Self-Defense

How many people in your martial arts school have ever had to use their skills in real life, other than in the performance of their job, such as a police officer or a bouncer? If there are more than a few, or if a few have had to use their skills more than once, then you are probably in the wrong school, unless you are one of the few yourself, then you probably don't care. In in today's supposed violent society, most people will never have to defend themselves or others from an unsolicited attack. If you are the type of person that seems to always have a reason to defend him or herself, then you have a problem. There have been numerous masters of traditional martial arts who died of old age never having had to defend themselves. Does this mean their life in the martial arts was a waste of time?

Women, Warriors, and a Warrior Society

Ask women what type of men they want and they will say they a man who is caring, kind, and has a good sense of humor, and who would make a good father. Then look around. What type men do you see women gravitate to? It is the rough, tough, crude men. Why is this?

Like it or not, women are the nurturers; they are the mothers who raise children to further the species. They are smaller and less strong than men and, at various times, such as while pregnant or with small children, they need protection. This means that women are instinctively drawn toward men who appear to offer the most protection, the warriors. Instinctively, they feel this type of men will make the best fathers.

This paradox is why men stay confused. Women say they want good guys, so men try to be good; then the women are attracted to the bad guys. Even when women do choose the good guys, when the good guys are not tough enough when the trouble arises, the women leave in search of tougher men.

Western society views warriors in much the same way. People say they want peace, and they criticize and look down upon warriors as a type of low-class throw back to uncivilized times. However, as long as there are humans on the planet, there will never be peace, so there will always be a need for warriors. And when that need arises, the peace lovers look to the warriors to protect them, for, in their quest for peace, they have lost the ability to protect themselves.

To be effective, warriors must kill, sometimes ruthlessly. Nice people can become warriors, but nice people do not usually train to be warriors, so even in times of desperation, they will not be able to do what is necessary effectively. Warriors are not nice people. They can pretend to be nice and may outwardly appear to be nice, but when the time comes they can be ruthless killers. Warriors can pretend to be nice and fit into a peaceful society, however, even when nice people try to be warriors, they can never fit into a warrior society.

Peace lovers hate warriors, but warriors do not hate peace. Warriors do not seek wars, but they realize that war is inevitable and are prepared for it. Peace lovers have been preaching their beliefs for thousands of years and mankind is no closer to peace than it was in the beginning. Peace is not a natural state, so it always tenuous. Warriors realize this and so they stay prepared. They know that any peace is short-lived so they cannot become complacent.
Humans act civilized by choice, sometimes personal, sometimes forced upon them, and by exercising self-control. When a group of sports fans erupts into violence, it is not because they were there to cause trouble. When a group of shoppers fights to be first at grand opening sale, it is not because they came with the intention of fighting. When people do not behave badly, it is not because they are “good” people, and that the people who behave badly are “bad” people; it is because they have better self-control than the bad people. When their self-control relaxes, their bad side emerges. Good people are better at controlling their bad side.

No matter how intellectual humans may think they are, they still are instinctual animals. We may try to suppress our instincts and pretend they do not exist, but the instincts are still there and they govern our day-to-day interactions. If someone tells you not think about pink elephants, you will think about pink elephants no matter how hard you try not to think about them. During the process of trying not think about them, you will have to think about them. Instincts behave in much the same manner. They will rise to the surface no matter how much you try to suppress them.

If you are a warrior, you will be criticized, ridiculed, and looked down upon as being crude and uncivilized, but do not be discouraged. Know that when things go bad, you will be in demand and sought out by all the “civilized” intellectuals who will demand that you protect them. Maybe the best thing to do is let them fend for themselves. Then their breed will die out and warriors will again have their place in society.