Women in the Martial Arts, edited by Carol A. Wiley

he author to this book of essays: Carol A. Wiley, has also written the book: "Martial Arts Teachers on Teaching". You can read about this book here. "Women in the Martial Arts" has been written by twelve female martial artists - some of them train martial arts, other martial sports - some do more than one art, while others stick to one art.

This book focuses on how (these) women and female martial artists look at their objectives, goals and their roles within the martial arts.

It gives a clear and very concise picture of the benefits these women have had from spending times within their given fighting art. Katy Hopwood writes in her "Open to Change: Steps Along the Way": 'It was an amazing process for me to go beyond who "I should have been" to who I am now. I should have been dependent on welfare, living in public housing, beaten and battered, addicted to drugs or dead from an overdose. Instead I am alive, creative, proud, self-educated, and a self-employed business woman.'

Of course, not all stories are as profound "before and after" as this one, after all there are twelve women with twelve different stories to tell. Their stories involve themes such as learning to accept the body that you are given, to training with a physical disability, and to overcome the murder of your own mother. As you can see there is a wide variety to the stories, and this is one of the great things about this book.

First of all it shows the magnitude, the scope and the differences in what people "use" the arts for and gain from them. At the same time it shows something that is quite universal: The martial arts will inevitably shape you as a person, if you spend enough time in a proper martial art.

If you strive to find balance in your everyday living as well as balance between the two genders in and out of training - then I can recommend this book as a great read and source of inspiration.

I know I do repeat myself, but I still have to remind you to always do a search on Abebooks - it is without a doubt the best place for out of print or used books.

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