Study on the Book of Chivalry - 12

In our continuation of the the study of "The Book of Chivalry" by Sir Geoffri de Charney we will discuss here on what a "Man of Worth" is and what are his qualities and its application to the Modern Day Warrior.


The author states the following:

....in which each person of whatever degree should strive to achieve the very highest standard so that they will be of greater worth and will live more happily and honorably.

Yet you my readers will ask the question: "What is the standard to gain honor and happiness?"  The author gives the following answer:

You can and ought to know that the best qualities that anyone can aim for ad achieve is a man of worth, according to what is required to attain this completely.

The author then explains the qualities of a man of worth as the following headings:

1. Simplicity of Heart

2. A Generous/Devout Appearance

3. Acting and Serving with Loyalty

4. The Danger of overt Ingenious & overt Subtlety

5. True Wisdom

6. Thoughtless Courage & Skill

7. Great Achievers but not Leaders

8. True Men of Worth, Courage & Good Counsel



Simplicity of Heart

The author defines "simplicity of heart" with the following:

....one can well hold to be men of worth for their pure simplicity of heart, and they would scarcely know how to do wrong, even if they wanted to do so, for they are themselves innocent.  And because good actions are easier to do and to control than are evil ones, these simple people set out to perform them all; all the same, in doing this they behave wisely, for it is better to hold to the good.  

For the Warrior, this statement means that in one's inner self there must be a simplicity of heart that allows freedom of the desire to do good or to do right so that there is no impulse of wrong blocking the free flowing of one's desire to do good because of the desire to be good.  Thus the Warrior is a free good man because he/she allows goodness to be the main desire of their inner self.



A Generous/Devout Appearance

The author defines a "devout/generous appearance" with the following:

.....those who give alms freely....may be concealed in their hearts greed or envy of others or hatred or ill or many other things that detract from a great part of the good characteristics mentioned above.

For the Warrior, one must give freely one's time, energy and monetary sources that are in dispose to the service of devout, discerning generosity.  However, one must be vigilant against the inner vices of greed, envy, hatred (even causeless hatred), ill towards an individual as these vices will degrade one into an individual no different from the criminal or robber which plague society today.



Acting and Serving with Loyalty


The author defines "acting and serving with loyalty" with the following:

....and who have within them such steadfast qualities that their way of life cannot be criticized for any vile sins nor for any shameful reproach, and thus live loyally and honestly.  

 For the Warrior, acting and serving loyally is action that shows the internalization of the qualities and virtues of the Warrior in his/her actions that their lifestyle and actions will have no foundation for slander or reproach.  Thus the Warrior is one who practices what he/she studies and preaches.



The Danger of being Overt Ingenious or Overt Subtlety


The author defines the "danger of overt ingenious or overt subtlety" as the following:

...there are others whom some consider wise, but they put all their intelligence and concentrated effort into such cunning schemes that their great subtlety sometimes turns them aside from reaching a true, loyal, and sensible conclusion, so that these subtle people are out of step in all undertakings.

For the Warrior, one must never rely on cunning intelligence that subtlety makes one stumble in their enterprise.  For when one schemes and carries out a plan that makes one loose focus on the desired goal or objective, that individual is lost in their madness which is rooted in the scheming process.  Thus a Warrior is not one who schemes with plan or ideas rooted in fanciful wishes; rather he/she is one who plans and acts according to the dictates of Warrior Wisdom.



True Wisdom

"True Wisdom" is defined by the author as the following:

It is those who, from their youth, strive diligently to learn what is best to do, to distinguish good from evil, and to know what is reasonable to do; and because they recognize what course of action would be against reason, they endeavor to behave loyally, confidently, and according to what is right.  And in their dealings with others, such people do not seek to take away the rights of others, but want above all to protect such rights for them and their honor as well. And in addition, these people know well how to advise others honestly and wisely, without any evil malice, not using excessive subtlety, and without incurring shameful reproach.

For the Warrior, the marks of True Wisdom lie in the action or deed that utilizes wisdom that is meant to be applied in the present moment and not within one's mind. Wisdom lies not in the aspect of knowing much, but rather in doing much that all people can see Wisdom in the deed.  The Warrior is an individual of Wisdom and is a doer of good and wise deeds.  The fruit of Wisdom is not just in good deeds alone, rather in the upholding and pursuing of justice and honor for all people who look up to the one who lives by Honor and Wisdom: you.



Thoughtless Courage & Skill


The author states what is considered "thoughtless courage and skill" as the following:

...there are some who are skilled in handling weapons, brave, and adept, but their way of pursuing a career in arms is always such that when they are in action, they do not consider the benefit or advantage for their friends or the harm done to their enemies, but without giving or taking advice, they spur forward in a disorderly way and perform personally many feats of arms.

For the Warrior, one must always take into the mind consideration for both friend and enemy before making a strategic move.  Even before the attempt at a Deed of Arms or a martial deed, the Warrior utilizes his/her most important weapon: the sharpened and disciplined mind.  Both Prowess and Courage are two branches that ought to be rooted into the tree of Wisdom.  For without Wisdom, one's courage or action will be seen as thoughtless and thus will make oneself a fool for not thinking with discernment in advance. 


Great Achievers but not Leaders.

The author defines those individuals who are "great achievers but not leaders" as the following:

....those who have gone in search of military undertakings in many places, in distant lands and foreign parts, and have found them where another is in command, so that they have no responsibilities of leadership, and they have not involved themselves much in leading or in giving advice, but have undertaken whatever fighting has presented itself to them in an honorable way and without reproach.

For the Warrior, there is an appropriate time and place when to act as the servant or to act as a leader.  In the case of being lead by a leader, it is wise to act with humility but not in a degrading or belligerent manner, one must perform the appropriate tasks set before you.  In the case of being the Leader, one must be humble as a gate sealed against the vices of vice and arrogance.  For as people who look up to you who seek guidance and have the desire to be lead by your example, the vital importance of vigilance against vice is greater.   

True Men of Worth, Courage & Good Counsel

Finally, the author defines what is a "true man of worth, courage and good counsel" as the following:

....those who in their youth, in the places and the battles in which they have taken part, have risked their lives gladly and boldly and without any thought or fear of death, or prison, or of the expense which might be incurred in seeking these adventures.....when these young men learn what the practice of arms involves or what it can mean in terms of honor and danger, these good men at arms acquire wisdom and understanding which lead to full knowledge....they begin to act wisely on their own behalf when the need arises in their wars, and all goes well for them because of their good sense and the way they know how to conduct themselves; they also know well how to help and counsel others in their wars....The quality of these good men at arms thus fully proved through their good sense and wise counsel, through their great acts of true valor and their fine words, which are indeed fitting in relation to such deeds.

For the Warrior, one who has worth, courage and good counsel is one whose actions, deeds and knowledge are a reflection of his/her journey into learning, self growth, adventures, deeds of prowess and acquired wisdom built over the years.  These qualities are not in a night, instant characteristics that can be granted through a wish or a fanciful thought, but rather in years of hard work, commitment and humbling that comes from trials and adversity.  

Thus we can see that for a Warrior, much is required but not impossible to achieve in the course of many years.  For the Modern Warrior, the calling for living by the standard of excellence may seem a burden as the demand for pure commitment but with vision, the Warrior has the motivation, alacrity and fire which are seen in his/her actions.  

The calling is high o Warrior, but the Path is there, for the qualities of Wisdom, Courage, Discernment, Alacrity and Commitment to the Way of the Warrior are it's fruits. Strive forward Brave Warrior!  

Warrior Philosophy

In my discussions on the Book of Chivalry by Sir Geoffri de Charney, I have taken time to reflect on the journey of the discussions and have realized that what I have been talking or indirectly referencing to is Warrior Philosophy.

What is Warrior Philosophy?  It is the mental structure of the Warrior's thoughts, emotions or reactions to life scenarios and how should a Warrior come to a decision regarding a matter.  

What I must clarify that it is not guesswork or a theoretical form of mental gymnastics that will take many steps of thoughts and explanations to arrive to a conclusion.  Rather it is on stating a truth, explaining it in a logical, comprehensible and rational manner and giving that thought many applications.  Further on it is also the explanation of the "why" if not the motive of the thought or reason being discussed.  

For me as a Warrior and Martial Arts practitioner I have come to value Martial Arts Philosophy in my years of training and how it has helped me to cope with the positive and negative aspects of life.  

How does a Warrior use Warrior Philosophy?

The answer is this:

The Warrior utilizes Warrior Philosophy as a form of discussion of the ideal and the practical in regards to his/her training, lifestyle, application of values/morals/ideals and goals.  It works like this; Warrior Philosophy uses a thought as the basis for discussion for reasoning, logical progression of the thought and it's application in real life.  Here is a example of how it work.

Thought: I want to be loved.

Question: How does one become the recipient of love?

Answer: By having a girlfriend.

