Go For It!
“You’ve got to get to the stage in life where going for it is more important than winning or losing.”
- Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe was born July 10, 1943 in Richmond, Virginia to parents Arthur Ashe Sr. and Mattie Cunningham Ashe. Under the direction of his mother, Arthur was reading at age four. In 1950, Ashe’s mother died of complications related to pre- eclampsia when she was just 27 years old. Arthur was six when his mother passed.
“Ashe's father, fearful of seeing his boys fall into trouble without their mother's discipline, began running a tighter ship at home. Ashe and his younger brother, Johnnie, went to church every Sunday, and after school they were required to come straight home, with Arthur Sr. closely watching the time.” Ashe Sr. worked as a handyman, caretaker, and later took a post at Brookfield park. “The Ashes lived in the caretaker's cottage in the grounds of 18-acre Brookfield park, Richmond's largest blacks-only public playground, which had basketball courts, four tennis courts, a pool and three baseball diamonds.”
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Ashe began playing tennis when he was seven. While practicing on the courts near his house, his talent caught the eye of Ron Charity, one of the top Black tennis players in Richmond. Charity began coaching Ashe, and encouraged him to enter the local tournaments. Charity also introduced Ashe to Dr. Robert Walter Johnson, who had coached tennis champion Althea Gibson. “Ashe was coached and mentored by Johnson at his tennis summer-camp home in Lynchburg, Virginia, from 1953 when Ashe was aged 10, until 1960. Johnson helped fine-tune Ashe's game and taught him the importance of racial socialization through sportsmanship, etiquette and the composure that would later become an Ashe hallmark. He was told to return every ball that landed within two inches of a line and never to argue with an umpire's decision.”
“One important key to success is self-confidence. An important key to self-confidence is preparation.”
Of his training Ashe said, “There were times when I asked myself whether I was being principled or simply a coward.... I was wrapped in the cocoon of tennis early in life, mainly by blacks like my most powerful mentor, Dr. Robert Walter Johnson of Lynchburg, Virginia. They insisted that I be unfailingly polite on the court, unfalteringly calm and detached, so that whites could never accuse me of meanness. I learned well. I look at photographs of the skinny, frail, little black boy that I was in the early 1950s, and I see that I was my tennis racquet and my tennis racquet was me. It was my rod and my staff.”
Under Dr. Johnson’s instruction, Ashe became the first Black person to play in the Maryland boys’ championships, which was the first integrated tennis competition. In the summer months, Ashe could travel and compete in tournaments around the country; however, during the school year he was limited. He was prevented from competing against white youths in Richmond, and also not allowed to use any of the city’s indoor courts as they were closed to Black players. He made the decision to move to St. Louis in 1960. In St. Louis, Missouri, Ashe was coached and mentored by Richard Hudlin, who was a friend of Dr. Johnson. Ashe lived with Hudlin for his entire senior year of high school. During this time, coach Hudlin “encouraged him to develop the serve- and- volley game that Ashe’s now stronger physique allowed.”
“Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you’re behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory.”
In St. Louis, Ashe could also compete more freely. He began to make a name for himself, having won many junior tennis tournaments. He was also featured in Sports Illustrated for their Faces in the Crowd segment. Ashe became the first Black person to win the National Junior Indoor tennis title. It was at this time that he was awarded a full scholarship to UCLA.
At UCLA, Arthur continued playing tennis, and gained more recognition. He “was also named to the U.S. Davis Cup team as its first African-American player.” At UCLA Ashe pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and joined ROTC. After graduating with a B.A. in Business Administration, Ashe joined the United States Army.
After being assigned to the United States Military Academy at Wes Point, Ashe worked as a data processor and headed the academy’s tennis program. In 1968, Ashe became the first Black man to win the United States Amateur Championships, and the US Open. That same year, Arthur helped the U.S. team become Davis Cup champions, they retained the cup the following year.
“His ability to compete in the championship (and avoid the Vietnam war) arose from his brother Johnnie's decision to serve an additional tour in Vietnam in Arthur's place.”
In 1969, Ashe applied for a visa to South Africa to compete in the South African Open. At this time, the South African government strictly enforced Apartheid, and because of this, they denied Ashe’s visa even though he was ranked number 1 in the U.S. Arthur didn’t give up. He kept applying for visas, but they kept getting denied. “In protest he used this example of discrimination to campaign for the expulsion of the nation from the International Lawn Tennis Federation. This was the beginning of his activism against Apartheid, which would become a central issue to him for the next two decades.”
In 1970, Ashe won his second Grand Slam singles title at the Australian Open. Although Ashe had become one of the most famous tennis players, his earnings did not reflect his success on the court. “In response to this he partnered in creating the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) in 1972 with Jack Kramer and others. The ATP was formed to represent the interests of male tennis pros. Prior to its formation players had less control over their earnings or their tournament schedule. Two years later he was elected as the President of ATP.”
In 1973, Ashe was finally granted a South African Visa. He became the first Black professional to play in the national championships. He made it to the singles finals and won the doubles title with partner partner Tom Okker.
In 1975, Ashe “defeated the heavily favored Jimmy Connors in four sets to win the Wimbledon singles title. He was the first and only black man to win the most prestigious grass-court tournament. This year he also attained the #1 men’s ranking in the world.”
“Every time you win, it diminishes the fear a little bit. You never really cancel the fear of losing; you keep challenging it.”
in 1976, Ashe met Jeanne Moutoussamy, and they were married the next year. In 1986, their daughter, Camera, was born. They named their daughter Camera in honor of Jeanne’s work as a photographer.
