I am beginning this weeks blog with a summary of notes I have taken over the years based upon the insights of teachers I have had the privilege of studying with from various philosophical traditions. Many individuals have found that the ideas contained here can be found or expressed in one form or another throughout many warrior traditions globally. I have compiled 10 principles that have been shared with me in hopes that it may be of benefit to all who follow a related path of warriorship. My goal in this particular posting is to stimulate thought and share ideas into what this means to all of us as practitioners. I hope you find the concepts shared here as interesting and thought provoking as I have.
Principles of Warrior Training
1. Selflessness : This is could be considered a noble form of warriorship based on loyalty and service. Often these individuals can be found working in some sort of capacity such as Military, Law enforcement, Firemen and various others forms of service. They may even be a part of a larger group identity, where the precepts and code are what forms the structure of their lives. In some cases the precepts and code means more than their lives. These individuals can often have a heightened sense of duty or service.
2. Loyalty: The path beyond preference. Finding your spirit beyond preferential judgment of your teacher. Or finding ones’ self beyond the duality of preference. Ones growth expansion can be expressed through their relationship to their teacher or mentor. If no teacher is present then one might just be loyal to the personal code they follow. An example of this can be found in the tale of ‘The 47 Ronin’.
3. Self-control: The path to spontaneous freedom. If one is aware during this process, it will teach you sensitivity through repetitive training that oftentimes can only be achieved through repression. Here one finds spontaneity, and is open and porous to nature, and their environment. An example of this can be found in one of the Dragon style Kung Fu axioms that states, ‘Control self. Let others be.’
4. Cultivating Gentleness: The path to sensitivity. Sensitivity being connection to self, and others. To be a warrior is to be unarmored. Practicing gentleness of speech, and conduct. Internally this may be expressed as sensitivity to all of nature. This is an example of Yin cultivation. Many warriors of the past and even the present day have sought this through the practice of painting, calligraphy, poetry, flower arrangement, healing arts, etc…
5. Detachment: The path to wisdom. The mind and its related emotions are often clouded by attachments, and are clarified by detachment. This can be found when the heart/mind is clear. What is being referred to here is detachment from preferences, not people. We want to be affected, but not necessarily controlled.
6. Fearlessness: The path to full freshness of each moment. Fear constricts the channels and can have an adverse affect upon our health. Many of the worlds various traditions teach one to overcome the fear of death by welcoming it. Fear and clinging can be a poison to one who is on the warrior’s path.
7.Impeccability: The way beyond sleep or dullness. Being ‘on point’. This teaches consistency, and grace. A sense of second attention on activity or an awareness of activity that is occurring. This is different than mental rigidity.
8. Cultivating our spirit: This is an expression of our inner nature. Can be experienced through regular practice of meditation or cultivation. In essence finding something that gives one a sense of connection. In addition to the obvious self-defense benefits; the martial arts can and often is used by others as a method of self-cultivation.
9. Dedication: The path of commitment. Action without wavering. Or clarity within clarity, and clarity within confusion.
10. Honor : The path to developing essential dignity. Being honorable in your doings. These are expressions of our essence nature.
How can we can we apply these principles today? I leave that to you and your personal observations.
Professor Brandon Jordan
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10 Principles of Warriorship
I am beginning this weeks blog with a summary of notes I have taken over the years based upon the insights of teachers I have had the privilege of studying with from various philosophical traditions. Many individuals have found that the ideas contained here can be found or expressed in one form or another throughout many warrior traditions globally. I have compiled 10 principles that have been shared with me in hopes that it may be of benefit to all who follow a related path of warriorship. My goal in this particular posting is to stimulate thought and share ideas into what this means to all of us as practitioners. I hope you find the concepts shared here as interesting and thought provoking as I have.
Principles of Warrior Training
1. Selflessness : This is could be considered a noble form of warriorship based on loyalty and service. Often these individuals can be found working in some sort of capacity such as Military, Law enforcement, Firemen and various others forms of service. They may even be a part of a larger group identity, where the precepts and code are what forms the structure of their lives. In some cases the precepts and code means more than their lives. These individuals can often have a heightened sense of duty or service.
2. Loyalty: The path beyond preference. Finding your spirit beyond preferential judgment of your teacher. Or finding ones’ self beyond the duality of preference. Ones growth expansion can be expressed through their relationship to their teacher or mentor. If no teacher is present then one might just be loyal to the personal code they follow. An example of this can be found in the tale of ‘The 47 Ronin’.
3. Self-control: The path to spontaneous freedom. If one is aware during this process, it will teach you sensitivity through repetitive training that oftentimes can only be achieved through repression. Here one finds spontaneity, and is open and porous to nature, and their environment. An example of this can be found in one of the Dragon style Kung Fu axioms that states, ‘Control self. Let others be.’
4. Cultivating Gentleness: The path to sensitivity. Sensitivity being connection to self, and others. To be a warrior is to be unarmored. Practicing gentleness of speech, and conduct. Internally this may be expressed as sensitivity to all of nature. This is an example of Yin cultivation. Many warriors of the past and even the present day have sought this through the practice of painting, calligraphy, poetry, flower arrangement, healing arts, etc…
5. Detachment: The path to wisdom. The mind and its related emotions are often clouded by attachments, and are clarified by detachment. This can be found when the heart/mind is clear. What is being referred to here is detachment from preferences, not people. We want to be affected, but not necessarily controlled.
6. Fearlessness: The path to full freshness of each moment. Fear constricts the channels and can have an adverse affect upon our health. Many of the worlds various traditions teach one to overcome the fear of death by welcoming it. Fear and clinging can be a poison to one who is on the warrior’s path.
7.Impeccability: The way beyond sleep or dullness. Being ‘on point’. This teaches consistency, and grace. A sense of second attention on activity or an awareness of activity that is occurring. This is different than mental rigidity.
8. Cultivating our spirit: This is an expression of our inner nature. Can be experienced through regular practice of meditation or cultivation. In essence finding something that gives one a sense of connection. In addition to the obvious self-defense benefits; the martial arts can and often is used by others as a method of self-cultivation.
9. Dedication: The path of commitment. Action without wavering. Or clarity within clarity, and clarity within confusion.
10. Honor : The path to developing essential dignity. Being honorable in your doings. These are expressions of our essence nature.
How can we can we apply these principles today? I leave that to you and your personal observations.
Professor Brandon Jordan