we struggle. So when Oz came in last night with the mail and told me that I had a “fun letter” I felt an instant rush of peace as I saw it was from Tommy. And again, he’s given me a simple reminder that will positively impact all aspects of my life.  Ya, he’s that good.

I’m incredibly thankful to have him in our lives. He is a treasure. Tommy, his wife Karen, and their friend Phil Toups started the Sweetwater Education Foundation to support the Native American teachers on the Reservations. Check out the site, you can find Tommy’s books there. Read from a master of the Iron Game and help a great cause.

…Give off light, or darkness…Be a candle, or the night.

Yoda