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by Terry Dobson
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Terry Dobson was a large man with a gentle presence. He spent years in Japan studying aikido under Morihei Ueshiba, the art's founder, at a time when Westerners were rare in Japanese dojos. He trained hard. He learned to throw men twice his size. He learned to pin attackers to the mat with elegant joint locks. And then he returned to America and discovered something troubling.
**Author:** Terry Dobson **Estimated Reading Time:** 42 minutes
**What You'll Learn:**
- Why conflict is not your enemy but a natural force you can work with - How to recognize the hidden geometry of every confrontation - Six distinct ways to respond to attack, only one of which requires force - How to find and hold your physical and mental center under pressure - Practical methods for handling multiple attackers, both literal and metaphorical - A systematic approach to changing lifelong conflict habits
**Who This Book Is For:**
Anyone who has ever walked away from an argument feeling defeated, manipulated, or ashamed of their own behavior. Anyone who freezes when confronted. Anyone who explodes and regrets it later. Anyone who wants to stop being pushed around without becoming a bully. This book is for people who suspect there must be a better way to handle the conflicts that fill daily life.
Terry Dobson was a large man with a gentle presence. He spent years in Japan studying aikido under Morihei Ueshiba, the art's founder, at a time when Westerners were rare in Japanese dojos. He trained hard. He learned to throw men twice his size. He learned to pin attackers to the mat with elegant joint locks. And then he returned to America and discovered something troubling. The techniques he had mastered did not help him with his landlord. They did not help him when a drunk shouted at him on a bus. They did not help him when his partner criticized him unfairly or when a colleague undermined his work. The physical art of aikido, beautiful and powerful as it was, did not translate directly into daily life. Dobson realized that the principles underlying aikido were far more valuable than the techniques themselves. The principles could be applied anywhere, by anyone, regardless of physical strength or training. This book is his attempt to share those principles. The problem Dobson addresses is universal. Every human being faces conflict. It begins in childhood, when a sibling takes your toy or a parent says no. It continues through school, where bullies and cliques enforce their hierarchies. It follows you into work, where egos clash and resources are contested. It lives in your home, where love and frustration coexist in uneasy balance. Conflict is not an occasional interruption of a peaceful life. Conflict is woven into the fabric of living with other people. Yet most people handle conflict poorly. They have one or two habitual responses and they use them regardless of the situation. Some people fight. They argue, they push back, they escalate. Others withdraw. They go silent, they leave the room, they avoid the difficult conversation. Some people deceive, telling white…
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Get the complete summary in the appConflict is natural, inevitable, and neutral. It is not good or bad.
Most conflicts are not contests. Stop treating them as win-lose battles.
You have six responses: fight, withdraw, parley, do nothing, deceive, and aiki. Choose consciously.
Your center is two inches below your navel. Breathe into it. This is your foundation.
Triangle is attack. Square is resistance. Circle is redirection. Meet triangle with circle.
When facing multiple attackers, use them against each other. Find leverage.
"Aikido in Everyday Life" is a strong fit if you want practical ideas around martial arts, self help, psychology, especially themes like conflict is natural, inevitable, and neutral. it is not good or bad; most conflicts are not contests. stop treating them as win-lose battles. The MinuteRead summary distills these concepts into a focused read, whether you're deciding whether to buy the book or applying its lessons at work.
Motivated to help readers with 1) Conflict is a natural part of life, Terry Dobson wrote “Aikido in Everyday Life” to package those ideas for a fast, focused read. In “Aikido in Everyday Life”, Terry Dobson focuses on 1) Conflict is a natural part of life. Through “Aikido in Everyday Life”, Terry Dobson distills the core ideas on martial arts into lessons readers can absorb in a single short sitting. Readers turn to this work when they want Terry Dobson's perspective on the subject without worki…
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