| The martial arts and the concept of | | | | quite likely that we'd find one or both of the other |
| self-protection is much more than mere punching | | | | two words in the definition. |
| and kicking, or the development of skill with a | | | | It cannot be argued that each one fights. In fact, |
| weapon. Just as a martial artist or, in the grander | | | | if we were to look only at the actions and |
| sense, a warrior-protector, is engaged in much | | | | techniques used when each is engaged in combat, |
| more than the mere study of violence and violent | | | | it would be difficult to tell the difference between |
| methods. | | | | them. But... |
| This is just as so now as it has been for the past | | | | ...there is a difference. |
| several thousand years. Regardless of the term | | | | Quite a few actually but, for now, let's take a |
| we use to describe this person... | | | | look at a primary, philosophical difference - the |
| ...knight... | | | | "reason" that each chooses to fight. |
| ...champion... | | | | The Difference is in the Intention and Motivation - |
| ...hero, etc... | | | | Not in the Deed |
| The warrior is one who understands that his job | | | | The Fighter fights for reward. There is a payoff |
| or purpose is not about killing, fighting, or dying... | | | | of some kind for this individual. He or she is either |
| ...it's about living. | | | | seeking to attain something (fame, money, etc.), |
| The true warrior understands that, while there is | | | | or they seek to prevent these things from being |
| a need for those who can protect themselves | | | | taken from them. |
| and others from the hatred and animosity of | | | | The Soldier fights because it is his job. Certainly, |
| others, ultimately these skills are to be used to | | | | there may indeed be philosophical reasons behind |
| insure the harmonious continuation of the highest | | | | his decision to fight (family, community, country), |
| achievements of mankind: Love, Peace, & | | | | but the soldier is a minion of the State. He or she |
| the successful achievement of one's Dreams. | | | | has absolutely no choice as to who the "enemy" |
| At Warrior Concepts International, students are | | | | will be or who they are protecting us from. |
| required to study and reflect so that they might | | | | The Warrior, on the other hand, fights to restore |
| come to an understanding of the difference | | | | Peace. He fights because there is no other choice |
| between a... | | | | and does so to defend something (philosophy, |
| Fighter | | | | family, etc.) outside of himself. And, when he |
| Soldier, and a... | | | | fights, it is with an enemy of his own choosing |
| Warrior | | | | and never for selfish, self-serving reasons. |
| How about you? What do you think, if anything, | | | | The warrior, though often called upon to engage |
| makes these three types of combatants, | | | | in conflict using the same methods as that of |
| different? | | | | mere fighters and soldiers, does so, not for the |
| Certainly, if we were to look up any one of | | | | sake of conflict, but because all else has failed and |
| theses words in a dictionary or thesaurus, it's | | | | he must resort to violent conflict to stop it. |