To Die For

Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.
Jesus

There are not a lot of things in life that people are willing to die for. Not much is as important to someone as his or her own life. Actually, it is rare to find someone who is willing to lay down his life for anything or anyone else. As Jesus said, no man has greater love than when he lays down his life for someone else. It really takes someone with a special spirit to even consider laying down his own life for someone else. The true warrior is just this type of person.

The warrior knows that there are times which may require him to put his life on the line to protect those he loves. This doesn’t mean that he has a death wish or that he doesn’t value his life just as much as the next man, but rather that he knows that some risks are worth taking and some people are worth defending, even if it means putting your own life on the line. This begs to question, who is worth defending with your life and why?

The secret of success is before attempting anything,
be very clear about why you are doing so.
Guan Yin Tzu

Many people say that they “would die for” their spouse or their children, but would they really? When the hammer is cocked, would they really take the bullet, or is this some chivalric fantasy that they have in their mind? Are they living in their own little fantasy world where they are the hero or do they really have the courage and character to put their life on the line for those that they love?

Let’s make this even more personal; do you have the intestinal fortitude to lay down your life for those you love if it came down to that? How do you know? This is something that most of us have never experienced before, so how can you be sure that you would not fold under pressure? Is there even anyone in your life that you would be willing to put your life on the line for? Who? Why? These are essential questions for the warrior to ask himself before he finds his back against the wall.

First say to yourself what you would be;
then do what you have to do.
Epictetus

Most people never stop to think about these questions because it is not really a jovial exercise to imagine yourself dying, for any reason. Nobody likes to focus on their own mortality. To the average person this seems like an exercise in depression, but to the warrior, this is an essential practice. The knights of old did this. The samurai did this. These warriors did not partake in this mental visualization out of a morbid death wish, but rather as a preparation in case they ever found themselves in such a circumstance.

This is the same reason that you should give some thought and even visualization to this subject – to be prepared for such an event, even if it never comes. Being prepared never hurt anyone. Don’t plan on losing. Don’t plan on dying. Never visualize yourself losing, but at the same time you need to know when and why you would be willing to put your life on the line.

A man’s action is only a picture book of his creed.
Emerson

Who is worth this much to you? Why? How far would you go to protect those you love? Reflect on these questions and then prepare so that if you do find yourself in a situation where you do have to place your life in danger to protect others, you will ultimately come out victorious. Being victorious is never guaranteed, but preparation always increases your odds of succeeding. Don’t fold when your loved-ones need you most.

Courage is grace under pressure.
Hemingway

Cowards die many times before their deaths,
the valiant never taste of death but once.
Shakespeare

Bohdi
Warrior Wisdom

Kajukenbo – Training the Warrior Way

Is the point of martial arts training to learn everything about your particular style of martial art or is it to provide you with the best skills possible to survive an encounter, whatever those skills may be? There are different many different goals associated with martial arts training, but for the warrior the goal is to hone his survival skills and to keep them as sharp as possible. He is concerned with obtaining the skills necessary to survive a violent encounter. The warrior is not as interested in the “art” aspect of the martial arts, as he is the down and dirty techniques which he can add to his arsenal. This isn’t to say that he may not be interested in the “art” aspect, but first and foremost, he knows he has to have the skills he needs to perform his duty as a warrior when the time comes.

This is where Kajukenbo comes into play. Kajukenbo was developed by five martial artists in the 1940′s as a perfect martial arts system for survival in any streetfight situation. It is a highly effective combat system which derives its name from the first letters of the different style which it comes from. Kajukenbo is derived from karate, judo/jujiotsu, kenpo, and Chinese boxing/kung fu. Basically, it took the best, most useful parts of these arts and combined them into what many call “the perfected art of dirty street fighting.” This term though is not really accurate. There is no such thing as dirty street fighting. Street fighting is street fighting…anything goes in a real life-or-death street fight. There is no such thing as a fair fight; there is only survival.

The first law of war is to preserve ourselves and destroy the enemy.
Mao Tse-Tung

The philosophy of Kajukenpo is tow part: to survive in a real street fight situtation, and to take whatever is useful from any martial art and make it your own. This martial art combines the best, most useful of all the arts…the parts which really work when you need them to. Kajukenpo combines these techniques with the knowledge of vital striking targets, how to attack these targets with concentrated power, and the proper mental attitude needed to survive a street fight. With Kajukenbo, whatever techniques work and keep you safe, are an acceptable part of the art. There is no debating over whether this or that technique is part of Kajukenbo; if it works, it is assimilated. This is what the warrior needs instead of an art which requires that you have to learn all its techniques, whether they are useful or not.

In a street fight or a life-or-death situation, the warrior should take the fighter’s axiom to heart: “Take the opponent out, and go home.” The warrior’s objective in a street fight is to survive, to protect those who need his protection, and to destroy his enemy to the point that they can no longer harm the warrior or those around him. In a street fight, anything goes; there is no such thing as a fair fight. You do what it takes to win, and use what you have to use to get the job done. Strike hard and fast and end the threat as soon as possible.

Focus on your one purpose.
Japanese Maxim

Don’t underestimate your opponent in the street. Many thugs street fight on a weekly basis and are experts at their trade. Remember, they will not play by any rules except to beat you. You better play the same way. Use surprise to your advantage. Target the most vulnerable targets first and get this thing over with fast. Go for the eyes, the throat, the joints, the groin; break bones and take out the knees. This sounds brutal, but street fighting is brutal. If it is not serious enough to target these spots, then you have no business fighting. Either it is deadly serious and you have no other choice, or you should find another way to deal with the problem.

In cases of defense tis best to weigh the enemy more mighty than he seems.
Shakespeare

He is victorious who knows when and when not to fight.
Sun Tzu

Kajukenbo uses what works in the street. It is made for real life situations, not for sparring and points. This is a martial art for the real warrior, not the sports enthusiasts. If you want to learn the art of survival, check this art out for yourself. Use what works and keep yourself and those who depend on you safe. And, as always, train with deadly seriousness.

Bohdi Sanders
The Wisdom Warrior

Beware of the Crocodiles

The majority of people today live a fairly peaceful life. Most of us do not have to defend our lives weekly, monthly, or even yearly. With the exception of law enforcement officers and military men and women, most of us do not have to deal with dangerous criminals or life threatening situations on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, the vast majority of people today will live their entire life without ever encountering a kill-or-be-killed situation. This being the case, you may ask why you should train to be a warrior when the odds are that you will never have to use the skills that you are working so hard to obtain. The answer is found in this Malaysian proverb:

Do not be tricked into thinking that there are
no crocodiles just because the water is still.
Malaysian Proverb

If you have ever watched one of the wildlife shows on television, you have probably seen how crocodiles attack. An unsuspecting animal, going about his business, stops at a peaceful waterhole for a drink, and out of nowhere the crocodile explodes from the water and ambushes the unsuspecting animal taking his life. There is no mercy. There are no regrets…simply cold, calculating, vicious, and merciless death for the unsuspecting, unprepared victim.

Don’t become complacent with your life or your training. Just because your life seems to be normal and peaceful, doesn’t mean that the bad guys are not out there. Don’t make the mistake of believing that “those kinds of things never happen to me.” The very minute you let your guard down, is the opportunity that the crocodile has been waiting for all day.

From Warrior Wisdom: Ageless Wisdom for the Modern Warrior
by Bohdi Sanders, PhD

The Wisdom Warrior