Chapter 1: The Impact of Kindness

Leke, my first Jiu-Jitsu instructor, grew up in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I trained under him from the age of fifteen to twenty, and during that time, we formed a close bond. He often shared harrowing tales from his childhood in the hilly slums of Rio.

Some of his stories were truly chilling: the nightly gunfire, the friends lost to drugs, and the memory of finding a woman's body in the street, a victim of violence. These accounts were hard to believe, but the profound pain in Leke's eyes made it clear that they were true.

Despite his traumatic past, Leke was an exceptionally generous person. I remember being a struggling kid when he gifted me my first gi—a thick, heavyweight training uniform that was costly at the time. The day he handed it to me is etched in my memory. Leke entered the gym with a package and handed it to me without a word.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Open it," he replied.

Inside was my first gi, worn and faded, clearly passed down multiple times. I felt a wave of gratitude but struggled to express it.

"This is one of my old gis," Leke explained, noticing my hesitation. "I don’t need it anymore, so it’s no trouble..."

"I'm not sure what to say, Coach."

"You don’t need to say anything, kid," he smiled. "Just promise me you'll take care of your family."

Leke was the kind of person who always looked out for others, encouraging them to do the same. "In the favelas, we all support one another," he would say. "If you have food and I don't, you share it with me. If I have an internet connection, I’ll share that with you."

He expressed this sentiment with such simplicity, as if sharing everything you possess when you have little was completely normal.

Leke didn’t just preach kindness; he lived it. Beyond giving gis to young white belts he barely knew, he made an annual trip back to the favelas, bringing gifts of laptops, money, refrigerators, and, of course, more gis.

When I once asked him why he brought so much, considering the cost, he responded, "Alvin, the people in the favelas have very little. I’m fortunate now, but I will always be a kid from those streets. I have to give back."

With that, he continued packing...

Each year, Leke dedicated his month off to returning to the favelas, consistently bringing back the same kinds of items. His efforts have borne fruit. He has established a foundation that provides underprivileged children in Brazil with access to food, books, and training materials. Many kids from his old neighborhood have turned their lives around, avoiding crime and becoming Jiu-Jitsu instructors like him.

Reflecting on my time with Leke, I realize he taught me more than just martial arts; he imparted valuable life lessons. The most significant one is to always remember your roots and to give back, even when you have very little.

While Leke's donations may seem modest—typically a few hundred dollars, some equipment, and training materials—they made a significant difference. Ask any child from the favelas, or me, a former kid who couldn't afford a new gi, and they would shout, "His contributions meant everything to us!"

Now, I lead a stable life, having authored a book and participated in The Apprentice. But without Leke's kindness, who knows where I would be?

The lesson here is clear: always give back, regardless of your financial situation. As Jesus said, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."

And when you give freely, even from a place of scarcity, it makes the gift even more meaningful to those who receive it.

This audiobook preview of "30 Lessons for Living" by Karl Pillemer shares tried-and-true advice on finding fulfillment and happiness in life.

Chapter 2: Exploring the Harsh Realities of Life

This video takes you inside Dharavi, Mumbai, one of the largest slums in India, providing an intense look at the challenges faced by its residents.