Goodbye to a Beloved Sensei, Perry N. Georgison
I’m afraid that we have to rei out a long-time sensei, mentor, and friend. Perry Georgison, a long-time friend of the Tsugiashi-do ryu has passed. Sensei Georgison was a senior sensei from a different school, a Judo school in New Jersey. Like many other seasoned sensei’s from other styles, such as Rich Faustini, Vinnie Menona, and Mark Mayer, Perry frequently found his way to Doc Cohe’s Ju-Jitsu class.
The first time I studied with Sensei Georgison was in 1979 at the Yoshitune Dojo. I was a white belt learning my first five judo throws (which was a requirement for yellow belt). Perry walked up and softly asked my partner and I how it was going, which any good sensei knows is code for “you look awful, please let me help.” In those days, performing Tomoe Nage was a lot like ballroom dancing with a girl you had never met before: it required a lot of up-front agreement, a lot of runway, a lot of time, and if you got really lucky, you didn’t injure any bystanders, and no one landed on top of you. Perry, who was a bear of a man, hooked up very lightly, and then, with no warning, vanished into thin air. At the same time he vanished, the earth’s gravity went haywire and I had somehow risen off the mat and was upside down, not knowing where I was going. When I finally landed, Perry had reappeared…or rather, his arm had reappeared…around my neck in an expert Judo choke. I then realized that there might be more to this Judo stuff than I had realized.
The last time I studied with him was 40 years later, on February 15, 2019 at Mike Wilson’s dojo. Perry, who was no stranger to the Montville dojo, had shown up one night to visit Mike and to teach. February 2019 – The Focus Issue – Tsugiashi-Do Jujitsu (tsugiashidoshinbun.org). I also noticed that he was wearing a Faustini Institute of Martial Arts uniform, making it obvious that he was still getting around a bit. That night, he was teaching getting out of chokes and getting out of ground pins, two of his specialties. I’ll never forget how disorienting it was to hear him tell Gabe, one of Mike’s young brown belts, and well over 250 pounds, to “please move to the left a little, you’re on my pacemaker.” It’s one thing to show up at the old dojo and pass the time while talking to sensei, but it’s another to throw yourself into rigorous teaching at an advanced age and fragile health.
In those 40 years I can report that he never missed one of my blackbelt demonstrations. And Shodai Richard Faustini tells me that he was active on the Faustini Institute of Martial Arts mat until March of 2020, when the Covid Pandemic shut down most businesses.
In addition to being a wonderful friend and teacher, Perry Georgison showed up. And this is a lesson I will be taking with me.
Below is a collection of photos that testify to Perry's presence over the last 40 years. This is what “Showing up” looks like:
Perry Georgison (second from left), Yoshitsune Dojo, Closter, NJ, circa mid 1970s.
Perry Georgison (circled) at Johnny Bradle and Chris Shoolis' nidan promotion, Yoshitsune Dojo, Closter, NJ., circa early 1980s.
Perry Georgison (circled), Tsugiashi-Do dojo, Edgewater, NJ, circa early 1990s.
Perry Georgison (circled), Tsugiashi-Do dojo, Edgewater, NJ, circa early 1990s.
Perry Georgison (circled), Tsugiashi-Do dojo, Park Ridge, NJ, circa late 1990s. (Mike Wilson and Keith Wittenberg's sandan promotion.)
Perry Georgison (circled), Tsugiashi-Do dojo, Montvale, NJ, April 2000 (Scot Lynch's shodan promotion).
Perry Georgison (circled), Faustini Institute of Martial Arts, Emerson, NJ circa mid 2000s.
Perry Georgison (shaking my hand), Tsugiashi-Do dojo, Montville, NJ, June 2011. (Gabriel Perez and Scot Lynch Sandan demonstration)
Perry Georgison (5th from left), Tsugiashi-Do dojo, Montville, NJ, June 2011. (Gabriel Perez and Scot Lynch Sandan demonstration)
Perry Georgison (in blue gi, fourth from right), Tsugiashi-Do dojo, Montville, NJ, August 2016. (Gabriel Perez and Scot Lynch Yondan demonstration)
Perry Georgison, Tsugiashi-Do dojo, Montville, NJ, February 2019.
Perry Georgison, Tsugiashi-Do dojo, Montville, NJ, February 2019 (click for video).
Perry Jorgensen, Tsugiashi-Do dojo, Montville, NJ, February 2019 (click for video).
After a seminar, Perry once told me that there are a lot of beautiful people in the Martial Arts. This has turned out to be more true that I could have imagined.
We will miss you, Perry.
Oyasuminasai, Sensei.
January 11, 2021
Scott, thank you for sharing these thoughts for Perry. I called him Christmas eve to wish him and Camille. I wanted to know the next time is was going to go to Richies. Yes it is true that there are beautiful people in the Martial Arts, Perry was one of them. He will be missed, as those that we love our lives are touched by such greatness. Perry did that ask his wife. I always enjoyed my time with him his knowledge of Judo was up there….!
We often think that we have enough time to do the things we love to do later, reality is there is never enough time. Perrys time with us went by to quickly. Oos
January 12, 2021
Scott, a wonderful tribute to an excellent martial artist and a wonderful human being. Sensei spent many years at my dojo and was active till we had to close down in March. Always a pleasure to have on the mat. He loved to share his knowledge and was always eager to learn more. A good friend and one of my mentors for close to 40 years. Perry, will be missed by so many. He was one of those individuals that come into your life yet when they leave their footprints remain forever. God bless you my friend and may you always RIP.
January 18, 2021
Thank you Scot for your wonderful remembrance. So sorry to hear of Sensei Perry Jorgenson’s passing. Please convey our deepest sympathy and the condolences of the Cohe family. My father deeply respected and admired Sensei Jorgenson. I know firsthand that he had a very important influence on my father’s early thinking about movement, relative position and complementary techniques.
My recollection is that I first met him when I was young high school student. He graciously worked with me on some Judo concepts to help me with my wrestling that I still use as a coach today. When my father used to talk about “Perfect practice making perfect,” He frequently would use Sensei Jorgenson’s nickname of “Mr. Hane- Goshi” as an iconic example. In his competition days, that was Sensei Jorgenson’s best technique. Even though everyone knew it was coming, no one could stop it — “Perfect practice makes perfect.”
A true gentleman and great martial artist… Rest in Peace …
Shaw Cohe on behalf of the Cohe family
January 21, 2021
When I would tell people about Sensei Perry, First he would tell you a joke or two, then he would proceed to show you a half of dozen ways to choke someone out. Sensei took great care in he”s teaching, never taking a move on uke to far. Even after he did the technique, he would always ask uke if he was ok. I think back on all the times Sensei came to the dojo, and he would ask me what I wanted to do tonite. Humble, respectful, and a true martial artist, my answer was always the dojo is your Sensei. He was a great friend and teacher. You will be missed! Rest in Peace… DOMO ARIGATO SENSEI