Define your own warrior code for living?

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[BDuncan]

How do you seriously define your very own warrior code for living at the present time, if you have one, or had to
have one ?

[Largo]

I have strong feelings, but don't closely define a code. I believe in doing what is necessary, doing it at the right time, and doing it efficiently. That applies to work as well.

As far as what I would fight for, I would say that I would fight to the death to protect my family, loved ones and myself. There's not much else seriously worth fighting for. (On the other hand, I do think some people deserve a good kicking, but I don't take it as my place to hand them out)

[SeiserL]

Having the courage to do the right thing.

[PeterR]

And the wisdom to know when to back off.

[aubrey bannah]

Be at peace with god, whatever you define that to be!

[vanstretch]

10 commandments of specwar by Richard Marcinko.

[Jordan Steele]

I am definitley no warrior, but I try to live by "getting the job done." I know I'd fight for my family, friends, and myself, but I also have tendency to step in and protect others. I've never really thought about this. I just let what happens-happen.

[Hara]

Hmmm,

I'd have to say having a strong core. Everything starts at the core and expands from there. People with strong cores are strong people. Usually when I say core I mean values and fundamentals, but it can apply to the physical, like Hara.

Thus at my core, I have God.

From there I have fundamentals like confidence, persistance (to live and with goal setting), harmony, and health.

This list goes on... but those are the few I can think of on the top of my head.

[Steven]

How do you seriously define your very own warrior code for living at the present time, if you have one, or had to
have one ?

and your answer is?

[p00kiethebear]

hmmm...

Having true courage. True courage is the courage to do what is right.

And

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

These are the ways of the warrior.

[Amassus]

Wear your sword on your right side...it is about time left-handers were given a chance.
This is my code :)

Seriously...I guess most of my code was placed upon me by my parents. It was they who taught me my morals and values.

I believe strongly in being honest, but not to the point of being blunt. Integrity is very important.

[Infamousapa]

To me my code is to be a product of God by trying to be pure of body mind and soul..To be or lead by example..To lead the misguided with words or action..To help my brothers and sisters(the world)by leading them to the light..To take the hostile and turn their hostility against them..To take action of what i think or see is wrong.To step up the plate to the wicked and create speed bumps in their lives to help them start thinking about their lives and how they are living..To help the helpless victims in time of need..And last and foremost to serve my GOD FOR HE IS EVERYTHING AND I AM NOTHING..TO BE HUMBLE AS A MAN AND AS A WARRIOR....FOR JESUS LIVES

[PeterR]

That's a priest not a warrior.

To me my code is to be a product of God by trying to be pure of body mind and soul..To be or lead by example..To lead the misguided with words or action..To help my brothers and sisters(the world)by leading them to the light..To take the hostile and turn their hostility against them..To take action of what i think or see is wrong.To step up the plate to the wicked and create speed bumps in their lives to help them start thinking about their lives and how they are living..To help the helpless victims in time of need..And last and foremost to serve my GOD FOR HE IS EVERYTHING AND I AM NOTHING..TO BE HUMBLE AS A MAN AND AS A WARRIOR....FOR JESUS LIVES

[Zato Ichi]

To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women!

Okay, bad joke, but if I didn't do it, someone else would have :D

[shihonage]

My warrior code is 12345

[Jorx]

It was not Conan... Conan just quoted Gengis Khan...

Why need to define that code?

"Word is not the thing" (Krishnamurthi)

[Bronson]

How do you seriously define your very own warrior code for living at the present time, if you have one, or had to have one ?

Fill what's empty, empty what's full, scratch what itches :D

Bronson

[Largo]

Anyone see Troy? Hector said something like "Respect the gods, love your woman, fight for your country". I kinda liked it.

[Ian Williams]

Be nice to yourself and your mother.

[vanstretch]

to alex and jordan-interesting to quote the conan movie, did u know that Schwarzenegger's mail order address was 12345 in venice? weird.

[Troy]

My warrior core is simple.
The strong protect the weak, so the weak may become strong.

[jxa127]

How do you seriously define your very own warrior code for living at the present time, if you have one, or had to
have one ?

