Bill “Butch” Dobich holds the Indonesian martial arts seventh degree Poekoelan Black Belt - a rare distinction. A formidable opponent in world class martial arts tournaments, Bill seldom returned home without the winning trophy. But as you will find as you read his life story, it wasn’t always that way.
He and his two older sisters were raised in the rust belt of western Pennsylvania. As a preschooler from a loving blue-collar family, he was uncomplicated and good natured. Life changed for him when he started school younger than most first graders because his birthday fell in a gray area. As a naïve to the ways of the world and physically smaller than his classmates, he naturally became a bully magnet.
His tortured life at the cruel hands of relentless and vicious bullies lasted until he was twelve years old. Then one day his mother saw an ad in the local paper that would change Bill’s life forever. A local school for the mystical Asian art of self-defense was offering classes to the general public and children were welcome to attend. This is the story of a bullied child who developed from being called “four eyes-four-eyes, fatty-fatty two by four, can’t fit through the kitchen door” to holder of the Black Belt martial arts status of Poekoelan Tjimindie - the Indonesian style of Kung-Fu.
Bill’s life story expands into the story behind the story. It is a must read for anyone interested in the history of martial arts and its various forms or anyone that may be considering learning and practicing any form of the art. It includes a comprehensive instruction guide and reference material for students of Poekoelan, starting from their first day on the mat through to the highest Black Belt status.
