International Martial Arts Magazine Interviews
Master Bohdi Sanders, The Wisdom Warrior

 

Here is the uncut interview I did with International Martial Arts Magazine, which honored me on the September cover. The original interview was too long, so it had to be edited to make it shorter. The following is completely unedited and uncut. I hope you enjoy it! Bohdi Sanders

 

IMA: This month, we are interviewing Dr. Bohdi Sanders, The Wisdom Warrior. Dr. Sanders is a 5th Dan in Shotokan Karate, has a Ph.D. in Natural Health, has written 17 books, coined the terms “warrior wisdom,” “the warrior lifestyle,” and “Warrior philosophy,” has written hundreds of articles on martial arts and warrior philosophy, and is a columnist for International Martial Arts Magazine.

IMA: What got you interested in martial arts?

Bohdi: I grew up street fighting. I knew what it meant to be caught in a bad, life-or-death situation with basically no options, and I didn’t like the feeling. I had been out partying one night and partied too much. I got caught in a bad situation, and having had a bit too much to drink, I was not able to defend myself. I was beat up pretty bad and left lying in the gravel behind a big hillbilly night club. I came to with only the collar of my shirt left around my neck and beat to a pulp.

That night I vowed never to be in that situation again, that I would never lose another fight. And to this day, I haven’t. After that beat-down, I happened to run into that same guy a few months later. He got in my face again, but with different results. I beat the hell out of him. I never had anymore trouble from him or his buddies after that.

There was this one guy who had moved away and come back to town with a couple of years of karate under his belt. I saw him get into a fight one night and do some things that I had never seen. From that point on, I became interested in martial arts. But I had nowhere to learn martial arts, as I lived in rural Mississippi. That guy and I were far from friends, so learning from him was not an option. It was another seven years after that before I walked into my first dojo.

 

IMA: Who was your first martial arts instructor?

Bohdi: My first instructors were Bob and Nikki Allen. I had a paint company in Louisiana and had just started taking classes with them. Their home was right behind their dojo. It was a big house and in bad shape. Master Allen did not like the original price that I gave him and offered a trade. So, I ended up painting his house for a lifetime of karate instruction. That was enough to get me hooked. I have been a martial artist ever since that day.

 

IMA: What is your style?

Bohdi: My official rank is in Shotokan Karate. I have a 5th Dan in Shotokan. I have also done some training in ninjutsu, krav maga, kajukenbo, and escrima.

 

IMA: How did your first instructor(s) affect your life?

Bohdi: Both Bob and Nikki were excellent martial artists, and after training with them, it was hard to find another instructor that taught with the same high standards. They got me interested in all aspects of the martial arts, in Japan, and Asian culture. Nikki Allen was Japanese. Bob met her while training in Japanese. I used to be the kind of guy who would fight at the drop of a hat. That stopped when I started learning karate. Once I learned how easy it is to really hurt someone, I stopped fighting over stupid things. I quit fighting and became more mature.

And even though I haven’t had to fight for quite some time, I am more dangerous now than I have ever been at any time in the past. After over 40 years of studying the arts, you get to the point that you know exactly how to destroy the human body, not just trade punches or push and shove.

Like my dad always taught me, “A boy will fight you; a man will hurt you.” The same thing can be said of the martial arts—a beginner will fight you; a master can destroy you…if you force him to. The good thing is that once someone becomes a martial arts master, he or she doesn’t want to fight. A martial arts master will only fight if there is no other choice. Many newer martial artists want to fight to prove their skills. A true martial artist is not interested in proving anything to anyone. He already knows what he can do, and what he is willing to do.

They also set me on a different life path. From that humble beginning, I became a bestselling author. Most of my books are on martial arts and warrior philosophy, and several of them have hit #1 on Amazon’s Bestseller List. I went from not knowing one thing about martial arts to now calling martial arts legends such as Sifu Al Dacascos and others my personal friends and mentors. To quote one of my favorite musicians, Jimmy Buffett, who by the way, I also spent some time working for in the early 80’s, “That’s a pretty warm welcome for an ole boy from Mississippi!”