Logic: How does one go about to acquire a girlfriend?
Answer: Social events or being with a group of people.

Reason: Why do you feel the need to be loved? 
Answer: I am lonely and the emotion of loneliness irritates me.

Logic: If the emotion makes the demand, does that emotion reflect on your actual need or want?

Answer: Emotions should not be the master of my mind, therefore I have to examine this emotion to find out if it stems from a need or a base desire.

Reason: The emotion of loneliness can stem from the base desire of lust which must be conquered, you must see that the need for love leads to lust.  The want of love must stem from the desire for a companion who understand you and your walking the Path of the Warrior, such a woman must be your girlfriend (preferably your wife).

Logic: With thought established with truth, the next step is to live life and let the right woman come to you, her approach ought to be based on her seeing and being drawn to your character/inner man.
Question:How do I such things in this world full of distractions?
Logic: Continue to walk on the Path of the Warrior and follow all the precepts of the Way of the Warrior.

Reason: By following the Way of the Warrior you build up your reputation if not your integrity based on Morality rather on the follies and vices of the current day culture.  This is what the right woman will be drawn to.

As you can see a single thought does start the philosophical process which for the Warrior helps to arrive to a decisive and reasoned conclusion.  This is how a True Warrior ought to think.  

For those who may wonder on what texts does the Warrior feed his/her mind with?  The answer is the texts of the Greek and Roman Stoics, one can add the Book of Chivalry by Sir Geoffri de Charney, and the Bushido texts of Japan (Book of Five Rings, the Hagakure etc).  However what must be understood is that Warrior Philosophy leads the mind of the Warrior to Warrior Wisdom and not to useless spiritual or emotional theories.  

Your thoughts Warrior, must lead you to the truth, the truth is in the Way of the Warrior.

Study on the Book of Chivalry - 11

We continue now in the study of Sir Geoffrey de Charney's "Book of Chivalry" on the distinction between a good ruler in contrast to a bad ruler and how this is relative and applicable to the Modern Warrior.

The author states that a bad ruler in contrast to a good ruler is:

....who have less are to that degree inferior; and those who have more bad characteristics than good are not worthy to hold land or govern people; and the same can be said of other lords such as dukes, counts, barons, and other of whatever rank, in relation to ruling great lands and peoples.  And it can also be said of all nobles, be they only of middle rank: he who does best will he not always be the most praised, esteemed and honored? 

While this seems to you my readers a stark reminder of current day politicians or business leaders yet we must keep focus on what is being said here and how it relates to us Warriors or those who seek to be Warriors in our times. 

A Warrior is a leader of men and a leader in his or her family.  For a good leader will set the right example to all whereas a bad leader will bring out chaos, strife and confusion with a family or following. 

Consider this; people seek to look up to an individual for inspiration, guidance and leadership today, yet there is a huge lacking in such individuals and we see more bad examples and rarely the good examples of Warriors or leaders.  The impact that will have is more people will loose the way if not the will to live a life of purpose and vision because of despair and the poison of our times called "complacent, docile morality."  What I mean by is that when an individual chooses to not stand up in the face of injustice or causeless hatred out of a lack of will to stand and fight, rather living through the day "just getting by."  This amoral trap is what has many people enslaved that it would seem impossible to create or build individuals of Honor.  Yet it is not so.

For those that make the daily choice to live life with purpose and following the Way of the Warrior, we are the men and women that fight the amoral traps and set the example so as to help people be restored to the belief of the heroic and life of vision. 

Yet people will say something like "Okay I understand your point, but I still don't get it.  Why do we need to put good people that end up as hypocrites and break the law under our noses?" Or "Why can't we find any real good people to make the change we need because there is no one good?"  The answer is this:

Surely, ill deeds are shameful, fearful, and dangerous to commit and unworthy ways of life bring shame, blame, and an increase of sin, and unworthy acts lead to behaving in a shameful and dishonorable way in relation to worthy men, bringing one to a bad end.  It should, therefore, be recognized firmly and with certainty that deeds of valor, a good way of life, and good undertakings are more pleasant to carry out than are the above mentioned bad ones; for those who perform deeds of valor do so gladly, confidently and without fear of reproach; and those who lead a good life can fittingly go anywhere freely without fear. Those who carry out noble undertakings should take no account of envy or hatred of which they may be the object or of any ill which may be said of them or which people may want to do to them; for their deeds of valor, way of life and noble undertakings will bear them along, direct them, and keep them safe everywhere.

Enough is said to bring the point of this post out, but allow me to clarify what the author is saying.  First, leading an amoral life will lead to a disastrous and empty end to one's life.  Second, a life that is feed with deeds of heroism, courage, healthy & wise lifestyle, and undertakings that fulfill a noble cause is worthy of investment in time and daily choices (this type of lifestyle will benefit one in the short and long run of life).  Third, when setting out on a noble undertaking one should never let envy or hatred (even causeless hatred) enter into their mind so as to loose focus on the undertaking and become mentally distracted by their emotion.  In essence, deeds or actions will speak more than the words of many people. 

How does all this relate to Warriors as leaders?  In this manner, living the Way of the Warrior has more benefits to oneself and to people than a lifestyle that is contrary to the Way of the Warrior.  When a Warrior has a family, and leads to his/her best of their ability by living the Way of the Warrior and teaching it to their children, that family will benefit in the short and long term with a strong moral foundation that will withstand the onslaught of amorality in this world.

Be the strong, wise and good leader Brave Warrior, people are looking up to you and are depending on you. 

On Vision, Noble Cause and Purpose

Throughout the study of Sir Geoffrey de Charney's "Book of Chivalry" I have used the words "Vision," "Noble Cause," and "Purpose."  Yet most people would assume or have the thought that I may not know of what I am speaking of.  Or some might comment that I am making up an interpretation based on a historical text with no relevance to the present time.  I want to answer to these objections by defining the three terms I have mentioned.  

Vision

Vision is define by the individual and not necessarily by the community or following (though there are many examples of visions for various communities or groups).  I define the word "Vision" pertaining to the Warrior where he/she is aspiring to an ideal that is within one's reach.  A vision that a Warrior will and ought to have is to live their life by the Way of the Warrior in which they build a legacy of Heroism, Virtue and Honor day by day and passing the mantle of that legacy to one's children or disciples in the Way of the Warrior.  The Warrior's Vision is not a dream in  which fantasy is greater than reality nor is it a spiritual experience which could be mistaken for a state of euphoria.  Vision for the Warrior is the goal within reach such as leaving an impact on his/her family or disciples or living by Honor when all around him are wallowing in vice and hypocrisy.  Vision is attainable insight which can be achieved, understand this.

Noble Cause

In today's times, we have many organizations for Charity or followings to advocate social justice or pushing for political rights for those who are deemed the "unworthies" of society.  Yet the Warrior is an individual who is not embroiled in the mire of politics and slanderous arguments.  The Warrior fights for and seeks the fulfillment of justice done on behalf of those who are unable to fend for themselves or who are suffering as a result of following their convictions or sense of honor.  The Warrior seeks and fulfills the need of Justice not with poster signs, or a signature on a website, or a vote, or even a drop of a couple of dollar bills in a donation box.  Rather the Warrior utilizes his/her resources and connections to help those suffering.  The Noble Cause for the Warrior, is the cause of upholding those suffering from injustice from a community or within one's town or city.  The Noble Cause for the Warrior is standing up for Virtue when it is not convenient or politically correct.  The Noble Cause for the Warrior is advocacy for the concept of Honor to be restored to Society and Culture.  The Noble Cause for the Warrior is fighting against the World by living a life of Honor and Virtue.  

Purpose

This word has been given many definitions over the years and yet for the Warrior it means more than function or objective.  Purpose for the Warrior is goals for self improvement and self education in which the Warrior must be engaged and actively practicing on a daily basis.  Self betterment is defined as activities that help the Warrior to inspect his/her character and look at their flaws and seek solutions to fix those flaws by means meditation, daily self accountability and seeking and applying the wisdom of Warriors or Men who live their lives by Honor.  Self education is the Warrior engaging in activities that better his/her head and practical knowledge.  Such activities range from reading texts on Ancient Wisdom of the Stoics, of Warriors in History or texts on Wisdom written by Warriors such as De Charney, Musashi etc, and martial arts philosophy books which are of benefit to the Warrior.  Both components of self betterment and self education work together in which self education leads to self betterment and vice versa.  

With these terms now defined, I hope that you my readers can understand not only the meaning of my commentary in the study of the Book of Chivalry, but also a better understanding of the relevancy of Warrior Wisdom and why the Way of the Warrior ii vital to live a successful and meaningful life.  

Brave Warrior, know the vision you have for your life, know the Noble Cause to fight for, and know what is your Purpose in your daily life and in your self refinement. 

Study on the Book of Chivalry - 10

The study of the Book of Chivalry by Sir Geoffrey de Charney continues with the discussion of the role of Fortune in the life of the Warrior.

