I understand where you are coming from on skill sets/training vs. warrior. But if a person trains, and mentally prepares, and develops the skills of self-defense, does he not then have a different mindset than a normal person?
I come from a traditional martial arts background, and I understand that most people who go to the McDojo down the street do not ever develop a different mindset. They learn to do some flashy kicks and maybe they become more fit and self-confident. However if these same people were to go to a school with an instructor who has been there and who is not only teaching self-defense but virtues of a lifestyle, that students will be completely different. At least IMO. And I do not think those need to get into a conflict to become warriors. What do you think?
In all honesty I think the main thing we disagree on is what a "warrior mindset" is. And as for those officers, that type of mentality of doing the minimum doesn't sound very virtuous, and hopefully isn't the norm.
In Him,
LJ
I honestly don't know, I would imagine it would depend on the individual? I'm not sure I'd call it a warrior mindset, to me it still seems like training and skills more than a warrior frame of mind. Someone in or freshly out of an actual war / combat zone or violent altercation will be in a different mindset regardless of their training, I guess that would be a warrior mindset but just because one person knows how to draw and shoot better than anyone else in the state it doesn't make them a warrior or in a constant frame of mind where they're ready to destroy and kill.
Depends on how you define warrior I guess. To me a warrior is anyone who has fought a serious fight regardless of their ability, skill or even outcome. A person who fights bravely for something and loses is still a warrior.
When I wrote "personally responsible" it my intent was sum up the desire, and actions taken in support of that desire, to be responsible for your own safety and self-defense rather than simply presume someone else will "save you".
That means buying proper equipment, obtaining appropriate training and accepting the fact that this is a mature decision and not an adolescent fantasy. That is I why I avoid certain rhetoric in support of that effort.
Rory Miller's "Meditations on Violence" is worth a read if you're interested in training for mindset. He says that for folks not used to violence, the hardest thing is getting past the "This isn't happening to me!" freeze. It's critical to break the freeze and do something.
That's where scenario-based classes can help. There's usually more than one correct response, but you have to do something fast. Freezing gets you "killed".
I'd guess that any active sport with a degree of physical risk (make the right move or get munched) might be helpful.
Personally, my experience as volunteer firefighter/EMT has helped me get past the initial "oh s_____!" freeze when confronted with something ugly. Doing nothing is not an option. You don't always have to be the guy in front, but there's always something useful you can do.
As an aside, the term warrior had different connotations during different times in history. At one point, being a warrior was less impressive than being a soldier. Today, being a warrior is usually considered more impressive, since "soldier" is a job title, and "warrior" is a statement that usually reflects a person's skills and mindset. A soldier may be a warrior, but not automatically, and a warrior can be anything else as well.
It's like the ridiculous term "face-shooter." It had some meaning at one point, now it's mostly lost. Next year, there will be a new cool-guy term for being a warrior.
How's this for warrior mindset?
And Adonis DNA?