1 QUOTE

“I am happy to carry on what Coach Ken taught me in my life so that others can be blessed by his knowledge, experience and wisdom.”

- Michael Chang (1989 French Open Champion & ATP world No. 2)

1 NOTE

I was walking out of our Win Your 20s ‘Wisdom in a World of Fools’ (Proverbs 1:1-9:18) manuscript study when my phone rang. It was my dear friend Jan Matsuda. I knew Coach Ken Matsuda had stopped eating. His body was shutting down. As I paced our Compton church parking lot, I swallowed, braced for impact and answered the call. Jan shared that Ken passed peacefully on September 15 at 7:44 p.m. He was 90 years old. He left earth surrounded by his family. Tears welled up in my eyes as I told Becky and Joe that Ken was no longer with us.

For nearly two decades, Coach Ken was the heartbeat of USC track and field. He pioneered strength and conditioning on his mission to build stronger, faster, smarter athletes. We crossed paths after he stopped coaching at USC. But he never left USC. I will never forget watching big games with Ken (amazing 50 yard line seats), his frustration with ditching ‘big boy football’ for bubble screens, and his awesome tailgates, complete with the Trojan Marching Band stopping in front of us to play TUSK for the legendary Coach. 

Coach Ken invited me to rehab a knee injury in his downstairs dojo at his Torrance home. Our six-week training plan turned into a lifelong friendship. When we met he was training elite tennis players. I always wondered if his Gardena neighbors knew what Ken accomplished in his modest den. Ken is one of the reasons I love to pastor from our home garage. Ken always made me feel so comfortable. He made working hard super fun. He was so quick-witted. After I lost badly to a 12 year-old girl he quipped from the other side of the court, “Don’t worry Pastor. This one is going to win the US Open in a few years.” And Ken always brought up the gospel when new players were training. We made a good evangelism team.

On Ken’s 90th birthday, I wrote 7 Leadership Lessons from the Matsuda Dojo. There was one lesson I saved for this entry. I remember doing my 25s core leg lifts. And I was doing it wrong…and fast. Coach shook his head, jumped off his training table, and bemoaned, “Pastor John, those who can’t do it right, do it fast. Those who do it right, do it slow.” This is so true in all of our relationships: Jesus, spouse, children (especially teens), work, and in the ministry of discipling others. God disciples in decades. God goes slow. And when we do it right, slow always gets us there.

This morning I officiate Coach Ken Matsuda’s memorial service (11 a.m. in Los Angeles). There was no one like Ken. He was one of one. I thank God for Ken and lots of good, good days.

1 PRAYER

Father, thank you for the life and legacy of my friend, Coach Ken Matsuda.

Until Next Tuesday,

John