The warrior is different from other people. For the most part, other people’s opinions are unimportant to him; as are the ephemeral pleasures indulged in by the zombie legions, such as the unreality of TV sitcoms or the hazy bliss of inebriation. The warrior sets very high standards for himself. If he fails to meet those standards, he has only himself to blame. He abhors weakness, whether physical, intellectual, mental, or moral, and will use focus and willpower to form himself into what he most desires to be. In order to attain his goal of perfection, he requires the attributes of: Awareness, Courtesy, Restraint, Honor, and Valor.

AWARENESS:

The warrior is always aware of what is going on around him. He makes excellent use of his peripheral vision. He takes note of potential hazards, whether they be an unsafe condition or a suspicious individual. He thinks several steps ahead, so as to predict possible outcomes of various actions. He will notice if something in his environment has been changed. He can switch from soft focus to hypervigilance in an instant. The warrior is seldom taken by surprise.

He is knowledgeable of the things in his environment. He knows how things work, and what can cause things to malfunction. He knows how to prevent undesirable events from occurring, and knows how best to deal with them when they do. He always thinks several steps ahead, forming contingency plans so he can react instantly (and effectively) if something goes wrong — whether it be a minor inconvenience or a major catastrophe. His confidence in his abilities allows him to remain calm in a crisis situation. He is a man who can be relied upon to get things done.

In time, the warrior’s sense of awareness can take on almost supernatural proportions. He might seem to be able to sense things before they happen. Examples would include: being able to "read" an individual’s thoughts and intentions by studying facial expressions, gesticulations, and other non-verbal cues; being able to dodge a falling object or block an oncoming attack without any prior warning; or having a sudden hesitance to enter a room or turn a corner which would place him in unknown and unseen peril. These are not necessarily evidence of psychic ability, as they usually can be scientifically attributed to a highly developed sense of awareness.

Being aware, the warrior keeps an open mind. He knows that there is much in the world he is ignorant of, acknowledges this ignorance, and strives to learn something new each day. He realizes that just because a thing cannot be readily perceived does not mean it is any less real. He is respectful of things he does not understand, and does not make assumptions or provide spurious answers. Knowing that many falsehoods are presented as truth (for various reasons) he attempts to "read between the lines" and hear the message left unsaid. He sees patterns in the way things happen, and often can predict the outcome of a given situation with startling accuracy. Such intuition is a product of focused observation and comparison with similar past experiences (often this is done at a subconscious level). Awareness is your magic armor. If your sense of awareness is maintained and further developed, it will serve you well.

COURTESY:

The warrior is always polite . . . until circumstances merit a somewhat different approach. He has a high level of self-esteem, as well as a great deal of confidence in his abilities. He has no need to demand respect or put others "in their place." He is neither a bully nor a braggart. He does not require special treatment from others to assure himself that he is better than other people. He knows he is better than other people, but feels no compulsion to flaunt the fact publicly. He is at peace with himself and the world around him.

He knows that life is far too short to needlessly accumulate enemies, and tries not to inadvertently offend or threaten others in his daily interactions with society. He knows that it is "nice to be nice," and tries to project a personable demeanor. He wants other people to be happy, and will not make a practice of antagonizing others with immature actions or demands. People should feel safe around him.

Through courtesy, many unnecessary altercations can be avoided. Often, a few kind words can defuse a potentially violent situation. It is not polite to chastise strangers in public for minor errors in judgement, so he avoids doing so. Nor will he intervene in arguments that do not involve him. A warrior feels no need to impose his worldview upon the imperfect masses, and will refrain from interjecting himself into the affairs of others unless honor demands it.

The warrior does not swagger about, brushing passers-by aside and glaring at those who dare to make eye contact. He feels no compulsion to intimidate others. He does not yell, complain unnecessarily, or make unreasonable demands. He always conducts himself in a gentlemanly fashion. He does not start trouble. Because he strives to avoid trouble, and most intelligent people perceive this, he will feel no compunctions whatsoever about putting an immediate stop to unavoidable trouble in the rare instances when it occurs in his presence. The warrior has a low tolerance for bullshit, and zero tolerance for belligerence.

RESTRAINT:

The warrior realizes that he can easily kill with a single blow (at least theoretically), so he cannot be compelled to raise his hands over insignificant matters. He would much rather walk away from a troublemaker than stay to trade insults with an emotionally unbalanced drunkard until someone is provoked to take a swing. Having a tranquil mind, he cannot easily be angered, and will never fly into an uncontrollable rage. His emotions are always under control, and usually are shielded from public view. In times of extreme stress, he can turn all emotion off much like flicking a lightswitch. If physical force is required, the true warrior has the ability to "injure to degree," using only the necessary amount of force required to stop a threat without resorting to total annihilation. Once you have torn out an eye or crushed a throat, you cannot undo the damage done. With great power also comes great responsibility.

