The Gift of Danger: Lessons from Aikido
By Mary SteinMary Stein took up aikido in her mid-fifties and quickly learned what it really means to face danger—both external and internal. In this powerful collection of short essays, she vividly describes learning an active and spirited defense on the mat, in the process uncovering a lifetime of habitual tensions and emotional reactions, of flight and ineffective fight. Stein’s thoughtful musings make clear how the practice of aikido can show what is really needed, right now. The Gift of Danger is aimed at men and women for whom the question of what is genuine in their lives has taken on fresh urgency.
Above all, Stein shows that a sense of danger has extraordinary importance for the martial artist; when danger is present during training, one learns to test limits and respond quickly and accurately. We follow the author as she stands, tentative but determined, on the razor’s edge between knowing and not knowing, judgment and impartiality—the only place where real growth can occur. The Gift of Danger is both a striking story of personal growth and a potent argument for aikido as a model for human behavior.
Book details
- Paperback
- 120 pages
- English
- 1583942734
- 9781583942734
About Mary Stein
mary stein holds a black belt in aikido and has taught and studied the art for almost 30 years. she is an associate editor at far west editions in san fran Read More about Mary Stein
More Books By Mary Stein
People who bought this also bought
Choicemaking: for Co-Dependents, Adult Children and Spirituality Seekers
Used Book
Retiring Well on a Poor Man's Budget : 1,001 Ways to Stretch Your Income and Enjoy Your Golden Years
Used Book
I Heard God Talking to Me: William Edmondson and His Stone Carvings
Used Book
Talking with Artists : Conversations with Victoria Chess, Pat Cummings, Leo and Diane Dillon, Richard Egielski, Lois Ehlert, Lisa Campbell Ernst, Tom Feelings, Steven Kellogg, Jerry Pinkney, Amy Schwartz, Lane Smith, Chris Van Allsburg and David Weisner
Used Book
Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa by Dambisa Moyo
New Book