Ed Pincus, 5th Dan, fukushidoin

Ed began his Aikido training in 1982 at the age of 44 at the Harvard Aikido Club and New England Aikikai. After moving to Vermont, he continued his training at Vermont Aikido, first with Hugh Young, and then Terry Dobson Sensei, a direct student of O Sensei. In addition to teaching classes, Ed is a member of the ACV Technical Committee.

"I had been looking for a form of exercise that was not boring. I found Aikido incredibly challenging and always interesting. Moving to Vermont made it difficult to continue Aikido. At that time there were no established dojo in the state with advanced teachers. I trained with Hugh Young, who was very talented but a relative beginner. When Terry Dobson came to Vermont, my Aikido took on a new dimension. Terry became a friend.

Terry stressed the connection between everyday life and training on the mat. In every Aikido technique, he hoped to embody the notion of protection (take musu aiki). He emphasized the relationship between who you are and your Aikido. Aikido was not only in your posture, but also in what you said and how you said it.

The next major change in my practice came when my son, Benjamin Pincus Sensei, opened a dojo in Winooski. It felt like exactly the kind of dojo where I wanted to learn and practice. It was also the first time since I was a beginner at New England Aikikai that I had a teacher in the traditional Japanese sense --even though in Japanese culture, it seems bizarre for a father to learn from his son.

Over the years I have worked out the connection between what Terry Dobson taught and the tradition represented by my son. When I teach, I try to show that connection."

--Ed Pincus