Fortune is defined by the author as "things which are destined to come to an end, whether through illness or force of death, for death spares no one, neither high or low, but levels all."

With this understanding, the Warrior thus sees Fortune as an opportunity for positive or a negative change.  Yet most people think on purpose or subconsciously that when one becomes materially rich or gains social rising within society that individual must have cheated his/her way to the top via illegal or scandalous means.  However, the author De Charney gives a stern point in regards to this saying:

And in relation to this, it could be said that one should not put trust in the benefits of fortune, which are not earned, for fortune is fickle and is destined to come to an end....benefit does not come from fortune: it should last, provided you know how to preserve it honestly, in controlling yourself first, and then others if necessary.  For if you are wise, you will only do good and ought not to excuse yourself from being a man of worth and loyal, as it is the greatest and supreme good there is...

The author makes it very clear, that as one takes advantage of an opportunity whether it be in finances, love or job advancement, one should not be left in a place or zone of comfort/ease, rather one should make good of the opportunity while it lasts to make a better consequence when the opportunity passes by. 

What does this mean though for the Warrior?
The answer is this:

When a Warrior becomes the beneficiary of fortune, it is the responsibility of the Warrior to make good the opportunity to make an honorable gain or investment.  How?  By using financial means or using money to make good on things such as charity, aiding family or friends in need, rebuilding one's life or even pursuing the cause of justice. 

Yet one will ask why? 

In today's times, it is very easy to fall into the illusion of wealth and rising within society at the expense of honor and standing by one's convictions and when one does stand by honor he/she becomes victimized by society as an outcast or vilified by slander.  The Warrior recognizes this and sets out to speak by his/her actions the belief and standing on conviction, noble cause, vision, purpose and Honor. 

By doing so, the Warrior utilizes money for the purpose of justice and honor which is of great benefit to society rather than enlarging on one's ego.  There is no harm in gaining wealth to support one's family or to invest in one's children; these things are good provided that the head of the family leads the family with teaching them vision, noble cause and purpose.

Yet when alone, the Warrior utilizes money to survive in this world maintaining/preserving his/her honor.  One must not look at the means rather at the person who uses the means for an agenda. 

Brave Warrior, choose wisely and lead with wisdom.

Study on the Book of Chivalry - 9

The study on the Book of Chivalry by Sir Geoffrey de Charney continues with the discussion of conduct towards friend and enemy.

The author, on the conduct to be shown towards friends and enemies states the following:

....be humble among their friends, proud and bold against their foes, tender and merciful toward those who need assistance, cruel avengers against their enemies, pleasant and amiable with all others...

...you should not converse at any length nor hold speech with your enemies, for you should bear in mind that they do not speak to you for your own good but to draw out of you what they can use to do you the greatest harm.

You should be generous in giving where the gift will be best used and as careful as you can that you let your enemies have nothing that is yours.

Love and serve your friends, hate and harm your enemies, relax with your friends, exert yourself with all your strength against your foes.

You should plan your enterprises cautiously and you should carry them out boldly.

....no one should fall into despair from cowardice nor be too confident from great daring, for falling into too great despair can make a man lose his position and his honor, and trusting too much in his daring can make a man lose his life foolishly; but when one is engaged on an armed enterprise, one should dread vile cowardice more than death.

....refrain from saying anything unpleasant things and to make sure that what you say is of some profit rather than merely courteous.

....you should treat your friends in such a way that you have no need to fear lest they become your enemies....

....when moving against your enemies to meet them in battle, never admit the idea that you might be defeated nor think how you might be captured or how you might flee, but be strong in heart, firm, and confident, always expecting victory, not defeat, whether or not you are on top, for whatever the situation, you will always do well because of the good hopes that you have.

The quotes give a sense of balance between to different forms of socializing.  The first being on how a warrior is to conduct him or herself towards their friends.  The second being on how warriors are to act towards his or her enemies or the enemies within. 

In regards towards friends, the Warrior treats friends as brothers or sisters in friendship and as allies or confidants in which the Warrior can relax and be his or her gentle self. 

In regards to to this balance of gentle and strong; one must understand this.  The Warrior is a balanced individual who knows the time and occasion to be either gentle or firm.  The Warrior is not an emotionally unstable or mental ill individual.  The Warrior is an amiable friend in times of peace and is also a force of justice in times of war.  Even in war, the Warrior is one who does not hold back on his or her prowess to achieve victory over the enemy or enemies. The Warrior is one that fights the inner enemies of fear, cowardice, doubts and overthinking to triumph over the physical opponent who is betting on an act of terror or intimidation. 

How does one achieve this mental/emotional balance?
The answer is this: by knowing oneself, knowing one's friends and creating the emotional balance by studying the ancient Warrior texts to understand this balance.

Yet one will ask the question: "Why need this balance when one can be aggressive or calm in two different modes of thinking?"
The answer is this: Thinking in two different modes of personalities is nothing short of being double minded, which can translate to moralistic double standards.  What affects one's mind will affect one's morals.  Therefore, a balance of the two extremities in personalities is vital to creating within oneself a complete and balanced human being. 

Therefore, the best lesson from this study is to know yourself and self introspect yourself so you can find the point of balance and build in time from there mentally and emotionally.  A saying of mine is this: "Fight your battles with your head, forget the heart."  Why do I say this?  A Warrior who is balanced is one who is able to fight his or her battles with his mind (which must utilize Logic, Reason, Wisdom, Knowledge) to fight the battle without having the Heart (the emotions) being involved.  This does not mean that a Warrior is a cold, killing, heartless, violent individual; rather the Warrior is balanced internally so as to not be swayed or influenced by emotions or motives that would unbalance the mind.  It is essentially being mentally and emotionally strong to withstand attacks on one's mind or emotions. 

Ask yourself this Brave Warrior: Am I swayed by my emotions or do certain things trigger my emotions?  Do I really know how to act between two extremes?  Can I fight my battles without feeling doubts or uncertainty?  When you ask yourself these questions, you begin your journey to balancing your mind and building a foundation of mental and emotional discipline.  Fight every battle with your mind full of Reasoning, Logic and Wisdom, do not rely on the Heart full of emotions.

Onward Brave Warrior!

Study on the Book of Chivalry - 8

The study of the Book of Chivalry by Sir Geoffrey de Charney continues with the understanding of why a Warrior must be conditioned physically and mentally.

The author begins to tackle the subject by first examining what causes an individual to want to become a glutton or one who avoids martial deeds for fear of suffering in the following:

In the first place, if you have this bad tendency for being excessively fond of cosseting this wretched body in your youth, you will want to go to sleep early, and wake up late, and if your hours of sleep are interrupted, you will suffer greatly from this, and the longer you sleep the less time you will have to acquire knowledge and to learn something of value.

The pampering of these wretched bodies also requires white sheets and soft beds, and if these are sometimes lacking, such men's backs and ribs ache so much that they can nothing all day.  And these good beds encourage rest and an abundance of sleep, which prevents them from hearing much that would be of profit to them.  

And in addition, to sustain these wretched men's bodies, which have little time to live, they have to be provided with the best food and wine that are to be found, and require to eat at the right time, or otherwise they will be in too much distress because of the great delight they take in such things.

The author makes it clear that when it comes to things that we live off of such as food, comfort, and easy life or sleep, these things can become a harmful addiction.  In fact one can say, that root of these addictions is mental apathy which can also be rooted within being lax with one's convictions.  Most people seek to enjoy the good life, but no one wants to enjoy the life with Cause and Purpose.

For the warrior rest, food and comfort have their respectful places and must not be goals or the ends to a goal.  Rather these things must not valued over making the choice or decision with integrity.  The author states his answer on the matter with the following:

It is quite the opposite for those who want to win honor, for they adapt to the seasons: when it is cold, they endure the cold, and when it is hot, they put up with the heat.  And they are prepared to accept all this for the great pleasure they experience in winning honor and in living honorably. 

And we learn from the above mentioned men of worth that the practice of arms always gives back what is put in whatever the delay.

Now you can see that these wretched people who are so fainthearted will never feel secure from living in greater fear and dread of losing their lives than do those good men at arms who have exposed themselves to so many physical dangers ad perilous adventures in order to achieve honor; for they are so accustomed to and familiar with such things that they are quite unaffected by such pathetic fears to which these wretches are so often subject.  And while the cowards have a great desire to live and a great fear of dying, it is quite contrary for the men of worth who do not mind whether they live or die, provided that their life be good enough for them to die with honor.  

It is evident that the manner a Warrior conducts his or herself is to perfect the body while sharpening the mind simultaneously.  Notice a specific pattern in the quotes, when one becomes accustomed to good food as opposed to food portioned enough to survive, physical laziness settles in, this leads to mental apathy which creates the desire for a relaxed lifestyle of extra sleep and avoiding anything dangerous.  The Warrior does the exact opposite.  How?

