Most Warriors live by a creed, an oath or other such vows that are firmly held to the heart of a warrior. Without such maxims there are no warriors. The fight does not a warrior make. Those who may posses skills at arms or other forms of combat but do not follow a code of ethics are simply bullies. Dangerous dogs with no leash. The street fighter, the thug, rouges who bring nothing to the world. Without a moral base any thing can be used for evil. All knowledge is power to some extent. Those who seek knowledge seek power. Those who seek power walk a fine line between benevolent protector and vicious tyrant.

All these things are clearly evident looking at history. It is easy for us to look back and see how Kings became despots and how heroes became villains. We do not need to look that far back. America’s historical west is full of true history of men who with skill at arms became heroes or villains. When we watch movies we cheer for the heroes who stay true to their code. Who live a purpose filled life in line with noble ideals. But these notions of chivalry seem to loose steam when we look at our own world.

The world today is devoid of honor. We live in a society not ruled by law but by lawyers. We live in a time where personal responsibility is shunned. Where justice is a matter of semantics. We have universally adopted the ganger’s credo of “nothing personal, just business.” I have seen so many instances where that expression has explained away what can only be considered act of horrific cruelty, betrayal and greed. We live today in a world of sterile viciousness; a sort of bloodless, soulless existence where values of loyalty, sacrifice, love and valor are thought of a quaint trifles not be interlaced with day to day industry. Is it any wonder where crime comes from? Even the richest among us will shatter lesser men for infinitesimal gains? When the deeds of Enron’s masters came to light it was not accompanied with shock or horror. It was accepted as expected action they just were not clever enough to get away with. And if that does not shock us why should we be shocked when a sad young man picks up a gun and kills his classmates? This is the world we have created.

As a matter of practical advice we have been instructor to live in the world; but not of the world. Most people can not make the distention and wallow in the world’s misery. Adding to the minusia of meanness that effects the dermis of society. We can not break away from the mundane tasks of holding a material presence in society. We all must work. We all must make money. We all must contribute to the body public. But we also must strive for something higher; a more noble purpose. We must value values over valuables. We must live by an ethic that makes us trustworthy. Values that speak to eternal truths that are as needed today as they were a thousand years ago. For those who seek a higher path; who are willing to endure pain to find a sense of meaning need a code.

For myself I have found a great sense of purpose and peace on the mat. Martial Arts has given me many gifts. I have gained friends and family. I gained knowledge and continue to do so every day. I have also gained a code. Since I’m fond of literary devices such as this; I will call that code Bison Bushido.

Loyalty

A warrior is loyal. Loyalty is a very misunderstood concept these days. Plato said that “only a man who is just can be loyal.” I would expand on Plato’s quote to add only a free man can be loyal. Loyalty is not a slavish devotion. Only a man with faith in himself can be loyal. Those who sheepishly follow have a loyalty borne of necessity. Once the necessity is gone, so is the loyalty. Slaves where often loyal to their masters because they depended on the Master for food, shelter and status. Once there was a way for a slave to get those things on their own; there was no more loyalty.

The concept has been cheapened as vendors seek customer “Loyalty.” Loyalty is bought with coupons, discounts and trinkets. Today loyalty is traded as a commodity. As long as both parties prosper they remain loyal. But this is not loyalty; this is cooperation. Loyalty requires something more. Loyalty is sacrifice. It does not vanish with opportunity. Loyalty is too often thought of something given to an individual, team or other such entity. But the reality is these things, while important are still transitory. People die, they move. Teams vanish, companies crumple. Loyalty’s given to transitory things is loyalty bound to be disappointed.

A warriors loyalty is to an ideal. It is to what is right. Not what is easy, or right for the moment; but what is right; what is just. Loyalty given here never fails, never falters. Those who seek the personal loyalty of the warrior need do nothing more then stay loyal to the same code.

To thy own self be true; and be worthy of your true self

Honesty

As a Warrior every man you meet should know where you stand. A Warrior should never sail under false colors. Leave Micaville to the politicians and other such men. Be as truthful with your enemies as you are with your friends. Do this and it will cost you. Living by a code inherently means sacrifice. You will not gain information that deception would gain you. You will not enjoy to fun of machinations. However your true friends will never have reason to doubt you. The steadfast faith of another is worth more then anything a lie could gain you.

Let not lies come easily to your lips.

Gentleness

As a warrior you will naturally carry an edge. Your eyes by nature sharpened. Your body hardened. Your very presence is different from the average person. Most sober people with any intuitive sense can tell when they are with a warrior. Pretense is not needed. I’m bothered by those who make an effort to announce themselves as a tough guy. If you need tattoos, clothes and glares to let everyone know you’re a bad man; odds are you are not a bad man.

Gang members demand that all in their numbers be hard. To demand respect. But the respect they want, like the hardness they wear, is surface deep at best. Real respect is not borne of fear. It is not gained because you can hurt someone. A warriors respect is earned because you can protect someone. It is not about standing up too, it is about standing up for.

