Geo
06-28-2010, 02:12 PM
Hey let me know what you think of the article. i have been involved in CM boxing for a few years. Also had to split it into two parts... thanks Geo
The term ‘The Way Of The Warrior’ is thrown around in conversations in many martial art schools around the world. But when pressed on what that exactly means, most people have little in the way of a substantial answer.
What is the way?
Which way allows one to become a warrior instead of something else?
Just because you may understand the ‘way’ does that truly make you a warrior?
Most answers I receive to these questions revolve around what are seen as the ‘traits’ of a warrior- such as tenacity, grit, ferociousness and so on. This is the WAY of the warrior, but it can equally be the WAY of the mercenary or the criminal.
While the WAY may define some of the traits that a warrior may exhibit, it does not explain the path or journey that led to those traits been developed and ultimately being harnessed as strengths in a positive way.
It is my argument that the WAY of the warrior can be developed without a PATH, but when the appropriate path or journey is not observed the consequences may be less than desirable. Furthermore just because you may exhibit many of the traits of warrior, does not make you one.The ‘WAY Of The Warrior’ does not explain how those very same traits when expressed by a true virtues warrior is very different to that of a mercenary or criminal.
After years in the martial arts, I have come to the conclusion that any martial expression practiced in the absence of the knowledge of how that martial prowess emerges and is nurtured from a positive embodied perspective, can lead to slippery ground.
Historically a true warrior only used his martial prowess when out of necessity. Those who waged war for personal gratification, who used it as a way to remain high on the fumes of personal grandiosity, in my mind are not warriors. These are mercenaries and criminals respectively. A warrior fights only when all other means available to him has been exhausted. And even then a warrior uses only enough of his skill to win the battle. Sun Tzu accredited with writing one of histories most notable strategic books on warfare, The Art Of War, himself viewed the highest ‘art of war’ as one that is won without the recourse to arms.
Realistically what is often referred to as The ‘Way Of The Warrior’ is not the WAY at all.
The warrior, the mercenary (One who uses their martial skill for private gain), the criminal, the gang banger and even many of the modern day exponents of competitive martial arts, share many of the same ‘traits’. No wonder then their is confusion when discussing the differences from one to other. The fact that these groups share such a close relationship in ‘traits’ allow for abuse to take place, hidden behind convenient excuses of poverty, necessity, sport and others.
What Is A True Warrior?
It is clear to me that by merely engaging in the WAY Of The Warrior, will not by it’s extension lead one becoming a true, virtues warrior. A true warrior as defined by Edward Tick, Ph.D. in his book ‘War and the Soul’ is someone who is,
“assertive, active and energized. He or she is clear-minded, strategic, and alert. A warrior uses both body and mind in harmony and cooperation. A warrior is disciplined. A warrior assesses both his own skills and resources and those of his opponent. A warrior is a servant of civilization and its future – guiding, protecting, and passing on information and wisdom. A warrior is devoted to causes he judges to be more important than himself or any personal relationships or gain. Having confronted death, a warrior knows how precious life is and does not abuse or profane it.”
How does one become a warrior as defined by Tick above?
Clearly this cannot be achieved purely by the WAY of the warrior.
The WAY of the warrior can therefore be defined as the ‘traits’ expressed by warriors, but are also traits expressed by the mercenary, the criminal, the gang banger and the modern competitive martial artist. Just because you understand the WAY, does not by it’s extension, mean you are a TRUE warrior – you merely understood the martial skills and it’s attached psychological, emotional and physical expressions required to do the business of ‘fighting’ or waging war.
As Tick further points out, “the proper training of a warrior must be not just the physical and intellectual dimensions of military [martial] performance but also the values and traditions of warriorhood.”
These values and traditions are elucidated in the culmination of the PATH of The Warrior not in the Way. The Way is a bi-product of the PATH, but if the path is not understood, the way can easily be misused. Understanding the Path leads to the differentiating factor between a Warrior or a Mercenary (Criminal, gang banger etc). While both may initially follow the same path, there is one deciding factor that culminates at the end of the path that differentiates them from one another (More about this later).
