Sharp Spear, Crystal Mirror: Martial Arts in Women's Lives

Would you be afraid of a woman with a sixth-degree black belt in Aikido? You shouldn't be, not because she couldn't hurt you (she probably could), but because she may turn out to be the best teacher you've ever had. In Sharp Spear, Crystal Mirror, seasoned writer Stephanie T. Hoppe conducts interviews with over 20 remarkable women who have not only excelled in martial arts but have adopted them (or been adopted by them) as a particular path to self-transformation. While many of these women are considered masters of their art, all of them have become masters of themselves--centered, articulate, creative, healthy, and compassionate. The wellspring of this wholeness appears to be the challenge, the camaraderie, and the continuous insights that one gains from dedicated practice of an art form that demands focused attention on what one teacher calls "being both gentle and strong at the same time." Sharing their experiences, we learn how martial arts can transform a person and how martial artists can begin to transform society through leadership and self-development training. --Brian Bruya