Marianne Adriana is a Brazilian National who is at the age of 51 years old. Marianne has dedicated her life to martial arts and as a teacher for many years, but it is her profession that is at the center of this interesting and sometimes controversial, book. Marianne was a student of the so-called “no jitsu academies” in her younger days, where she learned the basic moves of fighting from those who, apparently, had spent years training in the dojo under masters who specialized in the discipline. Her time in the academies was not all that helpful because she never found out what the real profession really was. But when she became a teacher, she realized that the true martial arts training had to be straight, and definitely not involved in any bowing and kneeling.
What fascinates me about this book is the way that it opens up the whole idea of what a proper profession is supposed to be like. The moment that Marianne Adriana steps out of the plane, she realizes that there is no such profession as being a martial arts teacher. This is because there is no one who can make her an expert in anything.
What actually defines a profession is the ability to serve as a bridge between the people who want to learn how to live better lives and the people who have the means to provide them with that training. In other words, the good teachers do not just give a lesson or a lecture, but they actually go out of their way to help the students find the answers that they need. Marianne Adriana is not a bad teacher, but she is too much into her role as a trainer to be considered a national figure. Still, I would like to see Marianne Adriana become a national figure someday because I think she has the personality and skills necessary for it.