 

IMA: I know you have several college degrees. Where did you attend college?

Bohdi: I started my studies at the Ole Miss, the University of Mississippi, and ended up graduating from Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. I studied computer science, but got my first degree in sociology, with a minor in history. I also have advanced degrees from Grand Canyon University and Clayton College in Education and Natural Health. The martial arts taught me perseverance and determination, both of which I used to follow through on my degrees.

 

IMA: Have you taught martial arts or had your own dojo?

Bohdi: I taught my sons when they were very young. My older son, Stephen, continued and earned his black belt in Shotokan. Then, I was teaching school in a small school in Missouri…that was back in 1998, only a year or two after I achieved my 1st Dan. I know that most people don’t consider the rank of a 1st Dan to be experienced enough to teach, but I knew I had something to offer these kids, and they had no other options, so I stepped up. I started a school there and ended up having 65 students.

Teaching martial arts really affected me because I got to see firsthand how much faith and confidence people have in their martial arts instructor. I was still working with my instructor, Shihan William Jackson, as much as possible, and Master Jackson both supported me and urged me to step up and teach. During our belt tests, I had other martial arts masters come in and evaluate my students. We always got amazing comments about my students’ skills and manners. I think that actually motivated me to study and learn even more.

 

IMA: There is a lot of philosophy in your writings and books. What were your influences?

Bohdi: I have always enjoyed philosophy and wisdom literature. Even as a teenager, I enjoyed studying quote books and different philosophies. I have studied wisdom literature for over 40 years. I really got into my studies seriously after my first bad car wreck. When you have a close call in life, it awakens you. I have studied virtually all religious teachings, which I might add, are amazingly similar when you get into the deeper teachings. I have also studied the teachings of the sages from throughout the world, the Stoics, the Greeks, as well as the great teachers from Asia, and many more.

True wisdom is universal, meaning it applies to all people no matter where they are or how they live. Our schools and our children would be so much better off if the schools taught the wisdom of the sages and the Stoics in class, instead of simply coaching the students to pass the government’s standardized test. That alone would take care of many of the problems that we have today, but that is a whole other conversation.

I studied as much philosophy and wisdom literature as I could get my hands on. Used bookstores are great for finding a lot of philosophy books. When I started writing, I integrated my love of philosophy and wisdom literature with my love of the martial arts. I found that the philosophy/wisdom that I enjoyed fit in perfectly with my view of martial arts. That is the basis of my writings, and it has made me well-known. When I started my teachings, there was nobody else who was taking wisdom from the Stoics, the Greeks, Gracian, Goethe, and all the other sages, and integrating that wisdom with the martial arts.

Most of the martial arts books that had to do with philosophy only focused on philosophy from Sun Tzu, and Musashi, but they left out a lot of wisdom from Confucius, Lao Tzu, and philosophy the other parts of the world. I integrate wisdom from throughout the world into my teachings. As I said before, you can learn something from everyone. Each sage has something unique to teach us and they do so in their own way.

I studied them all. I used the teachings that I found useful, and which fit with my philosophy. And those I did not find useful, I simply left behind. Many people forget that martial arts are not limited to Asian countries. The term “martial arts” simply means the art of war or fighting, and that is not limited to Japan, China, or Korea. People all over the world have practiced “martial arts” for thousands of years. Look at the Greeks, the Trojans, the Romans, the Celts, the Israelites, etc. They all had their own system of “martial arts,” so why shouldn’t martial arts and warrior philosophy contain philosophies and wisdom from every part of the world?

 

IMA: What is your philosophy about what is the best martial art or best style?

Bohdi: Every martial art has something to offer. There is no martial art or style that is the best for everyone. It depends on the individual. Everyone is different. Not everyone can do the same things. People have different bodies, different muscle types, different injuries, etc. That is why Bruce Lee taught his students to take what worked for them personally and leave what doesn’t.