The Warrior takes every opportunity to condition his or her body to endure pain, hardship and danger to achieve one result, one goal: honor maintained or heightened, a life (or lives) saved from danger, or achieving a deed of heroism.  This means that physical training, conditioning, strict dieting, busy  are the trademarks of the Warrior Lifestyle. 

The key concept to keep in mind is Vigilance.  Vigilance of mind and spirit is what keeps a Warrior from falling into the traps of physical and mental apathy which ultimately leads one into the pit of moral collapse.  Keeping true to the Warrior Lifestyle, staying focused on the Vision for Cause and Purpose is the drive for Warrior to stand up and push themselves past the threat of danger and hardship to overcome the prison of laziness to achieve honor and heroism realized. 

Brave Knight, condition your body and soul for the battle to come.

Study on the Book of Chivalry - 7

The study of the Book of Chivalry by Sir Geoffrey de Charney continues with the discussion and insight into the influence and charisma of the right Lady in relation to the Warrior.

The author begins with the following questions:

Which one of two ladies should have the greater joy in her lover when they are both at a feast in a great company and they are aware of each other's situation?  Is it the one who loves the good knight, and she sees her lover come into the hall where all are at table and she sees him honored, saluted, and celebrated by all manner of people and brought to favorable attention before ladies and damsels, knights and squires, and she observes the great renown and the glory attributed to him by everyone?

And if one of the other ladies loves the miserable wretch who, for no good reason, is unwilling to bear arms, she will see him come into that very hall and perceive and understand that no one pays him any attention or shows him honor or notices him, and he remains hidden behind everyone else, for no one brings him forward. 

The author uses the example of two ladies who support two different knights.  Both knights having different affects on other people.  The question is asked: how does this pertain to me?

The answer is this: the saying "behind every powerful man, is a more powerful woman" is true pertaining to Warriorhood and living the Warrior lifestyle.  In other words, who you (as a Warrior) trust with your heart, will be an influence on your training and your deeds of heroism. 

What do I mean by this?  The Warrior is not just a fighting individual, he is a cultured man of Wisdom, Discernment, Stoic Reasoning and Honor. The decision he makes, will have a positive or negative impact on his lifestyle.  This pertains especially to his choosing a girlfriend or wife. 

In today's times, the concept of love and relationship has been pulled in every direction imagined.  Yet we also see the darkness of divorce and it's impact on families and other people; marital strife, crimes committed within marriage, loss of direction, ungratefulness within a marriage.  The list is endless.  Yet in spite of all of this, the Warrior does not waver or falter to the darkness.  he fights against it with the weapons of Stoic Reasoning, Discernment, Wisdom, Vision, Cause and Purpose. 

The question that arises is: How does the Warrior go about finding or choosing the right woman?

The answer can be given or drawn upon by the author's comments in the following:

How do such people dare to love when they do not know nor do they want to know about the worthy deeds that they should know about and ought to perform, especially those who for good reason should undertake them?

Therefore, men should love secretly, protect, serve, and honor all those ladies and damsels who inspire knights, me at arms, and squires to undertake worthy deeds that bring them honor and increase their renown.

And these noble ladies should, as is their duty, love and honor these worthy men at arms who, in order to deserve their noble love and their benevolence, expose themselves to so much physical danger as the vocation of arms requires from those who aim to reach and achieve that high honor through which they hope to deserve to win the love of their ladies.

The comments made by the author give the qualities and the expected consequences from a relationship with the right woman for the Warrior.  In the first comment, the question is aimed at the woman who is self centered and does not care for what is important to the Warrior namely living by the lifestyle and following its every precept.  And it also points the consequences of a relationship that does not have vision for the short and long term goals.  A couple brought together that do not share the same vision are bound to suffer much.  For the Warrior is a leader guided by Vision and Purpose.  Therefore, the woman that the Warrior should seek must be a woman who shares the same Vision as him. 

The second comment is a directive given by the author.  The Warrior (after finding the right woman)  must love, honor, cherish serve, protect and value his love with everything within him and must be inspired to strive for betterment of himself and of his relationship to his girlfriend or wife.  The Warrior must take every initiative to better the relationship and seize any and every opportunity to better his life by means of work, training or deeds of heroism or prowess done with inspiration from his lady love. 

Yet the question arises that says: What qualities in a woman must I look for so I don't end up with the wrong woman?"  The answer is given in the third comment.  According to the author, the woman that that the Warrior must find and make his life partner must be a woman who loves and cherishes her love, one who inspires if not pushes him to be the better Warrior or the better man.  One who shares the same vision for the short and long term goals of the relationship.  She must be a woman who understands her love and who is willing to accept the reality of life and the Warrior Lifestyle.  In fact it is the ideal for Warriors to find women who are Warriors themselves and marry them (provided they share the same vision regarding marriage and family).  However, if the woman who you as a Warrior to compromise in any way living by Warrior Wisdom or following the Warrior lifestyle or she blatantly tells you to drop it for her sake; it is better to leave her rather than to stay and wither away into an empty of your true self. 

I am not preaching to order you to do what I tell, rather I am giving the directive and example of how Warriors must conduct themselves in regards to Love, Relationships and even what to look for in a woman.  For those that are convinced that they do not need a woman to help fulfill their mission in life as Warriors, I commend them.  For those that seek a relationship, use discernment and follow Warrior Wisdom when choosing the woman whom you want to open up to. 

Brave Knight, choose wisely your Lady Love.

Study on the Book of Chivalry - 6

The study of the Book of Chivalry by Sir Geoffrey de Charney continues with the discussion of the responsibilities of the Warrior.

The author states the following:

And he who bears such a burden should fear lest he let it fall, for with great effort and endurance, in fearful danger and with great diligence, for a long time, stretching over a number of years, he has devoted himself to bearing this responsibility on his shoulders, and in one brief moment he may fall and loose everything,...So it must seem to everyone that such people should strive with the utmost diligence to ensure that they suffer no reproach against themselves nor against the bounties God has bestowed on them.   

The passage mirrors what in today's society calls "honor vs. shame."  What I mean by is that society gives exultation if not near worship to an individual who embodies a certain value or virtue that is celebrated.  However when that one individual does an act of what society considers unlikely or unthinkable from that individual, they hurl shame and disgrace upon that individual even when that individual is penitent.  For the Warrior, this is all the more true.  Therefore the Warrior must be one who is consistent and the same both in public and in private.  The Warrior on that same note, disregard the praise adoration given by the public, the reason being that societal praise can be compared to cheers given at a sport event with no genuine credit given or honor emphasized for the deed or virtue shown by the Warrior.  Humility to the Warrior is what car insurance is to the car driver.

The author then gives a source of where one who draw upon an example to derive how one must conduct themselves with this burden of responsibility/accountability:

We therefore learn from the good knights and men at arms whose great achievements and honorable deeds of prowess and of valor, have been related, described, and told above and which they have accomplished through suffering great hardship, making strenuous efforts, and enduring fearful physical perils and the loss of friends whose deaths they have witnessed in many great battles in which they have taken part; these experiences have often filled their hearts with great distress and strong emotion.

One will ask the question: "Why use the examples of soldiers?"  The answer is this: The Warrior is a soldier who fights the battles within his/her country or outside the country in service of the noble cause of Freedom and Justice (Freedom and Justice defined by both Law and Ideal and not according to current day politics).  The life stories from soldiers instills in the listener the somber reality of life and the renewing of the appreciation for the things taken for granted in regards to life.  For the Warrior, the individual bests learn from the deeds and conduct of soldiers and those who performed deeds of heroism with the intention of applying the lessons he/she has learned.


The author continues with the the value and importance of honor with the following:

....it is to be understood that one should not fail in any way to put great effort into anything which  might improve one's chance of winning an honorable reputation at any moment of the day or night; for the most precious thing there is to loose is time which passes, and cannot be won back nor can it return; and it can happen that such honor is won in an hour which one might fail to find in a year or indeed ever.

In our times when the notion or the concept of honor has come under the microscopic lens of scrutiny or outright attack due to anger stemming from feeling betrayed by a hypocrisy; it is of great importance to the Warrior that his/her Honor is to be guarded as a scared treasure.  True Honor is seen in our times to be synonymous with Integrity (which is true to a degree), however True Honor is Bravery in conduct towards friend and enemy.  True Honor is Self Accountability and Self Introspection which leads the Warrior with the desire for Self Excellence.  Indeed True Honor is in essence, living one's life with Excellence of Self.  Since in today's time, people if not society is quick to judge and even slander with or without cause, the Warrior must take every opportunity, whether it is a simple action or a choice with the positive consequence of making a better impact on people to build and refine his/her Honor.

The author makes this point when he states that:

That means that by your manners, your behavior, and your personal bearing you should so present yourself that your renown may be so good, so noble, and so honorable that you and your great deeds are held in high esteem in your quarters and on the field, especially in feats of arms in peace and in feats of arms in war where great honor wins recognition.

