Terry Dobson

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Walter Norton Dobson III known under the name Terry Dobson (born June 9, 1937 in Cambridge , Massachusetts ; † August 2, 1992 ) was an American aikido pioneer, aikido teacher, adviser on conflict issues and writer. He was one of only two western Ushi-Deshi from Morihei Ueshiba , the founder of Aikido and was taught directly by him.

Childhood and youth

Terry Dobson was born into a wealthy family. Moved to New York City in 1940, he had a tumultuous childhood raised by his alcoholic mother and stepfather. His birth father, who had fallen out of favor after it was discovered that he was using forged documents to enter Harvard Business School, he only met once after his parents separated.

Terry attended private schools where his talent in American football was noticed. So he received a scholarship to an elite university, which he had to leave because of his rebellious behavior. He also trained for a season with the New York Football Giants under Vince Lombardy . During the Lebanon crisis in 1958 , as a US Marine, he was responsible for the maintenance of the helicopters. For a short time he also studied at New York University. In 1959, his family sent him to Japan, where he was supposed to support an agricultural project and teach English.

Aikido in Japan

What was planned as a short-term project to bring him to his senses developed unexpectedly. Terry Dobson stayed in Japan for more than ten years. During a stay in Tokyo he attended an Aikido performance in a US base in Yokohama and in 1959, six months after this chance acquaintance with the then completely unknown martial art, he began his training in the Aikikai Hombu Dojo . He lived as Ushi-Deshi in the house of Ueshiba until his marriage in 1964 and practiced Aikido with Morihei Ueshiba until the death of the aikido founder in 1969 .

The train history

This “ train story”, which is legendary not only in martial arts circles, is an example of non-violent conflict resolution in the style of the aikido philosophy par excellence. It was made by Terry Dobson, who saw it while riding the Tobe rapid transit train in Japan. He himself is the American Aikidoka who, after taking some lessons from O Sensei , is dying to finally be able to use Aikido when a drunk man rumbles on the train. But while Terry Dobson is already rolling up his sleeves to solve this conflict, a tiny old man calls the rabble, gets his attention, speaks to him and relaxes the situation in a few sentences. Terry Dobson recognized the lesson from this and decided to practice Aikido under new conditions.

Return to the USA

In 1970, one year after Morihei Ueshiba's death, Terry Dobson returned to the United States, where he taught Aikido in seminars and courses across the country. In doing so, he complied with the request of his teacher, who sent some of his students abroad to teach Aikido there and make it known. Together with Ken Nisson, Terry Dobson founded the Bond Street Dojo in New York and later Vermont Aikido in Bulington, Vermont. In 1979 he moved to San Francisco , California, where he came into contact with Robert Bly and his mythopoetic men's movement. Terry Dobson taught Aikido until his death in 1992 and is co-author of several books on the martial art.

death

He had been treated for years for his severe heart disease, in 1992 after taking Aikido lessons he fell into a coma and died on August 2, 1992. His daughter Marion, his son Daniel and his partner Ricki Moss are among the bereaved.

Works

  • Terry Dobson, Victor Miller: Giving in to get your way: the attack-tics system for winning your everyday battles. Delacorte Press, New York 1978, ISBN 0-440-03247-4 .
  • Terry Dobson, Judith Shepherd-chow: Save and Alive: How to protect yourself, your family, and your property against violence. JP Divers, Los Angeles 1981, ISBN 0-87477-189-7 .
  • Terry Dobson, Victor Miller: Aikido in Everyday Life: Giving in to Get Your Way. Blue Snake Books, Berkeley, California 1993, ISBN 1-55643-151-1 .
  • Terry Dobson, Ricki Moss, Jan E. Watson: Its a lot like dancing: An Aikido Journey . Frog, 1993, ISBN 1-883319-02-1 .
  • Terry Dobson, Riki Moss, Jan E. Watson: Aikidô - Dance of Life. Schlatt-books, 2007, ISBN 978-3-937745-18-3 .
  • Terry Dobson, Ricki Moss: An Obese White Gentleman in No Apparent Distress . Blue Snake Books, Berkeley, California 2009, ISBN 978-1-58394-270-3 .

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Terry Dobson, Ricki Moss, Jan E. Watson: Aikido - Dance of Life . 1st edition. Schlatt-books, 2007, ISBN 978-3-937745-18-3 , pp. 22 .
  2. ↑ Terry Dobson, Ricki Moss, Jan E. Watson: Aikido - Dance of Life . 1st edition. Schlatt-books, 2007, ISBN 978-3-937745-18-3 , pp. 12-13 .
  3. ↑ Terry Dobson, Ricki Moss, Jan E. Watson: Aikido - Dance of Life . 1st edition. Schlatt-books, 2007, ISBN 978-3-937745-18-3 , pp. 12-13 .
  4. ^ Eastern Healing Arts: A SOFT ANSWER by Terry Dobson. Retrieved August 9, 2017 .
  5. ↑ Terry Dobson: A kind word drives away anger . In: Richard S. Heckler (Ed.): Aikido and the new warrior . 1st edition. SYNTHESIS Verlag, 1988, ISBN 3-922026-41-9 , p. 52 f .
  6. ^ Our Dojo - New York Aikido Society / Bond Street Dojo . ( bondstreet.org [accessed August 9, 2017]).
  7. ^ Dojo History. Retrieved August 9, 2017 .
  8. ^ Terry Dobson, Riki Moss, Jan E. Watson: Aikido - Dance of Life . 1st edition. Schlatt-books, 2007, ISBN 978-3-937745-18-3 , pp. 13 f .
personal data
SURNAME Dobson, Terry
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Dobson III, Walter Norton
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American aikido pioneer, aikido teacher, conflict adviser and writer
DATE OF BIRTH June 9, 1937
PLACE OF BIRTH Cambridge , Massachusetts
DATE OF DEATH 2nd August 1992