Why does there have to be a warrior code? How many of us are truly warriors?

I believe aikido is a fantastic art for resolving conflict and self defense. It can include lethal or very damaging reponses to attacks. Great stuff. It's also a really good tool for learning more about one's self.

BUT, studying aikido does not make me a warrior. I'm not part of a nation's armed forces. I don't train to kill people and take territory (Army/Marines), patrol the seas (Navy), or shoot down planes/bomb the ground (Air Force).

Okay, so you don't have to be a warrior to live by the warrior's code. I believe in honor and integrity, both things expected of military personnel. But much of the modern warrior code has to do with how one should behave relative to the military hierarchy -- something I'm not a part of.

Ah, but aikido is descended from samurai arts, so we'll use that warrior code. The problem with this approach is that the samurai code that most people think of is a romantic ideal that is historically dubious. Furthermore, it also deals with how to behave relative to one's place in society and includes a lot of oppression of the lower classes and the demand for total sacrifice of to one's lord.

Bottom line: I'm not a warrior and don't want to be. Studying aikido no more makes one a warrior than standing in a garage makes one a car.

My code is based on my upbringing, religious beliefs, and life experiences. Aikido complements and enhances my sense of ethics when it comes to conflicts. It does not define them.

Regards,

[Hagen Seibert]

I agree with Drew,

a warrior attitude or mind is not reachable for us who live in a rather peaceful society even if we study martial arts.
Because we do not experience and do not have to decide upon a risk of life in combat.

Consequently making up a code of living based on not-experience doesn´t make sense.
It´s a kind of romanticism.

[Bronson]

It's kinda like an astronomy student making/living by an astronaut's code :D

Bronson

[Largo]

From what (little) I've studied of the samurai, their 'code' would probably be close to my signature- the weak are food for the strong. Cool image, but not the nicest of people. Remember, at the end of the day, what really mattered was who was stronger, better fighter, etc. Loyalty that doesn't accomplish anything doesn't mean much, then or now.

[Jorx]

You can't be a warrior within the context of Aikido...
simply because... you don't fight...

[Ghost Fox]

I personally try to follow the words of Aleister Crowley:

"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law, and thou hast no right but to do thy will. Love is the Law, Love under Will."

and

"Every man and every woman is a star."

[Troy]

You can't be a warrior within the context of Aikido...
simply because... you don't fight...

This is not true. Being a warrior means that you can fight as well as defend. You can protect yourself and still be called a Warrior. You don't have to fight to be a warrior of Honor. Being a gentleman, and doing the right things, while taking a Budo, you can still be classified a Warrior. It's a mind set, and how you feel about your Honor. I think of myself as a Warrior because I try to protect who and what I care about. In Aikido we fight the enimy within. We defeat our attackers from the inside out, with minimal injury to oneself or to the attacker.

"To win without blood-shed, that is the skill of a true Samurai." -Kojimada

[jgros]

Bottom line: I'm not a warrior and don't want to be. Studying aikido no more makes one a warrior than standing in a garage makes one a car.

My code is based on my upbringing, religious beliefs, and life experiences. Aikido complements and enhances my sense of ethics when it comes to conflicts. It does not define them.

This reminds me of the SATs.
Apple is to orange as fork is to......
A. Flamingo
B. Lawn chair
C. Knife
D. Steven Seagal

The correct answer would be (not Steven Seagal, even though I know thats what everyone was thinking!! :D ) C, as apples and oranges are both fruits, just as a knife and a fork are both dinner utensils.

I believe the comparison you are making is incorrect.

To stand in a dojo does not make one a martial artist, just as standing in a garage does not make you a car.

