Andre Tippett, NFL Hall of Famer

We are art because art is it with -- Andre Tippett equity microphones on and you don't need an introduction to. NFL hall of Famer Andre -- could say Andrei howry see you guys I'm doing very well not at this picture this okay here's that this that chapter that Andre wrote in in a book called Goodman project right now picture this. -- Is is being chased home from school in Newark, New Jersey every day. We chased home from school and one day as mom meets on the front steps and says -- you go back and fight those voice because otherwise they're gonna chase you home from school every day. I'm great dives off the steps into the problem. And that I guess what sort of the beginning of your interest in defending yourself and martial arts and things like that.

Absolutely I remember this story like it was yesterday. One of our neighbors -- hormones -- to what was happening and right around. 3:3. O'clock I'd come -- home. And while Leah almost ended right there on the steps and see. Look that mean I thought the boys are gonna take off didn't take off -- stood down at the bottom of the steps and a she says you you gonna take care of them and you and I and -- problem and yeah I do what I had to do idea of a target in -- Solomon who's there was no way to it was it was a changing point. Talk about just you're. You're you're writing here by what what led to you writing. This essay in this book the first place well. If it came to me through Thomas. And relationship that we have here with India pitcher reorganization and they were looking to do. This book. And he told me what was going on and build those two things that I liked about it was one he's that I could talk about the martial arts to them and how important principally. And to that all the proceeds from the book we're gonna goes directly to the foundation. Which. Boys and girls clubs wanted to benefactors -- to use the term of academy and street potential one groups it. -- I loved it and I wasn't looking to make anything. And but I got a chance to talk about something news release. Near and dear to heart martial arts training. Is done. Tremendous things for me in my life I've met a lot of people I've gotten the chance training or you. And -- some of the highest ranking masters in and in various martial arts. No people in Japanese systems okinawans systems. -- of those systems and is this is just the on through hundreds of people wanted that are really qualified to. Too soon to be great teachers and on what what look what level are are you right now. And our -- I'm. -- Analysis in my association master ranking. Some. Masters. Instructors licensed which. Basically uses an -- teach people. To certain rates and it is something that. Is ongoing. And -- SCI used the words sure ocean which means heart of the beginner which is the philosophy that I still carry today martial arts because. There really isn't a point that you get to that. I'm here and I can't anymore you still keep that beginner -- the white Google mentality that. Even at fifth degree like six replied if the replied well I've been replied well I'm still training I'm still learning to do better and through that I was able to talk about my beginning. Where I was in my training when I train in New Jersey and then when I got to Iowa. What I found out about things. -- the things I learned a New Jersey where wrong it was just at that particular time in that environment I needed to be that way. And then when I got to Iowa enough -- about foundation history. Philosophy. The roots of the system. Different things that are how did you just kind of blew me away you know there's there's -- books Arctic and much of books. Different things like that crisis and government house hundreds of pounds of books pocono and Japanese systems that. Just intriguing because you still Tuesday you can learn. From those books and it with they have offer and a but through that and and that beginning of being around people that we're doing what we call these traditional martial arts. I was able to come here. 1982. And continue my training and further my training through. The association and people that I've been with. 26 point seven years.

You know you know it's funny dale is that I was just listening to him talk about the martial arts and all the books you have -- all the people you've met I'll betcha there's a segment. People. Who know you. And when they heard -- going to all of I guess she's doing something big and.

Football. This Hall of Fame thing. -- what you could tell that little and this is an example and all of my -- children come back and talk to us.

You don't know how many people you don't know how right you are. There were repeat what mark Hall of Fame induction that were more issuance. My sense you might teacher us convention coup in my teachers inspection to. In the pocono only to -- system. And one mighty college roommates. And Jim Thompson who is like the highest ranking African American in which you. Who came in Kalamazoo Michigan him and his wife who's in pocono woman that he married and he trained in the Poconos fifty years and they were there and it was funny that you say yeah I sent -- Invitations to Michael would go instructor who are -- weapons without San Francisco and don't know response and so while the karate buddies I've been training and -- would over the years. No response in our business seminars -- these guys who -- training -- I was like you don't there's no hey man congratulations on all of I don't know -- that's why I say you know although Paul frame it was a great garner. It's very humbling and it's cool there are people out there have been. Okay so. Let's get back down -- still don't know he's still got a ways to go in -- so it's been cool.