In summation, every action that the Warrior takes; whether it be a simple act of courtesy or a deed of heroism; must be done to maintain and increase True Honor within the Warrior.  The responsibility of the Warrior is the commitment to living by the standard of Excellence of Self, True Honor and Self Accountability. 

Remember this Brave Knight, the Honor that you have today can potentially be lost in a moment.  Guard it well, this is your burden, your mantle for life.

Study on the Book of Chivalry - 5

We continue further into our study of 'The Book of Chivalry" by Sir Geoffrey de Charney.

In this section, we will touch on the author's take on the valiant influence of a Valiant Lord and how does this relate to the modern warrior.

The author Sir Geoffrey explains how a Valiant Lord's influence has a positive effect in the following passages:

Thus you can see that one hundred men skilled in deeds of arms make themselves a name all the sooner through one great and worthy lord than would ten by two poor men of great worth...

for the great lord has them in his company and loves, honors, and values them and rewards them, and they respect him, love, honor and esteem him for the great valor they see in him in addition to the love, honor, reward that he has bestowed on them.

Nor are the valiant poor men as much respected and obeyed in time of action as are the great lords; but this does not mean that the good reputation does not belong to and remain with those who have earned it, whether rich or poor, and he who does most, the more lasting benefit there benefits there remains for him and the more worthy he is. 

The influence of those in command or who take upon the mantle of leader have the ability to influence his followers positively or negatively.  The warrior must be a leader who is aware of his/her ability to influence people to greatness or great deeds of heroism. The warrior is one who uses his position of leadership to the benefit and betterment of his/her followers and by people.


Yet the debate if not the argument is this: power corrupts, so being a leader is a gateway to becoming a tyrant or a wicked individual.  The answer to this argument is this: The warrior that is a leader is an individual who does not allow the temptation of power for self to get to his/her head.  Rather the Warrior Leader is one who uses his/her position to the advancement of heroism and the betterment of all people.  Vision ad Purpose guides the Warrior Leader in his/her thoughts and actions.

People in general always look towards action rather than a charismatic speech.  If this is true in our times, how much more true it is in regards to Warriorhood in our times.  The Warrior is an individual of action guided by Vision, Purpose and the Noble Cause.

The Warrior Leader exhibits the virtue of Humility and credits his/her followers for their actions or participation in a heroic deed.  The credit is shared to the group, and not allotted to the Leader.  While today's society gives praise to the single individual for a heroic deed, the Warrior Leader credits his/her followers along with himself.

Therefore Brave Knight, be humble and guided by Vision, Noble Cause and Purpose when you take upon yourself the mantle of a Leader.  Your followers look up to you, therefore be the example.

The German School of the Knightly Arts

In the study of HEMA, the Italian school is studied as well as the German school of Knightly Arts.

The Rhineland housed many masters of Medieval combat, I will not go through all of them, but I will mention the name of several masters whose names stand out in popularity in study, but also those who have more than one fight book to their name.

The first one I will mention is Johannes Liechtenauer.

Johannes Liechtenauer is the master of the Knightly Arts from whom the German fight books derive their source from.  In fact, most of the fight books are commentaries of the prose verses written by Liechtenauer.  In fact you can read the verses here.

His verses specialize in the utilization of the Longsword, the Sword in Armor or Half Swording, and Mounted Combat.

The second name I will mention is Hans Dobringer.

Hans Dobringer is the earliest German source for Liechtenauer's verse that can be traced and his commentary captures the the Art that Liechtenauer taught during the Mid to Late 1300's which is crucial in recreating the Art of Medieval Knightly Combat.

The third name I will mention is Sigmund ain Ringeck
.
Ringeck is one of the most studied and practiced in the many HEMA communities.  The reason being is that Ringeck's commentary on Liechtenauer's verses is straight forward and easy to understand.

The fourth name I will mention is Peter Von Danzig.

While Von Danzig is credited for his commentary on the verses pertaining to the Sword in Armor, the often mistaken text (Cod.44.A.8) which is another commentary on the Liechtenauer verses provides insights into the verses and techniques not mentioned  by Ringeck.

Other names within the study such as Paulus Kal, Hans Talhoffer, Peter Faulkner etc.

Yet one will ask the question, why bring up this subject?

The answer is this: the study of the German Knightly Arts adds depth and repertoire to the study of HEMA and its focus on verse interpretation adds richness to mental training which is a benefit to the modern warrior.

Now Brave Knight, study and apply, learn all and apply everything.

Warrior Mental Training

The Warrior of today is a well rounded individual. One that can fight the external and internal battles with wisdom and vigilance.  While a fighter can be one who excels in winning physical battles; a Warrior is one who fights the battles with the mind and the weapon of choice.

Yet the question is offered, How does the Warrior think?  Is there such a thing as training of the mind?

The answer to both questions is this:  The Warrior trains not just the physical body for combat, the Warrior trains his/her mind in equal balance.  The body for physical combat, the mind for strategy and mental prowess.

How does one go about training the mind?

The Warrior will train his mind in many aspects of life such as reading, mental strategy training, usage of logic and wisdom, usage of one's vision for life, reminding of one's purpose as a Warrior.  All these things are the components that make up the Warrior Mind.

Yet how does one start the training?  How does one keep motivated?

The answer is this: the training starts by taking control of emotions, thoughts, and will.  Exerting or initiating mental control brings about the mental change that is needed.

Next, the Warrior will begin to read books, not just pieces of literature, books on strategy, warfare, logic, history, martial training, ethics, .  The purpose of the readings is to fill the mind with knowledge and build the foundation for the Warrior Mind to operate.

After the readings, comes the application of said knowledge.  The knowledge can be applied to further one's self education to learn how to live independently and how to sustain and maintain one's self.  Examples of this can range from maintenance/repair of a car, growing a garden for food, cooking, finances, woodwork, living off the land or survival training.

The application of knowledge must lead one to full, committed action.  This action varies from what goals the Warrior sets to accomplish based on his/her environment or living conditions.  What must remain constant is commitment to one's vision and purpose, commitment to the lifestyle and his/her goals, and vigilance.

Yet with all of this, various situations arise which may prevent all this such as illness or days where one cannot do the physical training.  The answer is the training does continue within the realm of the mind.  How one may ask?  The answer is what has been detailed only minus the physical training.

Another will ask, "how does all this tie in with the physical martial training?"

The answer is this: physical action are manifestations of mental thought. Thus when a warrior drills a punch, a kick, a joint lock, evade or throw, the mind is what makes the strategies of the fight or series of battles in the mind of the warrior.  This can also be a mental set up or prep up for a battle/tournament match/street fight/or survival scenario.  Thus when one trains and refines their prowess, it is to be a preparation for the real thing: the fight for life and preservation of life.

Brave Knight, your mind must be equally sharp as your sword, for a sword without a hand guided by the mind, will lead to no action.  Train well Brave Warrior!

Study on the Book of Chivalry - 4

We continue in your study of the Book of Chivalry of Sir Geoffrey de Charney.  The topic is on the author's perspective on the Art of War.

The phrase "the Art of War" in the minds of most people will recall the famous strategy book of Sun Tzu.  In this post, we will delve into the author's take on Warfare and how do we apply the principles of Warfare into out daily lives and in our daily warrior training.

The author Sir Geoffrey de Charney, on the Art of War states the following:

"They want to observe and to find out how to set up an expedition to attack and fight one's enemies, and to observe the deployment of light horsemen, the deployment of men at arms and foot soldiers, and the best way to advance in a fine attack and to make a safe and honorable with withdrawal, when it is time to do so."

"But the reason is that when a great nobleman, lord of extensive lands, is of great worth in the way explained above, as a result he loves and values men of worth all the more for the knowledge he has of great deeds he has seen them performed."

"Nor are the valiant poor men as much respected and obeyed in time of action as are the great lords; but this does not mean that the good reputation does not belong to and remain with those who have earned it, whether rich or poor, and he who does most, the more lasting benefit there remains for him and the worthy he is."

The Art of War as defined by Sir Geoffrey de Charney is not limited to the usage of strategy of armies and siege work; it also includes the actions of conduct in warfare between noblemen and non noblemen.  It also includes according to de Charney the education of learning warfare.

One will automatically ask, "What does this have to do with me?"

The answer is this: As one who studies and applies the Art of War, so does the Warrior apply his education into the Art of War against the negative cultural and societal environment and war against the devaluing of Warriorhood.

One will ask "What?  What do you mean a negative culture and society?"  Reality dictates that the television is filled with dramas and reality shows that show the worse and the most carnal of humans. Another look at reality will show people treating one another with either negative humor or downright abusive mannerisms and the usage of shame to lift oneself while putting others down or to hide anything one would consider scandalous.

Reality is the proof of what has been stated.  However the Warrior does not let his/her environment to get into the mind lest it grows weak.  Rather the Warrior studies the opponent and creates strategies to battle the negativity and achieve victory which results in self growth and empowerment.