Even though I have mostly studied Shotokan Karate, I take what works for me and leave what doesn’t. This is especially true after a couple of bad car wrecks and multiple surgeries. There are some things that are simply not practical or beneficial for me anymore. That doesn’t mean I can’t perform the technique, but that it is unwise for me to do so because of my physical limitations now.

For example, I could still throw a hard roundhouse kick, but it would not be a smart thing for me to do after three hip surgeries and hip replacements. While I could throw the kick in a self-defense situation, it might also screw my hip up and leave me vulnerable. That is not smart self-defense, but rather being careless. True self-defense must consider everything. You must be smart and see all the angles.

Each person must know what they can do and what they cannot do. Not everyone is going to be like Bruce Lee or Chuck Norris. You must know your own strengths and weaknesses. Use your strengths to your advantage and defend your weaknesses. There is no best martial art. The question shouldn’t be “what’s the best martial art,” but rather, “what’s the best martial art for me?”

 

IMA: You write a lot about warrior wisdom or warrior philosophy, and you talk about the warrior lifestyle. What do these mean?

Bohdi: Warrior wisdom and warrior philosophy are simply wisdom/philosophy that motivates the warrior to live as he should. Warrior wisdom is wisdom from throughout the world that I have applied to the warrior lifestyle. I have gotten a lot of flack for using the term “the warrior lifestyle,” mostly from people who have no clue what it means to be a warrior. The warrior lifestyle is not some new fad or something. It is simply the ideal of how true, balanced warriors live their lives.

Master Gichin Funakoshi stated that the ultimate purpose of karate is the perfection of one’s character and he wrote 20 precepts about how one should conduct himself. These are ideals to aim for in life. That doesn’t mean that you don’t make mistakes or fall short of these ideals. They are goals to keep you focused on improving your life and living a life of character.

It’s the same for my teachings on the warrior lifestyle. It’s an ideal for people to live up to. It is about living a life of excellence in every area of one’s life—spirit, mind, and body. Of course, we all fall short of these ideals at times. But the warrior lifestyle is not about being perfect; nobody is perfect. Falling short of these ideals does not mean you’re not a warrior. It simply means you are not perfect. Every day is a new day to start fresh and continue to strive for the perfection of your character. Falling short doesn’t mean you have failed; it just means you have identified a weakness in your character or your life that you need to spend more time improving.

The warrior lifestyle is a lifestyle based on character, honor, integrity, courage, and all the other character traits that I write about, plus working to perfect your spirit and your physical body. It is aiming for excellence in every area of your life.

 

IMA: I know that when you use the term “warrior” or “warrior lifestyle” it offends some people. Why do you think that is?

Bohdi: In this day and age, many people are offended every time the wind changes directions. There are people who actually look for things to be offended by. That is their issue, not mine. The people who are offended by my using those terms are mostly people with ego problems. They want to believe that they are special and that only those who work in certain warrior jobs for a living should be able to use those terms.

That is simply ridiculous. Being a warrior has nothing to do with what you do for a living. There are people in the military who are absolutely bad ass warriors. On the other hand, I have seen people who were in the military who are not even close to being warriors. Being a warrior comes from the inside, from your spirit, not from your choice of livelihood.

Yeah, it offends some people that I use those terms, but that is their problem. It is not my job to walk on eggshells in order to not offend those who are oversensitive or who have ego issues. I believe what I believe, and they can believe what they believe. Their thoughts on the matter do not change who I am, what I believe, or what I teach. People with fragile egos will always find something to be offended by.

As Bruce Lee taught, “I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.” I live and teach what I believe is true, and they can do the same. All I know is that my teachings have helped thousands of people worldwide, so I must be doing something right.

 

IMA: There are obviously different opinions or definitions of what being a warrior means. How do you define being a warrior?