A hard man need not have a hard heart. A warrior must love those around him. With your fellow warriors you have to push them, be harsh. Training is never easy. You force each other to sweat, bleed to dig. This is necessary. But just as necessary is gentleness when it is over. Your brothers should not fear you. Be quick to grant Mercy. Be ever hopeful for peace, ever ready for war.

Greatness is measured in kindness

Courage

When FDR said the only thing we have to fear is fear itself he said something more profound then I think even he was going for. Fear may be inspired by an outside agent but fear comes from with in. Unlike any outside foe fear dwells with in us. No enemy is more dangerous then one that lives with in your walls. Through out history the longest, bloodiest most treacherous wars are civil wars. Many of us fight a war with fear. It is a war you can not win.

Remember that fear is primal. Very reptilian brain. But it is filtered through the more advanced human brain that attaches even more weight and other attributes (guilt, loss, shame). Fear has caused people to do amazing things both good and bad.

We have to embrace our fear like any other elements both good and bad that make us what we are. You get this in your head and continue to step into those dark places and you learn to love it.

Fear will hasten your mind while it cautions your steps. Fear is an amazing, loyal and faithful aide, but a dreadful treacherous leader. Fear reminds you your alive and want to stay that way. Fear focuses the world like nothing else. Fear allows no ambiguity, no gray areas.

Hasten your mind…caution your steps

No difference if the source of your fear is of pain, of getting hit, or of failure. Fear becomes frustration or evolves into other manifestations that lead us to failure. As Warriors fear is the first fight to be won. Embrace your fears and use them to succeed. This is the first step towards courage.

Courage is not mindless. There is no glory in the vain attempt. Many people get into the cage over and over again and call it courage. But their results in the cage is defeat after defeat. This is not courage. Courage is more then just facing up to danger; it is facing up and being able to defeat danger. Courage requires purpose.

Fear is the mind killer (Fear makes you stop thinking)

Justice

There is no justice…there is just us.

A warriors code of Justice applies to himself alone. It is not reasonable to expect many others to hold themselves to the standard of behavior a warrior does. Others may believe that all is fair in war. Others may feel “in the real world” there are no rules. But the Warrior holds himself true to higher standards. The Warrior does not look to get by or get away with things. A Warrior’s behavior does not change depending on who is watching or the possibility of punishment. Warriors live by the motto “Laws govern only the worst of men, morality governs the rest.”

A warrior gives justice to others and shuns those who behave unjustly towards their brothers. Warriors does not keep truck with those who behave unjustly. We should not over look the behavior of other. This does not mean we declare ourselves judges and condemn them; but we should also not aid them by pretending their behavior does not exist. A warrior needs to cut those without honor from their lives.

Paying your dues is something you should never have to be reminded of.

Hope

We live in a world where the worst is expected of all. This becomes a limiting factor for many people. If you always expect the worst from others how much more can you expect from yourself? Time after time I have seen people fail because they really expected nothing more. A kid will come to me who wants to be a fighter, he wants to be a champion. Then the training begins, the work begins. After a few weeks he begins to understand how hard this life really is and quits. I hate watching people quit because it always stems from their lack of faith. They have no hope that things will get better, that they will achieve their dreams.

A warrior believes in others. As a warrior you personal expectations must be high. You expect to succeed, you expect greatness from yourself. Have they same hope for others. Not in a judgmental way. When they fail you have no right to disappointment. Rather your hope must encourage them to greatness. Your hope encourages them to try again. Your hope fuels their belief in themselves. In a family of fighters this becomes a powerful attribute. When a fighter walks to the cage he brings with him the hopes, the faith of his brothers. Hope makes failure difficult; quitting impossible.

Generosity

Many think of Generosity as it pertains to money. The giving of money is certainly one form of generosity; but is often transitory. Money often makes a slave out of the receiver. I have seen many charities that become dependant on the generosity of big donors. At that point their focus shifts. The Warrior is generous with more then Money. He gives his time, energy, knowledge and himself. More then that; all the above listed values are given in abundance.

Ideals

Not every Warrior stays true to the code every day. Just the reverse; every warrior falls short of the ideal everyday. If this was not the case then the ideals would have to be higher, stricter, harder. Living to a code should be difficult and those who take up the Cross should never be deceived to think otherwise. The goal is to pursue the goal; to pursue perfection. The achievement of perfection in this life if neither possible nor desired. What would a perfect soul do in this world?

So remorse not when you fail. The measure of a Warrior lay in how often he picks himself up from the dust. With every failure recommit to the ideal. Make your pursuit that much harder. The way of the Warrior is a difficult path; but greatly rewards those who chose to walk it. Everyday I look at myself in this light. Every day I fall short. But in those rare moments when I’m able to capture the true spirit of the Warrior I’m rich beyond dreams.