What strategies can be used?  The answer varies as no one Warrior lives exactly alike as one's living environment varies.  Therefore there is need for principle that applies to everything.  The quotes above highlight three important things when applying the Art of War.  They are: 1. Observe and plan the best attack, 2. having people of loyalty is valuable as much as self education, and 3. respect all men and achieve the most to win the war.

Let me break each principle to give explanation and context.

1. Observe and plan the best attack: observe the surroundings and community, find where the negativity is and how to best counter it with wisdom and nobility of  character.  This also includes appropriate usage of martial prowess and when to indulge in simple amusement such as movies or music.

2. having people of loyalty more valuable as self education is: self education balanced with having a fellowship of warriors is the achievable goal for any warrior.  Fellowship guarantees things such as accountability, brotherhood and shared vision.

3. respect all men; achieve the most: this follows up on the previous principle, the context is to give respect to all people.  However if the respect is not reciprocated, vigilance and discernment are the filters in which to render wise judgement on the person who is disrespectful.  In the war against society and culture, achievement is based on growth, wisdom, mental and spiritual maturation rather than on physical rewards.

With all this, application and discernment are the tools needed to accomplish the task.  The question to you Brave Warrior is: do you have a plan for victory?  If so, fight wisely and with boldness.

A Story

I want to present to you a story in which it is an adaption from a Japanese fairy tale.  I don't know the name of the original tale so I ask that you pardon me for that discrepancy.  I have adapted the story with dramatic license to highlight the virtue of humility and honor in this story.

Long ago, across many distant lands.  There was a King who sought to have his daughter the Princess married.  For the kingdom which he ruled was in sore need of the royal family to continue after many years of war and devastation.  One day, the Princess came to her father the King and told him of her love for the famous Knight Sir John the Valorous.  The King laughed at the thought of her daughter of ebony complexion falling in love with a soldier.  The King said to the Princess, "Surely you must jest.  A soldier is only a simple man who seeks the glories of war for himself.  What you need is a Prince who has wealth, land and power."  The Princess beset with emotion, responded gently to her father saying, "But even a Prince can be seduced by greed and tyranny. The one who I love fights for the well being of all in the kingdom.  Furthermore, his heart is humble and pure.  It is these things that make love me more no matter his station in life." The King, surprised by the response thought over this.  He allowed his daughter to leave while he contemplated on how to get his daughter married.  He pondered until he decided to make a trip to see the Emperor in the Kingdom of the Red Hills. That night, the Princess prayed with earnest sincerity that her Knight will be her husband.

The following day, the King and the Princess traveled to the Kingdom of the Red Hills where they were greeted with pomp and ceremony.  The King greeted by the Emperor with all courtesy and spoke to him saying, "Emperor of the Red Hills, my friend.  You are by far the most powerful and sovereign ruler of your kingdom.  For this, I wish to offer you my daughter for you to marry."  The Emperor, perplexed by the proposition replied "My friend, I maybe sovereign of my lands and people, but I am not powerful as you think me to be.  For there is one who is more powerful than I."  The King perplexed by the Emperor's response asked, "Who would be more powerful than you?"  The Emperor responded, "The sun is the one who is more powerful than me, for his light keeps me within my castle and I cannot withstand his eternal heart lest I perish from thirst."

The King along with the Princess then walked outside the palace of the Emperor and the sun greeted them both.  The King shouted to the sun, "Powerful and eternal sun, I ask you to marry my daughter the Princess."  The sun laughed and said, "I wish I can but there is another who is powerful than me.   The clouds whom I can never pierce through with my light keep me captive until they pass by."  The King was perplexed all the more. 

The clouds then rolled by to greet the King and the Princess, paying them due honor and respect.  The King shouted to the clouds, "Great ominous clouds, powerful than the mighty sun.  I ask you to marry my daughter." The clouds trying not to laugh said, "I wish that were possible but the winds who are more powerful than me would prevent the wedding.  For when they blow, I am destroyed."

Soon the winds began to blow, greeting the King and the Princess.  However the King trying to shout to the winds was swept off to see and speak with the source of the winds.  The King understanding the intent behind the action asked, "Mighty winds that cannot be conquered, will you marry my daughter?"  The clouds questioned the King by asking "How is that possible?  For we cannot marry her for we are free and desire not to be bound by anything. Also, the walls of the nearby city are more powerful than us.  For no matter how hard we blow, the wall stands as a mountain rooted deep into the earth."

After the winds left, the King and the Princess rode to the nearby city.  The watchman on the wall greeted the King and the Princess.  "I speak for the wall of the city." shouted the watchman.  The King then shouted, "Watchman who speaks for the wall, will you marry my daughter?"  The watchman looked at the King with confused eyes and said, "My King, I cannot usurp and replace the man who loves your daughter the Princess.  For the man who is more fitting to marry your daughter is the protector of the realm.  The wall which I stand on and watch are strong but with time grow weak with decay and the elements beating against it.  This threat is more greater than the raiders or enemies we face.  But the raiders have more to fear from the Knight Protector."  The King realizing that his simple request was denied by all others asked in desperation, "Tell now, who is this Knight Protector?"  The watchman responded, "The Knight Protector is none other than Sir John the Valorous."  The Princess smiled within her heart as she knew her prayers were answered.

At that moment, a dozen raiders began to charge to city upon learning the conditions of the walls.  The watchman seeing them from a far distance sounds the alarm and the King and Princess get inside the city for safety.  Before the raiders were within a mile's distance of the walls a knight in black armor rode out to meet the raiders head on.  The raiders recognizing the black knight turned their charge towards to him and the battle ensued.  The black knight will outnumbered fought with strong strokes and skillful prowess.  In five minutes of the battle, half the raiders laid prostrate on the ground wounded or killed.  The remaining few of the raiders stricken with fear began to flee for their lives.  The black knight emerged victorious and without a single wound.  The inhabitants of the city rejoiced as they were saved.

The King and Princess watched the entire battle in amazement. The Princess was much joyous that her knight was victorious.  While the King amazed by what happened asked the watchman to bring the knight to him.  Sir John rode into the city being welcomed by the people of the city.  However, Sir John did not welcome the praise or even the acclamation of the people but rode to his house where we acted with humble courtesy.  The King sending the watchman to Sir John saw Sir John's actions was moved in his heart.  He said to himself, "His humility and prowess are nothing which I have seen.  I now see why my daughter loves him.  I would rest easy knowing that a man of honor will rule after me."  Soon, the watchman brought Sir John before the King. Sir John, a man of light tan complexion greeted the King with a bow and a salutation.  The King spoke to Sir John saying, "Brave and skilled knight, I have heard of your deeds and have seen them this day.  I also see that you humility and honor has made you a pure man.  A man who I deem worthy of marriage to my daughter the Princess.  I ask you, will you marry my daughter?"  Sir John taken aback by the request but not hiding his joy replied, "It will be great honor your majesty."

Soon afterwards, Sir John was in the arms of the Princess.  They were married within a fortnight and all the kingdoms rejoiced with celebration.  Never has there been a more joyous and festive wedding in all of the kingdom.  For on that day, honor and humility were victorious in the contest of love.  They lived with happiness for the rest of their lives.

The End.          

Transitions of Life

In life, change is the one thing that is always on the horizon.  No matter what it is or how it manifests in one's life, change is either embraced or feared.  Such is the case in life transitions.

One example to draw upon this idea, is changes in one's job, no one wants to think about it without the foreshadowing fear of financial and monetary fears for one's daily provisions.  However, to the warrior, it is only a test of preparedness, will power and determination.  This all sounds good but when applied in real life, the challenges become the burdens.  Yet the warrior is one who accepts this and pushes forward.

Allow me to speak from experience, for the past months I began to hunt a better paying full time job because the job I had was falling below my expectations.  Instead of wishing it into existence as some would do, I knew I had to take action.  I began to work with a job coach in which it leads to three to four months of filling applications online and fruitless results, this would be enough to dishearten anyone with hope.  However I knew that the hopeless searching will not last forever.  Recently I have started a new, full time job in which I found myself qualified in many ways that I didn't see before. 

The question at hand is this: how does one handle a change like this?  This means that the days will have a new change in routine, a change in personal conduct, even time spent writing these posts and making them available on the page.  How does one flow with the change and still do what is desired?

The answer is this: the change must be accepted and the mind must be used to strategic effect to plan and reorganize one's goals and daily routine to accommodate the current change.  There must never be compromise on things such as training, meditation, self education and cleanliness of self and living environment.

While the task seems daunting, it is achievable.  The question is: "Will you fight the battles of life with your wish or with your mind?"   

Study on the Book of Chivalry - 3

We continue the study of the Book of Chivalry by Sir Geoffrey de Charney.