Bohdi: My definition of a true warrior is someone who has the ability and will to fight to protect himself, his friends, his family, and his ideals, and at the same time, seeks the perfection of his own character through a life lived with honor, integrity, and an unflinching dedication to what is right according to his own code of ethics. The ability to fight is only a small part of this definition. The true warrior has to develop more than his martial arts skills. The qualities of the true warrior go much deeper than that.

Warriors should exhibit the best qualities among men. The true warrior makes a firm decision to try to perfect his character and to live by a strict code of ethics. His word is his honor. His duty stays fresh on his mind. He lives life a little more seriously than most, but at the same time lives life to its fullest and doesn’t take himself too serious. He sees through the veil of appearances covering most of this world, but does so without looking down on those who are less perceptive.

Family and friends are important to him, and they know that they can always count on him for protection and help in their times of need. He bases his decisions on his code of ethics, and he instinctively knows right from wrong, and chooses right. He knows that at times there is a difference between what is right and what is legal, and what is wrong and what is illegal. As Lao Tzu taught, “Highly evolved people have their own conscience as pure law.”

The true warrior is able to hold his head high with honor because he knows that he lives his life to the best of his ability, with honor and integrity. His code is ingrained in his spirit and is a part of his being. The warrior is a man who shoots for excellence in everything he does. To me, these are the things which make someone a true warrior, and the development of these traits leads to the warrior lifestyle.

 

IMA: You mentioned there is a difference between what is right and what is legal, and what is wrong and what is illegal. Could you expand on this?

Bohdi: Sure. Laws are made by politicians, and we both know how honorable and upright the majority of politicians are. I saw on the news the other day that only 13% of our population respects congress and thinks they are doing a good job. Well, it is these same politicians that make the laws. And many of those laws have nothing to do with what is right or just. They are simply political posturing. Just because some corrupt politicians make something a law does not mean that it is right.

I will give you an example that I like to use. During WWII, it was against the law to harbor or hide Jews. But most people know that this law was not right. Those who did what was right during that period had to break the law. When the lawmakers and the laws are corrupt, only outlaws are honorable. There are many examples of this in the United States, as well as in many other countries.

What I meant when I said that the warrior knows the difference between what is right and what is legal, or what is wrong and what is illegal, is that the true warrior always strives to do what is right, regardless of what corrupt politicians or leaders say. This doesn’t mean that the warrior should break the law as he sees fit. It simply means that what is right trumps what some political hack says is illegal, and he will base his actions on what is right and just, no matter what anyone else thinks, says, or does. He also understands that, at times, doing what is right may have some negative consequences for him, but he does what is right anyway.

Warriors put what is right over what is legal. On the other hand, the fact that some corrupt politicians believe something is legal and okay to do, doesn’t mean anything to the warrior. He lives his life by his own standards. Just because something is legal, doesn’t mean that it is right or just. The warrior sets his own standards, based on what is right, not on what is legal or illegal.

 

IMA: I am sure that leads to the question, “Who determines what is right and what is wrong?” If each person decides for himself what is right and what is wrong, wouldn’t we have chaos? Could you expand on that?

Bohdi: Yes, you’re right. If every person decided for themselves what is right and wrong, we would have chaos. I said the warrior sets his own standards. I didn’t say that everyone sets their own standards. There is a huge difference between a warrior who is well-read, studies philosophy, and seeks to always do what’ right, and people who do not care about what’s right as long as they get what they want.

Warriors seek what is right, not necessarily what is the most profitable. Average people seek what is profitable, not necessarily what is right. The reason we have laws to start with is that there are so many people who refuse to do what’s right, or simply do not care about what’s right or what’s wrong. Lao Tzu taught, “As soon as laws are necessary for men, they are no longer fit for freedom.” He also wrote, “Highly evolved people have
their own conscience as pure law.”

