BETWEEN BUSINESS CARDS

I had never felt like a bigger fake — winning a karate tournament without landing a punch. Three years before, as an on-call physician making hospital calls after midnight, I thought taking a self-defense class might be street-smart. Now, facing my sensei’s final test — to participate in a tournament — I thought I might be kidding myself. Tournament day arrived. Carrying my gear, I walked nervously into the competition venue held at a local high school gym. I immediately spotted a long table displaying gleaming trophies. These were not for participation — each had to be earned. Ceiling lights beamed brightly, shimmering on the tiny gold figurines. The glossy…