In this study we examine the actions of  a Knight or Man at Arms on his/her conduct in the Deeds of Arms.  We read the following passages:

"It is then a great shame when a good career is held back by excessive spending, for it is better to give an account of how one has been on one's own without a retinue, to take part in armed combats along with other people, and to tell of one's exploits, when God has by his grace granted them, than to say that one lives in such great state and that one has spent too much and has not been able to stay until the right moment."

"But it so happens that few learn of their exploits but are only aware of the fact that they have been there, which is in itself a fine thing; for the more one sees great deeds, the more one should learn what is involved and should talk and take advice at the places where feats of arms are performed or where one is engaged in other activities."

"And they know well how to do it skillfully and cleverly; and because they are so intent on plunder, it often happens that on entry into a town won by force, those who are so greedy for plunder dash hither and thither and find themselves separated from those of their companions who have no thought for gain but only for completing their military undertaking..... It can also happen in relation to such people who are very eager for booty that when there is action on the battlefield, there are a number of  men who pay more attention to taking prisoners, and other profit, and when they have seized them and other winnings, they are more anxious to safeguard their captives and their booty than to help bring the battle to a good conclusion.  And it may well be that a battle can be lost in this way.  And we ought instead to be wary of the booty which results in the loss of honor, life, and possessions."

These quotes while in context speak of the conduct of the Knight in both the battlefield and the tourney, speaks a great deal to the ethical conduct of the warrior in the tournament as well and modern deeds of arms.  One can even argue that this can also apply to the soldier to a degree.

In the first quote; we see the author makes a great caution against excessive spending.  When taking this into application, especially within purchasing HEMA equipment and weapon trainers and registering for HEMA events and tournaments one can easily be tempted to spend in the excessive.  The motive can vary from "I want to get the cool looking sword" or "I want to get as much experience in tournament fighting" or "got to have the best equipment so I can look cooler than everyone else."  However, one must ask themselves this question: "Is this what you want or what you need?"  The difference between the need and the want is a question of practical budgeting and finding out which equipment or trainer works best for the individual.  From personal experience I too faced this temptation.  My solution to this was finding out from calculating budget prices what I can afford to purchase, measuring myself to find what equipment fits me best and which weapon trainer works well for me (see my post "HEMA on a Budget" for further details).  The point is this, never spend on anything to make your image puffed with egoism.  Rather spend on what you need to benefit your practice and training without depriving yourself of your livelihood.

In the second quote, the author speaks on those who have participated in deeds of arms but don't get any attention s a result, in fact the heading from the original text says "Sacrifices made by Men at Arms whose Deeds remain unknown."  With the given context, this advice speaks on those who don't get the recognition for their participation in a deed of arms or tournament.  How should one go about it? The answer is this: ask yourself this question "Are you looking for recognition?  Are you seeking opportunities to refine your prowess?  Or are you seeking to participate in the tournament without seeking to recognized as you practicing humility?"  This speaks of one's purpose in their participation.

In the third quote, the author speaks against greed in the context of the aftermath of a battle.  However, this speaks also flows from the previous quote as it speaks to the purpose and reason for participation.  In this case it is a warning against egoism fueled by greed.  Often in tournaments there are often individuals or one who is set on winning the prize and will do anything (even if it means a violation of tournaments rules/boundaries) to achieve the prize.  The warrior is one who seeks to refine himself and sees the participation and refinement of prowess as the "prize" of their participating in the tournament.  One must ask these questions: "Is the prize worth it?  What benefit do i derive from a medal or a cash prize or a prize item?" "Is it worth my breaking the rules to get to a prize I want to win and in the end only loose face and dignity?"  The warrior never seeks prizes, but rather perfection of self in action.

One can ask at this point, "How should one conduct themselves in a tournament or deed of arms?"  The author gives us the answer in the following passages:

"It is embodied in those who, from their own nature and instinct, as soon as they begin to reach the age of understanding, and with their understanding they like to hear and listen to men of prowess talk of military deeds....as they increase in years, so they increase in prowess and in skill in the art of arms....And they themselves, through their great zeal and determination, learn the true way to practice the military arts until they, on every occasion, know how to strive toward the most honorable course of action, whether in relation to deeds of arms or in relation to other forms of behavior appropriate to their rank.  Then they reflect on, inform themselves, and inquire how to conduct themselves most honorably in all circumstances."

In summation, the warrior who takes everything (training, tournaments, events, deeds of arms, life situations) as lessons or opportunities for self refinement will be benefited from the results of his/her being bettered by others and setting the example of personal excellence in prowess or conduct.

Remember this Brave Knight, your actions show who you are, choose wisely and learn everything.     

Review - Late 14th Century Gambeson

The product in review is a Late 14th Century Gambeson from the company Lord of Battles purchased from the site Kult of Athena.

The Gambeson is a medieval equivalent to a jacket which served as regular piece of clothing and as a piece of undergarment in preparation for wearing a full harness or suit of armor.  In the practice of HEMA, the gambeson is used for protection as a form of padded armor in bouting or free fencing with weapons such as the longsword, sword and buckler etc.  The gambeson is also used in the study of armored combat as an undergarment which is worn before donning the armor (I will explain this is future blog posts).

In searching for a gambeson which is affordable within my budget as there are many sites in which a gambeson can be priced from $300 to $500.  In my case, I  searched through the site Kult of Athena. I looked into the Late 14th Century Gambeson as seen here.  I measured my chest and arm length to get an approximate number when deciding the size.  I fit into a medium and ordered it afterwards.

After I had ordered and it arrived, I decided to wear it to get the feel of it.  Visually,the gambeson is simple yet elegant in overall design.  When donning it, the gambeson did fit me and the arm length was perfect.  At first it felt stiff, but after moving around in it it then felt less stiff as it is padded.  After doing a couple of half and full cuts with the longsword, the movements felt natural.   A note of concern for me as the buttons in which the threading seemed too thin and appears to be at risk for breaking from constant wear and tear.

Then i decided to test it on how it performs in free fencing.  After a couple of bouts, the gambeson held up well. However in one bout, the right sleeve in the elbow area ripped at the seam during a close encounter.  This raised a concern for me for the sewing of the gambeson.  I took it to a tailor to get the rip repaired and to my satisfaction it held up well after a few swings.

Overall, this is a good gambeson to start off with.  I would deem it best suited for drills and controlled free fencing.  However I would discourage using it in tournaments, free fencing for a long period of time or as armor undergarment due to its susceptibility to tear.

This is an item in which to start with for the moment and in time purchase the upgrade (see my post HEMA ona Budget).

Overall, the Late 14th Century Gambeson from Kult of Athena is a good starter to practice and train in.  If desiring for usage in free fencing and armor wearing, please search for other alternatives.

Be a Man - Be a Warrior - Be a Knight

Be a Man - Be a Warrior - Be a Knight

The above statement seems like a meme or an incomplete thought at face value.  However, when the mind is applied to this phrase; the saying becomes a chain of thoughts linked together that shows a deep and profound message. 

Be a Man

In today's generation and culture, the definition of a man is completely lacking.  Depending on the upbringing of the individual, the thought and opinion of what a man is can range to mean anything.  For example, some believe that one becomes a man by simply doing an act of bravado or stunts that boosts the ego of the individual.  In other cases, various cultures gives a short and non descriptive definitions of manhood (grow up, work hard, get married, have a family, live life, no trouble mantras).  However, what the individual needs is a definition of a man that is to the point and descriptive.  Why?  Because men by nature are more prone to action rather than thought.  However, that does not speak for every man. 

What does it mean to be a man?  From the lessons learned from my father, my grandfather, my conversations with single fathers and married fathers, here is what I have learned.  To be a man, is to be one who leads by example for himself and his family; one who is steadfast in his beliefs and practices what he preaches; one who builds a legacy for his family and generation; one who accepts his mistakes as lessons and does right for himself; one who loves selflessly and is pure in heart. 

This may seem at face value, all ideals in the clouds, however this definition gives definition as to the actions and motives of a real man. It is wisdom for one to learn his/her role in life before committing to the role. 

According to Jewish author and Rabbi Shalom Arush, he gives a profound definition of a man in his book  where he states:

A man gives, he pampers others, listens to others, pays attention to others, concedes his wants for the sake of others, is forgiving, doesn't seek honor, doesn't want to benefit from others, supports others, helps, others, and empathizes with others.  A man can accept humiliation with love, and can also accept complaints and accusations without being offended or defensive.
The Garden of Peace.  Arush, R. Shalom.  Pg. 99.

This quote may sound preposterous if not ridiculous.  However, when pondered, the definition speaks of what a man is and ought to be towards others (family included).  The quote speaks of the actions that a man who shows and acts out of love.  Read the definition carefully, and one will see that love is the action of giving from oneself selflessly.  Yet one will ask, how can a man accept humiliation with love?  The answer is this, the humiliation the Rabbi is talking about is within the context of marriage.  The humiliation that is mentioned is the humiliation a parent will experience from ill mannered children or when the man does something that humiliates his wife. The accepting of this humiliation or the recognition of humiliation is the act of being down to earth in humility and owning up to the mistake which the man does out of love for his wife and family.