The term ‘The Way Of The Warrior’ is thrown around in conversations in many martial art schools around the world. But when pressed on what that exactly means, most people have little in the way of a substantial answer.
What is the way?
Which way allows one to become a warrior instead of something else?
Just because you may understand the ‘way’ does that truly make you a warrior?
Most answers I receive to these questions revolve around what are seen as the ‘traits’ of a warrior- such as tenacity, grit, ferociousness and so on. This is the WAY of the warrior, but it can equally be the WAY of the mercenary or the criminal.
While the WAY may define some of the traits that a warrior may exhibit, it does not explain the path or journey that led to those traits been developed and ultimately being harnessed as strengths in a positive way.
It is my argument that the WAY of the warrior can be developed without a PATH, but when the appropriate path or journey is not observed the consequences may be less than desirable. Furthermore just because you may exhibit many of the traits of warrior, does not make you one.The ‘WAY Of The Warrior’ does not explain how those very same traits when expressed by a true virtues warrior is very different to that of a mercenary or criminal.
After years in the martial arts, I have come to the conclusion that any martial expression practiced in the absence of the knowledge of how that martial prowess emerges and is nurtured from a positive embodied perspective, can lead to slippery ground.
Historically a true warrior only used his martial prowess when out of necessity. Those who waged war for personal gratification, who used it as a way to remain high on the fumes of personal grandiosity, in my mind are not warriors. These are mercenaries and criminals respectively. A warrior fights only when all other means available to him has been exhausted. And even then a warrior uses only enough of his skill to win the battle. Sun Tzu accredited with writing one of histories most notable strategic books on warfare, The Art Of War, himself viewed the highest ‘art of war’ as one that is won without the recourse to arms.
Realistically what is often referred to as The ‘Way Of The Warrior’ is not the WAY at all.
The warrior, the mercenary (One who uses their martial skill for private gain), the criminal, the gang banger and even many of the modern day exponents of competitive martial arts, share many of the same ‘traits’. No wonder then their is confusion when discussing the differences from one to other. The fact that these groups share such a close relationship in ‘traits’ allow for abuse to take place, hidden behind convenient excuses of poverty, necessity, sport and others.
What Is A True Warrior?
It is clear to me that by merely engaging in the WAY Of The Warrior, will not by it’s extension lead one becoming a true, virtues warrior. A true warrior as defined by Edward Tick, Ph.D. in his book ‘War and the Soul’ is someone who is,
“assertive, active and energized. He or she is clear-minded, strategic, and alert. A warrior uses both body and mind in harmony and cooperation. A warrior is disciplined. A warrior assesses both his own skills and resources and those of his opponent. A warrior is a servant of civilization and its future – guiding, protecting, and passing on information and wisdom. A warrior is devoted to causes he judges to be more important than himself or any personal relationships or gain. Having confronted death, a warrior knows how precious life is and does not abuse or profane it.”
How does one become a warrior as defined by Tick above?
Clearly this cannot be achieved purely by the WAY of the warrior.
The WAY of the warrior can therefore be defined as the ‘traits’ expressed by warriors, but are also traits expressed by the mercenary, the criminal, the gang banger and the modern competitive martial artist. Just because you understand the WAY, does not by it’s extension, mean you are a TRUE warrior – you merely understood the martial skills and it’s attached psychological, emotional and physical expressions required to do the business of ‘fighting’ or waging war.
As Tick further points out, “the proper training of a warrior must be not just the physical and intellectual dimensions of military [martial] performance but also the values and traditions of warriorhood.”
These values and traditions are elucidated in the culmination of the PATH of The Warrior not in the Way. The Way is a bi-product of the PATH, but if the path is not understood, the way can easily be misused. Understanding the Path leads to the differentiating factor between a Warrior or a Mercenary (Criminal, gang banger etc). While both may initially follow the same path, there is one deciding factor that culminates at the end of the path that differentiates them from one another (More about this later).