Laws are meant to control those who will not control themselves. Warriors seek to discipline themselves. Self-control is important to all warriors. You might say that the true warrior is a highly evolved human being, and as such, he has his own conscience as pure law. He knows what is right and wrong, and he always does his best to do what’s right.

 

IMA: I have read where you stated that “self-defense leave nothing out.” What do you mean by this statement?

Bohdi: If you consider the state of our country today, you will understand that it is not just the malicious criminal that you must defend yourself against. Yes, you absolutely must keep your self-defense skills sharp, but you must also be aware that there are many things you must defend against. You must be careful about what you say or someone will try to twist what you say and use it against you.

You must beware of the criminal justice system. Time and time again, I have seen the legal system screw good people. And this is only getting worse. Unless you have had to deal with the legal system for some reason, you will most likely not understand how corrupt it truly is from top to bottom. You can’t depend on equal justice under the law anymore. You must defend yourself against internet trolls and hackers. And you must defend yourself against government agencies which have their own personal agendas. This list could go on and on.

All of these things are a part of complete self-defense. In fact, I would say that over your lifetime, you will have a much greater need to defend yourself against these other things than against some mugger or someone who wants to assault you. You must make sure that your self-defense is complete. True self-defense leaves nothing out!

 

IMA: What do you think is the biggest challenge for martial arts today?

Bohdi: I understand that people train in martial arts for different reasons, but true martial arts were never meant to be for sport or simply a hobby. True martial arts were meant to be the art of war. They were for self-defense. I think that many dojos have forgotten this. I believe that the biggest challenge for martial arts is that they have been watered down, for the lack of a better term. It is hard to find a hard-core dojo which teaches fight-stopping self-defense techniques today. Most are more interested in the financial side of things. So, they promote 12-year-olds to the rank of black belt. Many have become little more than after school day care programs.

The other issue in today’s martial arts has to do with out-of-control egos. People who are willing to buy rank and titles, or even bogus martial arts hall of fame awards. To be fair, many of these martial artists don’t know that some of these halls of fame are nothing more than money making scams. I mean…come on! If you are being awarded a martial arts hall of fame award as the “Master of the Year,” you don’t expect for there to be 40 other guys getting the exact same award. That is a scam! I wrote my book, DEFIANCE: The Dark Side of the Martial Arts, to expose some of these scams. The love of money is the root of all evil!

 

IMA: That leads me to my next question. Do you think that having a black belt today means the same as it did in the 1970s?

Bohdi: In most dojos, absolutely not! Back in the 70s, if someone had a black belt, he was someone who you had better not cross. They earned that belt, and they earned it the hard way. And they had the brutal skills that went along with that belt. You used to not hear of hardly anyone who had higher belt ranks like 4th or 5th Dans, but it has become common today. I have seen black belts who could not fight their way out of a wet paper bag. Many students are being promoted to the rank of black belt who could not hold a candle to some of the guys from the 1970s. I think if you ask most of the older martial artists, my age and older, they would tell you the same thing.

 

IMA: Who would you say is your mentor in the martial arts?

Bohdi: I have two people who were my mentors. First is Shihan William Jackson. He not only taught me down and dirty martial arts, but a lot about survival. He was a survivalist and lived in the San Juan mountains outside of Dolores, Colorado. I miss him very much.

The other martial artist that I consider my mentor is Sifu Al Dacascos. I owe Sifu Al a lot. He has been a friend and mentor for years now. He is the best martial artist I have ever trained with. I honor the time I get to spend with Sifu Al, both in person and in our long phone conversations. He has been a true friend to me, and true friends are really hard to come by.

 

IMA: What are your most memorable moments in your martial arts journey?

Bohdi: Wow…there have been several. One is when Shihan Jackson urged me to start a martial arts program for kids back in, I think it was 1997. I was only a 1st Dan then and was living in a small town in the middle of nowhere. There was not much for the kids to do there. I started a Shotokan program and had 65 students. I learned a lot by teaching those guys. There are so many more. There are a couple of martial arts hall of fame inductions that I hold dear to my heart. I have been able to meet so many amazing martial arts masters through my writing.

