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people attend UPW because they’ve

heard about the Firewalk and want to

try it themselves. The idea is to propel

yourself into such a fearless state of

mind that you can withstand even

1,200-degree heat.

Leading up to that moment, we

spend hours practicing Tony’s techniques—exercises,

dance moves, visualizations.

I notice that people in the

audience are starting to mimic Tony’s

every movement and facial expression,

including his signature gesture of

pumping his arm as if he were pitching

a baseball. The evening crescendoes until

finally, just before midnight, we

march to the parking lot in a torchlit

procession, nearly four thousand

strong, chanting YES! YES! YES! to the

thump of a tribal beat. This seems to

electrify my fellow UPWers, but to me

this drum-accompanied chant—YES!

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