In 1979, Ashe suffered a heart attack and underwent quadruple-bypass surgery, though he continued to suffer from chest pains afterwards. In 1980, Ashe retired from tennis, leaving behind a career record 818 wins, 260 losses and 51 titles. “In 1983 Arthur went through a second bypass surgery. After the operation, in order to accelerate his recovery, he received a blood transfusion.” In 1985, Ashe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Ashe then agreed to teach a course on Black Athletes in Contemporary Society at Florida Memorial College. Arthur searched for books on Black athletes in America. “The most up-to-date and comprehensive text available was from 20 years before. This was the inspiration for him to begin work on his 3-volume book “A Hard Road To Glory,” which was published in 1988. During this period he also founded the ABC Cities Tennis Program, the Athlete-Career Connection, and the Safe Passage Foundation.”
“You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is real joy.”
In 1988, Arthur was hospitalized after feeling numbness in his right hand. After many tests, it was revealed that he had HIV, contracted it from the blood transfusion he received after his second bypass surgery.
In 1992, the newspaper USA Today contacted him about reports of his illness, which had hitherto been secret. Ashe decided to preempt the paper and go public on his own terms, holding a press conference with his wife on April 8, 1992, to announce that he had contracted AIDS. This incited a whirlwind of publicity and attention, which Ashe used to raise awareness about AIDS and its victims. In his memoir, “Days of Grace,” he wrote, ‘I do not like being the personification of a problem, much less a problem involving a killer disease, but I know I must seize these opportunities to spread the word.’”
Ashe passed away in February 6, 1993, from AIDS- related pneumonia. “Two months before his death he founded the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, to help address issues of inadequate health care delivery to urban minority populations… On what would have been Arthur’s 53rd birthday, July 10, 1996, a statue of him was dedicated on Richmond’s Monument Avenue. Before this, Monument Avenue had commemorated Confederate war heroes; in fact, as a child Arthur would not even have been able to visit Monument Avenue because of the color of his skin.”
In 1997, USTA announced that the new center stadium would be named Arthur Ashe stadium, commemorating the life of the first U.S. Open men’s champion in the place where all future U.S. Open champions will be determined.”
A month ago, I was shown a video of an interview of Arthur Ashe. In all honesty, I knew his name, but I didn’t know much about him. After watching the interview I was so excited to learn more about who he was. Hi bio moved me to tears. I just loved reading about the people in his life—his father, brother, and coaches— who supported him. It’s like I could feel the community and love just from what I read. I appreciate all of Arthur Ashe’s advice and words of wisdom about going for our dreams, what success really is, and how to get it. He His story is inspirational to me in my work and also in my life. I am so thankful to have learned more about his life, legacy, and his truly beautiful spirit.
“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost”
How Yoga Can Help
“Do not aim low, you will miss the mark. Aim high and you will be on the threshold of bliss.”
- B.K.S. Iyengar
This class explores the actions of twists. In the twisting poses we turn the abdomen, ribs, shoulders, chest, neck, head, and eyes. That rotation helps restore and maintain the spine’s natural range of motion and stretch the muscles on the back. In this class we learn the twisting actions by balancing the doing, the necessary effort with letting go. The effort and dedication to lift the spine prepares us for twists, but the actual turning comes from letting go. Just as hard work and perseverance are necessary for us to reach our goals, we also have to let go, sometimes we are letting go of fear or doubt, or as Arthur Ashe states we let go of a perceived importance of winning or losing and just go for it.
Notes On Practice
Poses 1- 3
Adho Muka Virasana (Downward Facing Hero Pose/ Child’s Pose) Adho Muka Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose) Uttanasana (Intense Stretch Pose/ Standing Forward Bend) These poses strengthen and stretch the muscles in arms, legs, and shoulders. The extension of the spine helps to prepare for the twisting action, where the sides of the body have to extend fully to create space to turn the abdomen, ribs, chest, and shoulders.
Pose 4
Adho Muka Vrksasana (Full Arm Balance/ Handstand) According to Light On Yoga this pose “develops the body harmoniously. It strengthens the shoulders, arms, and wrists and expands the chest fully.” On a psychological level inversions like handstand help us let go of fear of trying something new and challenging. They teach us to trust ourselves to find balance even when things are turned upside down.
Pose 5
Parighasana (Gate Pose) The full extensions of the spine, and sides of the body help relieve stiffness and tension in the back, and prepares us for deeper twisting actions.
Pose 6- 7
Marichyasana III (Twist named after the sage Marichi) Ardha Matsyendrasana I (Twist dedicated to Matsyendra the Lord of the Fishes) The extension and rotation of the spine in the twisting poses helps restore the spines natural range of motion, and stretch the muscles in the back. The squeeze and soak action of the twists helps detox and cleanse the organic body, but also teaches us to move, go deeper, and turn things around by letting go. Twists help us understand the proper balance between necessary effort and letting go, as both are needed for us to get closer to our goals.
Pose 8
Adho Muka Svanasana (Downward Facing Dog Pose) This Pose stretches the arms and legs, and fully extends the spine. After twisting this pose helps us even out, balance both sides of the trunk.
Pose 9
Setu Bandha Sarvangasana (Supported Bridge Pose) This pose stretches the neck, spine, hips, and fully expands the chest. After twisting poses the supported backbends help bring awareness to all the space we’ve made throughout the entire body.
Pose 10
Savasana (Corpse Pose) This final resting position helps calm the mind, reduce stress, and helps promote a deeper awareness to ourselves, and a higher consciousness.