When I sat down to write Ring Four: The Book of Butterfly, I knew I was stepping into dangerous territory, not just because butterfly is a brutal stroke, but because it exposes you, and for right or wrong people have strong opinions about it. It might be the most revealing stroke of them all. You can’t fake it. You can’t hide behind endurance, or muscle, or even willpower. If your rhythm is off, if your timing falters, the water tells you immediately.

Under the fieldstone bridge, near the mystical wood. Lived Barfus and Tom, friends through bad and good. Tom: a Dragon, had fire in his heart Barfus: a troll, made being stoic an art. They see things differently, not just because of their height. Let’s see where this day takes them, and what lessons come to light.

When we think of iconic coaches in film history, Mr. Miyagi is probably not the first name that comes to mind. However, few compare to...