Furthermore, he chooses to abstain from excess consumption of intoxicants, which can dull one’s sense of awareness and cloud one’s judgement — he will not permit himself to lose control. He knows full well the destructive effects of alcohol and substance abuse on the human body, and how dependance on such toxins can turn a once respected individual into a pathetic weakling. Not appreciating the effects of such toxins, he chooses to partake only in moderation, if at all. He also exercises restraint in the areas of lust and greed, which can cause a strong man to fall prey to similarly destructive weaknesses. If you are a slave to your desires, not only will you lack focus, but your vulnerability will enable others to easily manipulate you.

The warrior’s mastery of self is such that seldom is any motion wasted. His movements are quick, efficient, and precise. In effect, he is practicing his kung fu, unconsciously, with every move he makes.

Thinking several steps ahead, the warrior can predict several possible outcomes of each choice available to him, enabling him to make the correct decision more times than not. What a man wants is not necessarily what he needs, nor what is in his best interests. If any doubt exists, restraint should be duly exercised.

The warrior does not lie, cheat, or steal . . . unless it is required to save a life. Wealth and prestige mean nothing to him. His word is his bond. He is loyal to his family and friends. He is dependable. People trust him.

The warrior will never take any action which might bring disgrace to his family or tarnish his reputation. He would rather be a hermit than consort with disreputable persons. He will always consider the possible consequences of any choice he might make. He needs to be able to face himself in the mirror each day without being ashamed. He must answer to himself if he fails to measure up to the standards he has set. The restrictions set by law, society, and religion are insignificant in comparison to the restrictions he has voluntarily placed upon himself.

The warrior lives by a strict moral code. He will always conduct himself in a righteous and ethical manner. He will show lenience towards the shortcomings of others, and may even bend the rules he has set for himself on occasion, but he will never permit himself to be seen carrying on like a degenerate monkey, nor will he ever use trickery or deceit in matters of business. There are certain lines that can never be crossed without destroying the image he needs to personify. In his opinion, death is preferable to dishonor. He will never voluntarily engage in activities which might bring dishonor upon himself.

The warrior is brave, but not necessarily fearless. Fear is simply recognition of danger, which enables one to proceed with caution — absence of fear promotes recklessness. Courage is often defined as being afraid, yet doing what needs to be done regardless — without fear, courage could not exist. The rare individual who is truly fearless is not the "adrenaline junkie" who feels compelled to take foolish risks in order to "feel a rush" or impress others; no, the fearless man feels nothing at all (even pleasure), and tends to be robotic and cold — such a demeanor is unwarranted unless one is on a suicide mission. The warrior simply does not allow himself to be overcome with the effects of fear (most commonly panic and paralysis), but instead uses it to channel adrenaline into energy (which results in significantly increased speed and strength).

The warrior realizes that sometimes certain risks need to be taken in order to achieve desired results. Under extreme circumstances, it may even be necessary to actually sacrifice one’s life in order to fulfil a task’s requirements. He has thought this possibility through in advance, and has accepted it. For example, a true warrior would willingly sacrifice his life without hesitation rather than allow a loved one to face attackers alone — if he instead chose to flee overwhelming odds and left his beloved to certain doom, how could he ever face himself in the mirror again? Sometimes it is best to accept that one must die for the sake of one’s sacred honor. What value does life hold if one must forever live in shame?

Simply stated, the warrior does what needs to be done with neither hesitation nor regret. In effect, he is the protagonist in the movie of his life. He is aware that his existence will not be snuffed out upon the destruction of his present physical shell. Physical life is a learning experience to be endured, rather than a precious thing to be valued above all else. Everyone dies — there is no avoidance of this simple fact. If you had a choice between dying in combat defending your loved ones, or avoiding conflict whenever possible to ensure your safety and live a long life, what would you choose?

The warrior is what he is — he can be nothing else. To turn his back on his beliefs in exchange for a temporary assurance of safety is to admit cowardice and accept dishonor. To accept dishonor is to reject the path of the warrior. Once you step from the path, there is no going back. If you choose to go through life ignorant, coarse, weak, reviled, and afraid, you are no better than the deluded sleepwalking masses and are only fooling yourself to pretend otherwise. Your facade of manliness will deceive only the dimwitted. You will become a joke.

You may choose to walk the path, or you may reject the path — there is no room for compromise.