One of the most common questions that I hear, from friends, family, and strangers alike, when discussing my involvement in the martial arts, is... "Why do you want to learn to be violent?" Ironically, these same well-intentioned people usually didn't ask the same question when I was a police officer. And yet, my training for that profession not only involved the same types of training, but also included the use of weapons and tactics that would be considered illegal for me to use as a citizen prepared to defend myself against the same criminals. In the Warrior Concepts Training Prorgrams that I conduct, both locally and in seminar format, this moral dilemma is often at the forefront of the topics presented to students. The primary reason for this is that it's important for my students and clients to have a firm moral and ethical grounding in exactly what it is that they're doing, at least from the point of view the program. Because, we are not learning to be violent as a result of engaging in martial arts practice. Quite frankly, I don't believe it's necessary for a human being to study anything to be violent. Many would like to believe that they are peaceful, humanitarian, beings. They may believe this because they don't go around physically assaulting others. However, violence comes in many forms and, whether physical or not, we all have the potential to cause harm without stepping foot into a martial arts school. There still remains this little quandary though. And at the root of it, I believe is intent. Because, when you look at a fight and a self-defense situation, it's virtually impossible to tell them apart - especially if you didn't see it start. And even then, well, you know the old saying... "...you can't judge a book..." My students are required to ponder the question, "what's the difference between a fighter, a soldier, and a warrior?" Again, it comes down to intention. And, while any thesaurus may list all three words in the same context as synonyms for each other, I believe that the differences are, not only crystal clear, but also worthy of reflection and recognition. A Fighter - is usually someone who chooses to fight for a purely ego-centric reason. He or she is seeking to gain something, whether it's a trophy, money, fame, whatever. A fighter has a need to be "right," "best," "toughest," and a myriad of other self-grandizing reasons that drive them to "compete" for a "number-one" position. And, whether it's a fist-fight, all-out war, or an argument between spouses, if the goal is to "win" and cause the other to "lose," this is the mindset of the fighter. A Soldier - at least in Today's military forces, is usually there because... ...it's a job. From my experience, most who are known as soldiers by whatever name are looking for a career that is very-much divorced from the concept and preparation for warfare. And, while many may have a driving need to fight to "kill a Commie, for mommie," most, regardless of whether they volunteered or were drafted, are at the whim of whatever powers-that-be are determining Today's enemy. Where the fighter picks his own fights and does so for his own reasons, the soldier is a tool of the State and has no say in who he must fight or even whether the cause is just or agreeable to him. A Warrior - on the other hand, is uniquely poised between the two previous extremes. And even though the word, "warrior," is used far too often in different contexts - from security forces to the names of sports teams - the psychology I'm talking about here can be traced back to the most ancient of times when man began to see beyond his own limiting self-view. While he or she does engage in conflict of their own choosing, the reason that a warrior chooses to fight is almost always for a cause larger-than-self. A warrior understands the true scope and priorities in warfare and does not jump too quickly in deciding to engage a so-called enemy. And, while a warrior may also be a soldier, he or she chooses this path for the same "big-picture" reason. He or she is free to choose the side that they will fight for, as opposed to having their fate chosen for them. The true warrior's concern is not for political "right-ness" or "self-righteousness." It is for the protection of what he or she has decided is important and worth protecting. As you can see, the question is really designed to lead the student to an understanding of how the individual's heart - intent - or focus - is aligned. Leading from selfishness to selfless-ness, it can be seen for those with eyes to see. So, for those who still wonder "why I want to learn to be violent," I would answer... "...I have never wanted to be violent. I have sought to understand violence and to be able to deal with it effectively if it comes my way." Two VERY different things from two very different viewpoints. I am a warrior and, like my passive friends, I seek peace, friendship, and all that go with such qualities. I abhore violence and will attempt everything in my power to not allow a situation to escalate to the point where I am forced to harm, damage, or even kill another. However, I know that, should violence somehow find us both... ...the odds are in my favor of being here tomorrow! |
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