Allison tells a story about integrating an all-male karate class when she was 24. A photo of Allison standing in the woods appears here. Allison went to the class because of her feminist political beliefs, but she learned what her body could do if she didn’t let fear overwhelm her. To get to the class required a strenuous run in the woods to the class site. Allison went with another woman named Flo, and the two were such poor runners that the sensei chided them when they got to class after everyone else. Allison later learned that he wanted women in his class. That first month was physically and psychologically difficult. The sensei urged Allison and Flo to be better, and the boys ridiculed them with laughter over their poor efforts; that laughter made Allison more determined, however.

A month into the sessions, the sensei’s wife came to the class. A dancer, she was an elegant and powerful performer who had complete control over her body. She was strong enough to lift one of the beefy young men in the class (and to do damage if she wanted to). The loving look the sensei gave his wife and the confidence and love the sensei’s wife had for her body taught Allison that a woman’s body was something to love rather than hate.