For your edification I post the following, composed by former California Police Officer Gabriel Suarez. Suarez is, in my opinion, one of the preeminent self-defense instructors in the nation. He teaches internationally, and many of the advancements we see in tactical and defensive circles were anticipated or even initiated by him and his research. I have trained with him several times, and think his words have merit. THE WARRIOR LIFESTYLE Friday, June 02, 2017 From the perception of safety comes the relaxation of standards, and then the rise of the acceptance of marginal performance as something adequate. Inevitably, the acceptance of mediocrity leads to its adherents defending their current state as normal and ridiculing those who do not wish to be held down by their low standards. Profound? No, simply an observation from life. It happens in police/military circles as well as in any industry and in society as well. We see it in the gun world…perhaps especially now that the specters of Hillary and Obama have passed into unpleasant history. It is as if now, some have glommed on to the illusion of safety from magazine bans, and assault rifle bans. And being safe from such things, it is almost - in their minds, as if evil itself has been driven out from the country. And they no longer need to maintain skills or maintain top grade equipment. Finally, they think, they can now be like “normal” people. Point out that we are still at war with Jihadists, and that the Urban Terrorist Movement (Antifa, BLM, etc.) have joined the war against “normal people”, and they discount the entire discussion. It is as if being normal, now they are immune from all those evil possibilities that people like me consider when we leave the house in the morning. But I would wonder what the motivation was in the first place. Excellence in all things, skill-at-arms being one of them, should be the driving force in life rather than a reaction to the perception of the presence or absence of danger. Thus, if peace and love broke out everywhere, the martially-inclined individual would still purse his studies as if he was to face the fight of a lifetime in the next few days. The hobbyist doesn’t hold such a position. They see themselves as "average guys" and hold the position that "civilians" don't need to concern themselves with such things. Here is a short post from a few years ago. It bears repeating. *** I want to introduce you to an imaginary man - John Smith. John Smith is a private citizen. That means that he is not hampered by political directives at federal, state or local levels. But John thinks he is "just a civilian". John has sought mediocrity his entire life. It is what he was trained for since birth....don't make waves...be a nice guy...you can't do this...you can't do that. And sadly, he believed it all and grew up to be...a good boy. Then John realized he'd better buy a pistol and carry it because his neighbor was robbed, beaten, raped and brutalized, and the police did not come in time for anything but the report. So he went to the local gunstore and allowed the over-sized cigar smoking salesman to patronize him into buying a double action only Smith and Wesson because it had several safeties and a real heavy and long trigger pull. "It was great for a mediocrity-seeking civilian like John", announced the salesman as he wiped doughnut juice on his Police Revolver Club t-shirt. John asked about the Glocks and M&Ps, and that SIG with the Red Dot on it that looked so modern and cool. "Oh no...those are for professionals son....you are a civilian...you don't need anything like that". Money was not the issue, but being a mediocrity seeker, and not wanting to be guilty of the sin of arguing, or being presumptuos about his status as a man, he bought the Smith and Wesson and went home. He did go to a free handgun clinic at the local range after he passed his CCW class. But he was a civilian and did not need to go to one of those "commando schools", or learn how to kill things like that ad said. And he certainly didn't need to lift those intimidating weights which he read were bad for you anyway. He was a civilian and didn't like carrying a gun in the first place. And he rarely did. So John went on with his life doing his best to avoid bad things, bad places and bad people. But one day, as much as he tried, trouble came to him. He found himself at church when some crazy wild eyed bearded guy decided today was his jihad day and began shooting people as he yelled "Allah Akbar!". The congregation was also full of mediocrity seekers and those that did not get shot outright, ran away like properly conditioned civilians should. But John was torn about running with the rest of the herd, or fighting. He knew that he needed to do something, but that "something" was nothing he had any skill for. Still, he drew his pistol and tried to aim it but it felt strange in his hands....after all civilians did not need to train like Delta Force so John spent his free time playing tennis, and catching butterflies with his wife instead. Speaking of his wife, at that moment a round from the terrorist caught his frozen wife in the face and dropped her...as he turned to see her fall three rounds hit him in the chest, two piercing his heart.....and the last thought that he had before he lapsed into blissfully unconscious death was, "......but I am just a civilian". You want that for yourself? No? Look...you can be a warrior, or you can be a sissy. That is that. Remember when you were ten years old? What did you play? Did you play nice guy butterfly collector? Were you enthralled by Mister Rogers? Did you daydream about getting along with everyone? NO!! You played games where you were the hero....YOU killed the freaking dragon! YOU saved the maiden! YOU saved the day. Your games, like all normal little boys were filled with storming castles, sinking ships, and blowing up enemy planes. So what happened to you? You became.....socialized and civilized. You suppressed yourself to fit in with lesser men...and the women that wanted them. You became domesticated because you thought that was what you were supposed to become. Become the warrior your heritage calls you to be - whether your profession is an accountant or a dentist or a teacher...or a gunfighter. A man is a warrior because he says he is, and he lives it everyday. But that is not what we are supposed to be. I would not consider life worth living, nor myself successful, if I had to pretend to be other than what I am for the approval and acceptance of lesser men. Be the warrior in your heart. Live as a warrior. Watch how your life changes!
Cool story, bro. Of course you are 100% more likely to be injured by a car driven by your drunk neighbor than an evil henchman of the dark lord, but if playing warrior is your thing - have at it.