Studying aikido in a dojo makes you an Aikidoka. Studying car maintenance while standing in a garage makes you.....lets say......mechanic in training. :)

Ok, moving past semantics. Studying aikido makes you an Aikidoka (dojo or not, I just used it before because it fit better). A warrior is someone who has engaged in battle or is experienced in battle, agreed? So then we can conclude that a warrior, is someone who has participated in war. I think that we as Aikidoka, are something close to warrior but not quite the same (unless of course, you have actual combat experience). We are students of war. To practice Aikido is to practice war; being ready for the day that it may come, and praying it doesn't. I believe that to understand war, is to understand one of the very core parts of human nature. We have come to understand that there must be no hesitation. We must cut, or not cut. There is no in between. Full intention. Life or death in one moment. As Aikidoka or martial artists....or whatever..we do not seek death, but we try to understand death, to know death, to embrace it; so that we may truly live. To truly have peace we must prepare for war. Although we train for different reasons, whether they be physical, or psychological, I believe that if we do come to know these things in our hearts, we will not progress far as Aikidoka.

That said, I would rather have an experienced warrior by my side in a battle than an Aikidoka any day. The warrior probably has learned enough.. "lack of hesitation" and general experience to keep danger from coming from the flank he occupies. But I would rather have the Aikidoka with me outside of battle. Outside of battle, killing usually isn't very legal, and even if it is, has unintended side effects. Plus, Aikidoka are just so much more versatile :p

As Drew said, Aikido should complement your philosophy, not define it. Not being a warrior is Drew's choice just as his occupation or religious and political beliefs are his choice. As I am assuming that everyone is living in a country where most of these freedoms are still at least partially preserved, let us be thankful, and pray that it remains that way. To stick with topic, i would say that my "code" is the following:
1.) make sure no one tampers with the constitution, as once a freedom goes away, it never comes back without war or great strife.
2.) Be respectful and loyal to your family and friends, but especially family. Most everyone moves around, and makes new friends, but you only have one family. They are the ones that well help you when all of your "friends" suddenly disappear.
3.) Do not hang around people who don't respect you, because sooner or later the dagger will seek your backside.
4.) Be tolerant of others. You may not agree with their views and preferences, but the great thing about living in a free country is being able to voice your opinion. Listen, and present counter arguments, but never suppress their opinions.
5.) "Only a hungry man wants of food". Basically, people will only receive your wisdom when they know they need it. Otherwise, they are simply not interested, and it is not your right to press it on them. Everyone you respect deserves two warnings, no more no less. Anything more and you are annoying and trying to run their lives. Anything less, and you are not really a friend.

Ok thats enough for now. Take to heart anything you liked, and ignore anything that really pissed you off. Take care.

jgros

[Bronson]

I think that we as Aikidoka, are something close to warrior

I think that if I were a combat veteran that statement would piss me off.



We are students of war. To practice Aikido is to practice war; being ready for the day that it may come, and praying it doesn't. I believe that to understand war, is to understand one of the very core parts of human nature.

I think that to understand war you have to experience it. To study war can make you knowledgable about it but I don't think anyone who's never been in it could possibly understand anything about it. It'd be like me reading books on the Vietnam or Gulf wars and then telling veterans I understand what they went through. If I did that I would hope they socked me in the head.

As Aikidoka or martial artists....or whatever..we do not seek death, but we try to understand death, to know death, to embrace it; so that we may truly live.

I seek to embrace life. Death will take care of itself.

Bronson

[justMe]

My reaction to this thread is mixed. From one perspective, this post seems to be very reminiscent of those that ask about immersion into Japanese culture, philosophy, and spirituality and just how necessary these things are to be an effective Aikidoka. My response has always been "not very." I have always felt that continued self improvement, physically, intellectually and spiritually and the effort to develop these is what makes one an effective student. The Japanese, while certainly having much to contribute which is study-worthy, are not the sole source to draw from.

My second thought is that codes for living are fine, if you are just beginning to live. However, putting life on hold while you look up what your reaction should be in various situations against some rule book is frankly ludicrous. Many replys have stated that standing up for that which is right is part of their code. I would like to take one step back from there and focus on how we define for ourselves just what is right and what is wrong. That brings me back to what I said earlier about continued self improvement. These things need to become part of our personalities so that we no longer need some "code". How we react becomes an expression of who we are. Eventually the religious tomes and philosophy books need to be closed and we need to go out into the world and do the best we can.

This is a bit rambling and I am not even sure I am conveying what I intend. Enjoy!