There's a great piece in today's Boston Herald written by Ron Borges with Tom Brady. And Tom Brady tells Ron Borges I don't believe I'm very good. And he says that he talks about you know if he doesn't put in the time he doesn't put in the work he's not very net and we look at from the outset that what unites. And it goes back to a story telling this article about at training camp every time they draft a linebacker. You would think that linebackers come in and taking your job any day -- I had that's how you train every day.

Absolutely absolutely I at work hard every day in practice. I assume that. Because every here we would draft and outside linebacker -- inside linebacker. I look so much so I do and that can be humble I was like great ways equally and you have to assume that this market weight and taking your your job I mean when I came in my rookie year. I was looking guys it. I'm quick -- how big news I think I have an opportunity so I'm like okay. Five years and to a ten years into it. They're drafting people and I'm like I do you have to keep doing what you're doing you have to go hog all the time. You can't be out there brother along with you while practice and you win one player I -- one play and is now and I gotta go hard again. I'm gonna -- my teammates off. I'm not hurting anybody but I'm just not gonna let up I'm gonna be physically have the practice -- because if you don't that's usually when -- hurt.

And that's how people and a whole thing. When they have that attitude. When you have the physical skills -- to add to what the attitude Brady sounds like he hasn't -- you obviously. That's the difference.

Also when he's done doing his thing. We know what's going to be waveform but it's great to hear that he's going. To things that he's doing to prepare and stay prepared throughout the season and the mindset because you have to have that mindset because at some point when you're done with it. There's going to be the clintons and body and -- when you decide to walk away from the game you go unnoticed on your way and it happened to me when I. While he made the decision to retire and walked away it was way. Okay -- do now you know he's going to Unix and life would. You have to have that mentality especially football because it is a very physical it's a very demanding game I tell people -- on its -- and combat it's physical it's would modern day varieties. And it is -- it's no place for the week until -- young. Pop Warner team players until remote -- it. Everybody can it do you guys -- guys that are planning on this team right now you guys is special because all of your friends -- You know with their bodies home plan on PS3. Texan and and and and walked in the streets -- around haven't -- you guys -- in practice. -- Hitting each week you don't really wanna do that because it is in the natural thing. So you know at every step of the way you know this game is a very physical game and you have to find something that's gonna help you. Get through I happen to have martial arts training. I saw at a later engine latest news in my life that the value of what it. He offered and how it gave me the mindset that. You know there's a philosophy. Knock me down seven time regular update. The whole thing behind it is I'm gonna wear you -- I am not gonna quit. As much as you may get some good -- in the army on level -- you know it you've got the best of me because I'm an acute angle go steadfast. Constantly in your face. And so -- zone where it's either going to be me you play because it prerogative I'm gonna -- go out I'll talk about it later and she's you know the now. -- are you going so. You have to define something that defines who you are arguments in hand to hand combat in the NFL had a big game on Sunday in Indianapolis IDC. That plan obstacles taken their first loss of the year old man idea I tell you what it's it's going to be an exciting game it's everybody's -- you. Everybody's talking about it. You know I don't think there's any hype behind it I think it's it's gonna live out everything that is being hyped up about it two of the greatest quarterbacks. That it planned and we ended. -- Brady. And then I think we're we have as you with. Belichick wanna sell -- homer but you know we've we have it's Jim Caldwell who. You know he's been around he has some experience so that that should be generous and -- those two. And I think that. You know they're gonna have to bring some pass rush to get to. It's it -- to time to disrupt. Anything -- gonna try to do offensively. It's should be a good game I think that. Series has been around long enough that people really look forward to see. When -- so --

Do you buy into via the most desperate team philosophy. I've always said that if you got two teams that are pretty cool pretty similar and I think these two teams are pretty close. That the team that needs the win the most usually gets the win in in this case the patriots are absolutely more desperate in that regard they lose this they get no chance for home field. -- these guys in the playoffs while.