Well, you can pull whatever nonsensical numbers you please out of wherever you summon them, but I've never been endangered by a drunk neighbor; while I HAVE had to use a gun to fend of a violent criminal. So, I was 100% more likely to need my gun for defense than I ever needed to worry about my drunk neighbor. But you embrace whatever rationalizations you have to so you can sleep at night. Live whatever lifestyle you choose; I don't care. But don't try to dictate to me how to live my life.
Didn't say you couldn't live your life as you choose - of course, age has a way of making some decisions for you, so don't be surprised if in 15 years your outlook is a little different. Statistically however, twice as many people are killed in drunk driving accidents than evil ninjas, and most of those killed in America are by angry spouses or ex boyfriends. Surprise!
Sorry, but you make me laugh with that. I'm already flirting with 50 years old, in better shape than most men my age. Yeah, I've had to make concessions to injuries and age but every concession is simply an adaptation to my training to enable me to continue evolving and keeping me as strong as physically possible. Gabe Suarez, the author of what I posted above, is nearly 60, looks 40, and can outshoot, outfight, and out train men half his age and is healthier and stronger now than he was when he had to leave his law-enforcement career due to a serious back injury. So... while I acknowledge the changes of age, I refuse to surrender to them. ...And most of those non-criminals who are killed probably wouldn't be if they chose to take responsibility for their own defense. Surprise.
Of course you could be an actual warrior and serve your country...oh wait.....that is way too literal. Lol
I processed crime scenes for ten years, lots of domestic violence, several accidental shootings, only one self-defense. Crimes of passion usually were quick escalations where victims really didn't think their partner would hurt them. So yes, there are times training might help, but living in a constant state of xenophobic tension isn't healthy.
Growing up in a war zone sets the mind beyond survival to wining. The principals learned in martial arts, prepares you for any situation, ranging along the continuum of peace and meditation to extreme action, but also any endeavor from science to business. Stop training both your mind and your body and you might as well admit you are starting to vuluntarily initiating dying. I am 64... cycled 40mi this morn before settling in to work as I do most days, weather permitting. Tomorrow I have 4 sparing matches scheduled with younger fellows; mind against age. I have translated what would be called thecWarrio's War to an appreciation and passion for life and a determination to overcome any challenge I encounter. I might rest when I die, or...
Well, I spent time as a law enforcement officer and saw my share of crime scenes as well; to say nothing of the lessons I learned as the grandson of a police officer with 40 years of experience. We saw what happened to people who were attacked who couldn't defend themselves and we saw what happened to people who were attacked who could. I know which side of that equation I want to be on. There are no guarantees in life... unless you choose to do nothing. And I am not "xenophobic", so you can keep that insulting little smear to yourself.
so I wear a seatbelt, have uninsured motorist coverage and I report drunk drivers to the Highway patrol when I see them on the road. Having prosecuted dozens of drunk drivers and listened to hundreds of hours of testimony concerning such scum, I know what one looks like. But I don't think being prepared for one kind of possible threat to my safety negates my duty to be prepared for another
Much easier to be a pretend, "prepared", ninja, listening to hundreds of hours of testimony, then actually walking into the arena.
I occasionally read stories like this, and from my own personal experience from a young age, I learned how important are the skills relating to Defense, I was 9 years old when I started to really understand these concepts.
VG: "Of course you could be an actual warrior and serve your country...oh wait.....that is way too literal. Lol" Vegas Giant has attempted to smear me before with his childish little gibe about serving the country, which I find humorous since I DID serve this country. I just wore a different uniform than he did; but heaven forbid he should allow pesky little things like facts be considered before he posts something.
its pretty sad that those who took an oath to defend the constitution somehow think attacking the second amendment is consistent with that oath. I took that oath twice and not only do I follow it, I do my best to defend the constitution against enemies, especially domestic
Fight or flight? Are you a sheep, or a sheepdog? I think Mr. Smith in your story would have been well served with a 6 shot .357 revolver that he was trained with and comfortable using in almost any typical defense shooting. Now one must think realistically what the common threats would be during his life. No one firearm is going to be enough if you are attacked by 10 Ninjas with their chained bears. Even some of the most well armed and well trained civilian firearms gurus do not advocate being sheepdogs. They say in a mass shooting event they would likely first try to flee the area, get themselves and family to safety, then find cover and ambush the bad guy(s).
You advocate that people give up their guns and rely on the police for security, but like many on the left, then proceed to disrepespect those that have/do put their lives on the line for others. Sad really.
He has me on ignore for calling out his playground tactics and reflecting them back. I am ok with that, he can't argue rationally. But, I don't have anyone on ignore... like Sun Tzu advises, know one's enemy. VG and a couple others posting are reflections of the left's thinking. Worth knowing and exposing their misleading narratives for what they are... more and more people no longer fall prey to the propoganda, but are learning to question the left's rhetoric and motives for themselves.
Man some people are such snowflakes. You have personally insulted me over and over and called me a coward. This is the height of hypocrisy. This is the OPPOSITE of the warrior mentality.
I can't say I don't understand, but I am a long time fan of Monty Python whose parody's often reveal the absurdities we encounter in everyday life, most particularly of the political elite that is so often disconnected from the lessor people in the U.K. What we see here often are those the understand the Constitution and it's underpinnings that see kindred souls while at the same time getting to the absrudity of the dialog from the Gun Control crowd... no Monty Python needed...comedy is alive here.
The Soul is the Warrior. One does not train to overcome but to survive and know the ways of nature, one does not fight to vanquish but to resolve conflict and know the ways of men. One cannot truly trust unless they have developed strength to deal with treachery, and trust is necessary in all things for its reward is sometimes love.