When I was working on my book series, Secrets of the Martial Arts Masters, I developed friendships with many great martial artists. Even Chuck Norris agreed to do a chapter for me. I was greatly honored to have so many great martial arts masters agree to be a part of that project. Grandmaster Fumio Demura agreed to write a chapter for me, which was excellent. Master Demura was very good to me. I had a long conversation with Master Demura about various things when he agreed to write a chapter for me, which I put as the first chapter in the series.

When I was almost finished with that book series, I found out that I had to have emergency brain surgery to remove a brain tumor. So, I called Master Demura to let him know that things would be delayed because of it, and we talked about several things. When I got home from the hospital, after a week in the intensive care unit, I received an unexpected phone call from Master Demura. He just wanted to check up on me and make sure I was doing well. This meant a lot to me! Master Demura was a great man and a great martial artist. Many people aren’t aware that Master Demura is who the character of Mr. Miyagi was modeled after. He actually did all of Mr. Miyagi’s karate techniques in the Karate Kids movies.

Also, in writing and editing Secrets of the Martial Arts Masters, I was able to get in touch with Adrian Paul, star of Highlander the Series. I have always been a big Highlander fan and having Adrian write a chapter for me was a big honor for me. He is a good guy and wrote a great chapter on honor. He also wrote some interesting information about how they tried to integrate honor, etc. into the series, which was one of the reasons I enjoyed that show so much.

Then there was the time that I was being targeted by some internet haters who went out of their way to try to destroy my reputation. Sifu Al Dacascos went out of his way to back me up against their lies. He wrote an open letter on the internet stating that he had trained with me and that my martial arts skills were as good as any of the advanced black belts he had worked with. Then he called me to make sure they weren’t making me doubt myself or anything like that, and told me, “Bohdi, I have trained with you. There is nobody on the streets that you can’t handle. You are as good as any of the advanced black belts I have trained with.” I have to tell you, coming from Sifu Al Dacascos, that meant almost as much to me as my belt rank itself.

There are so many others…too many to include here. I was able to train my older son, Stephen, to his 1st Dan and got to see him win many trophies over the years. I have met so many great martial artists and have had so many of them write to me and thank me for my work and what I have done with my books. And even though it doesn’t have to do directly with my martial arts journey, the hundreds of emails and letters I have received from readers, telling me how my writing has changed their lives, has been absolutely amazing. I am so honored to be able to do something to help so many people.

 

IMA: I know that you have had a couple of car wrecks, hip surgeries, and brain surgery. Do you still train?

Bohdi: I do what I can do. Although there are some techniques and kicks I won’t do anymore because of my injuries, I can still do a lot. And yes, I still train, but my training is modified. When I told my doctor what all I have done in my life, six years of football, many years of bodybuilding, 40 years of martial arts, and other various things, he told me that I earned all my aches and pains. Another one of my doctors was shocked when she asked me my age. She told me that I have more muscle mass than 99% of the men my age. So, I guess I am not doing too bad. I just have to be more careful now, but I imagine that goes for most people my age and older.

 

IMA: You have written 17 books. Which is your favorite? Which is your fans’ favorite?

Bohdi: That is like asking which of my kids is my favorite. LOL  I think they are all great books. I really do. I try to write the kind of books that I would buy in Barnes and Noble. The book that I refer back to the most is titled Strategic Wisdom: Mastering the Game of Life. It was titled Defensive Living: The Other Side of Self-Defense. I like it so much that I just updated it with a lot of new content, a new cover, and a title that should reach a wider audience. That said, I believe that all of my books are very good. I have won many book awards for my work and that is always a good sign, as those book awards are not easy to come by. Modern Bushido: Living a Life of Excellence has been my biggest seller, but Strategic Wisdom has so much useful wisdom for everyday life that I refer back to it very often.