I. I think he had a way. I think every week is that wait for the patriot football I think Belichick's. For -- when he talks to guys in in the -- you get these guys completed during the week is -- Every game is important. We won't please. A specific specific value. On that that game we need to win and we need to do things we need to play smart we need to. Not -- turnovers and you do not get penalized. We need to do stupid things in the fourth quarter sold. And in auto -- I don't know by accident but I think every week is that we that we forced it.

And I agree with -- about how they plan. Ball behind closed doors some games are bigger than dollars to it it's a big game is a big game and it does matter it. With -- didn't win because. Hindsight. Being what it is. Obviously we -- little -- something here. Late in the seasonally years so. If we do we supposed to do take care about prisons. They're vulnerable. And hopefully we'll take about a moment.

I got to ask you one last martial arts question again Andre -- a great article called part of a beginner and that's what I'm curious about your big man. Very fit I mean you would be an intimidating. Have you competed against guys a lot smaller than you physically. Who could compete with you just because of their training in their skills.

Yes yes. I'll have to do view you guys dvds and must wait two years. I've. Fought against guys arm my sides. I've fought against guys are my size maybe you'll smaller. And the thing that. Blew people away was the quickness in getting off the mark when we compete equality is all it is is this. Fast game of touch and physical -- Responses front -- you don't do anything that's gonna leave you I'll leave you vulnerable. Where I had the advantage was I was as quick. As those smaller guys that were 595740. Pounds -- 467. Pounds and it was just. The quickness that I was -- was to contribute to mine tomorrow -- but I'd I'd been I guess some people that. It has were just a little bit faster -- and I had to reach I got in their blood because they had a little quicker quick twitch. About them. They got to me. But I have some some interesting things aren't you guys love to -- we thought we'd love -- I'd -- we'd love to see it at the rhetoric or even freedom put on our that are our website so people can check it -- see Andrea -- beating people up just -- If you go -- as the Goodman project. And great book. It's my wedding anniversary today I don't wish my wife -- this anniversary I'm going to kill -- it's sixteen years or so. Happy anniversary -- congratulate congratulating. That's very nice and your pop Warner team is pretty good too smart. They say they're getting it we're we're we're we're work in progress we we've we've we've lost -- big game in. A playoff game against Houston and you know what we're we're we're getting there I got a great Rupert is -- I've been fortunate to work with these guys about five years sounds limiting. And I think at some point like what was gonna go off for those guys and and and understand what it's about. I ask one thing these guys compete against the person that's crossing that saw I don't care. How good you tackle how many touchdowns you can make just as long as you're competing against a four person Friday. You always give yourself a chance until we get that told me. Concept -- eleven against eleven or kidnapped the people. In a week sometimes we six didn't have to pupils in six. Around look at I've seen the Cleveland crowd -- like that -- lot of fun what it's -- it's a lot of work in it's it's what we do we you you know I. Have an opportunity to do something that I really love to coach myself and coaches to his buddies. And you know Jonathan Kraft was the one who convinced me to do that he he coaches -- powerful user is now Belmont -- Plans for plan for the seventh grade football team their. He convinced me to seek to have if you have the opportunity should do it don't pass to the kids know you played on and do they do -- there's -- young and it might not having -- and probably never -- apply last year's team got a chance to be part of the whole call for -- stuff so they were here for the ring ceremony. Some of Saudi induction speech in -- they would just -- in fact it. Mike coaches you know all friends you know they've they have -- they listen to listen to me -- awhile sometimes it. When it's time to compete on Sundays. Get ready to prepare these you know eyes on approach and they understand the importance of some things in this day and I just try to pass on what was passed on to meet. To -- and hopefully some -- We used as a blue for -- we keep losing these these these playoff games that they've been in five minutes I got this in the play. Gotta be -- that -- he has it exactly congratulations happy ever treaty to but I guess that you guys have me on here and promoting the government project it's a great book I know people get a chance you know of the year and muted it's a lot of life lessons in that book that. We all. Have the opportunity to learn from model lifeless and we have to including on -- chapter called heart of a begin great. Always get -- as -- thank you guys Andre -- here on Sports Radio WE.