I was not aware of it in high school, but I was training to be a warrior in my adult life. Being a warrior is not just about training with weapons and learning to fight. It is also about training the mind to be a warrior. The most talented athlete in the world is no good without the proper attitude to accept a loss in a battle but continue on to win the war.

In high school I played for a football team that won 4 of the 40 games I played in. Going up against teams that had first, second and third string units on both defense and offense our first string who played both ways with few replacement players taught me to do battle with fresh troops for the whole game. We won some skirmishes but lost most, only to come back the next play and give it my best once again.

There was no attitude of giving up. Once I graduated college with my degree in Law Enforcement, I realized sometimes the battle is not won through intellectual ability alone. There has to be a warrior inside to live to fight a battle another day.

So I continued in the martial arts. I trained in Judo, Karate and learned the art of shooting weapons. Eventually obtaining my black belt in Aikido, the art of Bushido or the Way of the Warrior was ingrained in me both physically and mentally.

The police profession enabled me to learn from excellent range officers in the art of shooting. I have shot tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition from handguns, shotguns and rifles. Learning when to use my words and when to resort to a night stick, chemical spray, non-lethal incapacitating weapons or even deadly force and when not to use them has to be instinctive.

The mind also has to be trained just as much, even more than the physical arts. That’s why we have Verbal Judo, hostage negotiation, crisis intervention and even the ability to calm a tense and dangerous situation. My Aikido Sensei was always shaking her head, telling me “JJ, you need to learn to watch the rocks grow.” By the way she was twice my age and a third my size.

My favorite warrior quote came from a War Chief at the Battle of Little Big Horn. When preparing for battle with General George Custer, Chief Crazy Horse rallied his warriors with the cry, “It is a great day to die!” Most people do not understand this quote and look at me as if I am crazy. But my brothers in blue and any military soldier will understand.

With all this crazy talk, I will let you in on a little peek at my way of thinking. I found this years ago and it is written by a police officer who is much more talented at expressing in word than I just how a police officer, soldier, warrior must prepare.

One Warriors Creed

Steven R Watt

If today is to be THE DAY, so be it. If you seek to do battle with me this day you will receive the best that I am capable of giving.

It may not be enough, but it will be everything that I have to give and it will be impressive for I have constantly prepared myself for this day. I have trained, drilled, and rehearsed my actions so that I might have the best chance of defeating you.

I have kept myself in peak physical condition, schooled myself in the martial skills and have become proficient in the application of combat tactics. You may defeat me, but you will pay a severe price and will be lucky to escape with your life.

You may kill me, but I am willing to die if necessary. I do not fear Death, for I have been close enough to it on enough occasions that it no longer concerns me.

But I do fear the loss of my Honor and would rather die fighting than to have it said that I was without Courage.

So I WILL FIGHT YOU, no matter how insurmountable it may seem, and to the death if need be, in order that it may never be said of me that I was not a Warrior.

First Group 2x2
First Group 2x2
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