 

IMA: You are now in your 60s. Do you have any advice for older people training in the martial arts?

Bohdi: Yes, I do. You have to realize that you are not in your twenties anymore. While you may still be formidable, you probably need to modify your workouts some. It is easy to feel good about yourself and to believe that you can still do what you once did, but it is also easy to over-do-it and set your training back if you are not careful. You must spend more time warming up now, and be much more careful with your training. That may sound obvious, but believe me, it is easy to start feeling really good about yourself and push things a little too far. You don’t do yourself any favors by pushing too hard and injuring yourself.

Now, I mostly train to keep my self-defense skills up. Keep training in the art you love, but also add some reliable, fight-ending techniques to your training, if you don’t already have them. You want to be able to end a fight quickly, and without too many bumps and bruises. When you get older, your body can’t take as much as it once could, and it takes much longer to recover. You don’t want to win the fight, but take a beating in the process. You want to end the fight fast, period.

You must think long term. If you continue with your hard-core workouts and training, be ready to deal with a lot of arthritis and other issues down the line. Your body is a machine. It is the most amazing machine known to man, but like every machine, it wears out. Continue to train, but train smart, and think of your long-term health. Grandmaster Richar Norton wrote a really good chapter for my Secrets of the Martial Arts Masters series. It was on this very subject. If you are an older martial artist, I highly recommend that you get a copy of that book and read his chapter. It will make you feel better about getting older and still training.

 

IMA: For someone interested in getting started on the warrior’s path, what should they do first and continue to keep in mind?

Bohdi: They should study the ways of the warrior. There are several good books which teach men and women the principles of warriorhood. My books are a great place to start. They have received high praise from both top martial artists and those with military experience. I would recommend that they do some reading and some self-reflection on how they are currently living their life. Then take the knowledge that they learn and develop a person code of honor. Find a good martial arts instructor which teaches and supports living a life of honor and integrity, and models what he says he believes. Also, learn some real-world, self-defense techniques, if you haven’t already. The way our world is going, you may need them now more than ever.

And, they should keep in mind that they will fall short from time to time. This doesn’t mean that they blew it forever, only that they screwed up. When you screw up, admit it to yourself and determine to do better from that point forward. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes, even those of us with the best intentions. When you make a mistake, correct it, learn from it, and move on, determined not to make that same mistake again. Living the warrior lifestyle is a journey; it is not a goal that you can achieve and then check off of your to-do list. It is a lifelong process.

You can’t merely earn your black belt and then quit training and think that your skills will be sharp when you need them. You have to keep training, keep your skills sharp, and constantly maintain your principles. If you quit training, your skills will regress. If you let your guard down, you will let your principles slide. You have to continue to improve yourself each and every day. Living the warrior lifestyle is a never-ending journey, not a destination.

 

IMO: Is there any certain order that you recommend someone read your books in?

Bohdi: Not really. When I am asked that question, I usually recommend that they start with Modern Bushido: Living a Life of Excellence, then BUSHIDO: The Way of the Warrior, and then Strategic Wisdom: Mastering the Game of Life. But each of my books stands alone and can be read in any order that the reader desires. Just like any other skill, my writing has improved over the years. Many readers like to read my books in order from the first to the last. That would be: 1) Warrior Wisdom 2) WARRIOR 3) The Warrior Lifestyle 4) Wisdom of the Elders 5) Secrets of the Soul 6) Strategic Wisdom 7) Modern Bushido 8) Men of the Code 9) Martial Arts Wisdom 10) BUSHIDO: The Way of the Warrior 11/12) Secrets of the Martial Arts Masters volume 1 & 2, 13) DEFIANCE: The Dark Side of the Martial Arts 14) The Art of Inner Peace 15) Musashi’s Dokkodo. I think I missed a couple, but that is a good list.

 

IMO: Thank you for this interview and the great information, Bohdi.

Bohdi: You are very welcome. Thank you for putting out such a great martial arts magazine.