I read “Fighting on the Edge” which was a very interesting story about the stories of wrestling. From little people wrestling to no mask wrestling, the author goes into great detail about the rise of wrestling and then moving into the rise of Mamani. I had never heard about Mamani or anything but the story of him and how much press and attention he got from his rivalries to his skill in wrestling was an instant. But more broadly, Lehman does a great job of talking about how these high risk activities are true “living on the edge moments”. The chapter also explores the psychological effects of operating on the edge, such as the release of adrenaline and other stress hormones. Lehman notes that while these responses can be beneficial in the short term, they can also lead to burnout, trauma, and other negative outcomes over time. The way Lehman interpreted this was very well done through his talks about all the different sports and activities that are true high risk factors. Lehman talks many times about how the edge is not just a physical aspect of life, but more than that it is a mental and emotional place to cross in order to accomplish what you want to achieve. He describes how individuals who do activities on the edge to develop a mindset that allows them to push through their limitations and perform under pressure. the chapter highlights the importance of understanding and managing the edge in high-risk activities, both to improve performance and to minimize the risk of negative consequences.
