Warrior Self Actualization

Friday Knight News

To understand warrior self-actualization we must first understand what it is to be a warrior. By definition a warrior is a person skilled in the art of combat that is highly regarded by a culture or society that reveres the personal insights of this group. Warriors may be from police or military backgrounds, or they may fall under the guise of a protective spiritual warrior category. One thing that all warrior cultures have in common is they follow a behavioral code for the good of the culture or society.

Next we must understand self-actualization which is in equal balance to the combat portion within the spiritual warrior category. This is why it is so often noted as the mind and body connection. The changes from this union are what the inner side of the martial arts are about. The behavioral code is a guide to self-reflection and a pathway for mental development in a warrior culture.

The Army had a slogan, “Be all you can be.” This slogan sums up self-actualization which is the need or desire to realize your full potential. However, achieving your full potential does not negate your basic human needs. Achieving our full potential also does not mean that you will never need to accomplish anything again. Both sets of needs (hunger, thirst, and the need to breathe) as well as the need to fulfill our destiny must be continually replenished.

The prime difference is that a self-actualized warrior knows the steps that he has taken to overcome himself to fulfill both his physical and his emotional needs. Like a hunter stocking prey, he may have to seek different areas to accomplish this task on other days, but he knows the process he has to go through. More importantly he knows how to contend with his own personal issues of self-doubt etc. that stand in the way of both his physical needs and his emotional ones.

The behavioral code of various warrior cultures can vary in length and description. For example the code of chivalry and the code of bushido illustrate this perfectly. What I have found to be relevant in each is what I was taught in both Eastern and Western martial arts on my first day. These lessons all dealt with courtesy, respect, and honor. I especially liked the way it was phrased in my early jujutsu and kempo classes. The famous saying went along these lines, “Martial arts begin and end with respect.”

Titles are a prime factor in recognizing and acknowledging the respect and esteem we have for others. In Western culture we show respect to people who have actually done something to achieve and earn their titles of respect. For example I generally refer to my DDS, chiropractor, and general practitioner as doc. This is because I’m on a friendly first name basis with these individuals. The doc term is just the Americanized slang for Dr. which is generally followed by the practitioner’s last name. The word Dr. comes from the Greek for teacher and if I recall correctly in Japan most people referred to their medical practitioners as sensei. This word is also associated with teacher and actually means born before. This born before is signifying that the individual has been born into the knowledge of a particular field of study.

We also refer to police and military personnel either as officers (of the law) or their ranks but only while they are in uniform. If someone holds a PhD they are often referred to as Dr.; but this is only while they are working in their field of expertise or instructing. The same can be said of nurses and martial art instructors as well. There are exceptions to this for example a Sgt., through their actions saved your life, they are often rewarded with always being referred to by the title even if they may have left the profession. The same is often true for a Dr. who treated you through injuries or ailments. This is often even after you have moved away and change physicians. A sensei or sifu who changed your life or because of the change in your life from their teaching saved you; then these individuals are also often rewarded with being perpetually honored with their title.

It is been my observation that individuals that do not require or demand the title that is issued for their achievements, training and dedication are often the ones most deserving of the title. It’s like the teacher who was your coach that change your perspective on life is always referred to in and out the classroom, wrestling mat, school as coach. These titles are the beginning of our introduction into the martial arts as novices when referring to our teachers. They are also the titles that we are often afraid to accept once we become the teacher. A title is not just an honorific endorsement, but it is a reminder and a duty to live up to a responsibility and the sacred trust between the teacher and the student.

The reason the title goes with the job is because we become what we do and what we do is what we become. I have great respect for many martial art masters whose skills out shine mine. I am also somewhat ashamed of many of these individuals who proclaim that they are only teaching self-defense and how to save yourself. This I feel is a disservice to the arts and a denial of the responsibility as warriors. A warrior knows the arts change us and being just a technician only teaches how to kill. A true warrior knows how to kill but more importantly knows how to live.

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