At a young age, I began to study methods of combat, most proximately out of fear and shame, having lost a schoolyard fight that honor seemed to demand that I engage. More essential to me, however, was a desire to know my enemy, perhaps to usurp his power, even to make it mine. Entering into a quest for power, I soon had to ask what power was, particularly power expressed by a human being. At what point is that power demonic – cut apart from both divinity or humanity?

There are many definitions of the term, ‘warrior,’ but such a person is one who believes he has a reason to fight, who believes he is created to fight, who, though perhaps mortally afraid, is willing to enter onto the field of battle, willing to face, even embrace death. In certain societies, he is part of a discrete social class, and is regarded as a member of an elite.

This essay is one of many that has been revised to make the writing itself more graceful, but more importantly, to incorporate my own developing perspective on this subject. It is now part of my new book, Roots Still Cracking Rock: Refections On My First Fifty Years Within Classical Japanese Martial Traditions, which in addition to revised essays from this site, contains new work as well. Below you will find a picture of the cover as well as a QR code to order a Special Edition of the book. In this group order of ten books or more, Ran Network will make a special print-run with a dedication on the title page to your dojo or other institution. 

The general release of the book on Amazon (equal in quality of the binding) will be on approximately April 20th.  I will place that link here as well when it is ready.