Another question that is asked: how does a man accept complaints or accusation without being defensive or offended?  Again, context is needed.  Within any relationship or marriage, one is not exempt from complaints or accusations on small things.  A man is one who hears these things and takes action to correct the root of the problem causing the partner to accuse or complain (husband or wife; boyfriend or girlfriend).   What about honor?  Keep in mind this, that honor is a spiritual/moral/ethical/mental trait that is not given not can be taken away.  Honor is the gift the warrior/knight gives to himself and treasures in the heart of his lady.  Therefore, if Honor is a given gift, there should never be "honor seeking' as it is a sign of ingratitude to the gift.


Be a Warrior

When a man accepts and commits to the Path of the Warrior, the man becomes a warrior based on the merit of living and being committed to the warrior lifestyle. The warrior is one who walks in between two worlds, one of peace, and the other one of war.  Now this definition is not limited to one who serves in the army, navy, marines or special forces.  This definition speaks of the individual who fights the battles from within (as in a community or home town).  This individual is not a vigilante, but rather a man who has prowess and wisdom to act within the law to see that justice is accomplished.  However,, for the warrior, his wisdom or direction of the Path can be determined by what source of wisdom does he benefit from.  One can benefit from the study of Bushido, Sufism, Taoism, Stoic Philosophy etc.  A warrior can choose which source of wisdom he/she can identify with or comprehend.  This is the opposite of what a Knight is/

Be a Knight

When a man chooses to live and be committed to the lifestyle of the Knight, the man becomes a warrior that follows the precepts of Chivalry as defined by the authors Ramon Lull, Sir Geoffrey de Charney and Christine de Pizan.  Unlike the warrior which can choose any form of warrior wisdom, the Knight bases his/her wisdom on the writings of the mentioned authors.  In addition, the Knight follows the Path by practicing the Knightly Arts, poetry, courtship and staying committed to the principles of True Chivalry.  This is the Path that I am on and I remain committed to this Path.  Why?  Because I not only see the value of practicing the lifestyle, I see the value of teaching this lifestyle to others who hear the call of True Chivalry.

Valiant Knight, Be a Man to be a warrior.  Be a warrior to be a Knight.  Be a Knight to be the example to all.  

HEMA on a Budget

The practice of HEMA is a martial activity to be enjoyed.  With many physical and mental benefits, who cannot admit that it is fun.  Yet the smile turns downward at the thought of expenses for the gear and equipment. However, I want to return that smile back as I share with you how to budget HEMA.

The first and important thing that must come into mind when budgeting the weapon trainers, equipment and clothing; is for one to research the various sources to purchase these things.  There sites such as Albion, Arms and Armor, Kult of Athena, Windrose Armory, Absolute Force, Revival Clothing, Purple Heart and many others.  However, don't get lost in the sea of options and choices.

The next thing that you want to ask yourself is what type of practice do you want to do.  If you plan on practicing longsword, then you will need certain things such as gauntlets, a jacket or gambeson, a fencing mask, arm and elbow protection, shin and knee protection and shoes.  If you plan on doing Rapier or Side Sword, then you would need a jacket, hand, arm and leg protection with a fencing mask.  It depends on what you want to do.

The next thing is when you decided what you want to do, ask people or other practitioners for gear recommendations, this will help in the decision making. 

Afterwards, take measurements of your yourself (hand, head, chest length, waist length etc) so that you can easily decide on what gauntlet or jacket works best for you.  The clothing is what you need to invest in first before getting into the expensive part: the weapon trainers.

Depending on the discipline or study that you are interested in will determine what kind of weapon trainer you can consider investing in.  Let's say that you want to study Longsword, you have may choices for steel longsword such as the Liechtenauer, the Meyer from Albion, or the Spada da Zogho, the Fechterspiel from Arms and Armor.  One must not get lost in the idea of "this sword looks cool, so let me buy it now."  Rather, one has to evaluate what can be affordable or what can be saved up for purchase.  When the evaluation is done, one has to research reviews of each choice and determine which one suits to there aptitude for the training. 

When all of this is done, then the ordering can proceed from there. 

For me, I followed this procedure and did my research and I have benefited from following the procedure.  And I learned somethings that not only improved my understanding of myself such as what fits me and and what I need to invest in quality based items.  Right now I have the gear that I need, the next thing for me is saving the money for the longsword trainer that suits me for what I practice. 

Learn yourself and what you want to get out of your practice.  Then make the purchases based on research and critical thinking. The result: a well equipped and prepared fighter.

Study on Book of Chivalry - 2

We continue with our study of the Book of Chivalry by Si Geoffrey de Charney.

We will look at several things that speaks to the subject of relationships and ethical conduct.

The author Sir Geoffrey de Charney states the following on Deeds done for the sake of a Lady as follows:

And they are so fortunate that their ladies themselves, from great honor and superb qualities that reside in them, do not want to let them tarry or delay in any way the winning  of that honor to be achieved by deeds of arms, and advise them on this and then command them to set out and put all their efforts into winning renown and great honor where it is to be sought by valiant men; these ladies urge them on to reach beyond any of their earlier aspirations.

And one should indeed honor, serve, and truly love these noble ladies and others whom I hold to be ladies who inspire men to great achievement, and it is thanks to such ladies that men become good knights and men at arms.

The author makes a very profound statement, that anything done for the sake of a lady has to be done with alacrity and must increase the honor and renown of both the warrior and the lady.

Yet however in today's times, to find a woman of 'great honor and superb qualities' is very difficult.  It doesn't take much to see the local club or bar to find women seeking sugar daddies or a boyfriend to replace their admirer or abusive boyfriend.  And in like manner, we find men going to the strip club to find a moment of pleasure, or seeking the girlfriend that fits his fantasy.  We also have those men that have multiple women to talk or get intimate with and the same with women with many men to get intimacy or someone to talk to.  We even have men who remain single without seeking a relationship out of frustration for the diva mentality in women today.  Even single women who remain celibate out of their frustration of the male mentality of carnality, apathy, and the bohemian lifestyle.  The natural question is this: Why search for the woman or the man who has the best inner qualities if if requires hard work?

The answer is this:  the warrior who is inspired by a woman of valor will have a life partner by his side to push him to excellence and to greater deeds in life.  The woman who is inspired by the virtuous warrior, becomes a woman of valor who is not afraid to face the trials of life.

As the first quote points out, the woman who pushes the warrior to do things that will increase his own honor, renown, and personal excellence is the lady that should be loved and honored.  The question that would asked is: how does one know if the woman is the right one to be vulnerable to?  The answer is this: the woman that asks about you and your well being and care for you with her actions is the lady to whom the warrior can be vulnerable to.

Now I am not going into a topic concerning male psychology in regards to relationships, yet it should be noted by that men do not like to be vulnerable as they perceive it to be a sign of weakness.  However, to the woman of valor, the "weakness" is a sign of humanity.  Because the woman of valor is one who builds up a man both emotionally and ethically. 

As the second quote points out, the woman of valor is the woman in which time, energy, love, honor and loyalty is owed to.  Yet how can we warriors know this?

The answer is this: as it is common knowledge in any relationship to know the person first before dating, so it is with the warrior and the woman of valor.  The warrior has to know who the person is first, and must be his decision to be vulnerable with her based on her actions rather than on what she says.  If she takes care of the warrior in times of need or physical illness and shows selfless love, compassion, caring and kindness, the warrior can confine her love in his heart.

In summation, the points laid out by Sir Geoffrey de Charney are to find and confide in a woman of valor who will push the warrior to a higher standard of excellence and to deeds that will increase honor and renown for him and her.  The woman of valor is the woman the warrior can confide in with vulnerability because he knows that her actions match with her words and with her heart.  The warrior has honors, loves and cares for such a woman benefits her and himself.  The warrior who benefits others, benefits himself. 

Love and honor the woman of valor, Brave Knight!

Review of King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

There was a special deal at the local cinema, the film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword was premiering a day early before the official release date.  So taking advantage of this deal, I decided to watch the movie.  My initial response from watching the trailers was a sense of fantasy on drugs with a pessimistic viewpoint against heroism or the ideal of True Chivalry.  However, I was in a for startling surprise.

The film chronicles the rise of Arthur from poverty to the ranks of Kingship (no spoilers).  Yet this has been marked by his removing the sword from the stone.  However, instead of the traditional story line as laid out in "The Once and Future King" or "Le Morte d'Arthur" this film takes a different twist.  Our hero was raised by women in a brothel and yet acts with moral judgement and with a down to earth attitude.

With this in mind, did this film show any trace or hint of True Chivalry?  Yes and No.  Let me explain why.

True Chivalry is marked by these characteristics: Prowess, Franchise, Loyalty, Courage and Courtliness.  Prowess is another word for martial ability.  Franchise is a Medieval French word that is used to describe practicing what you preach, living up to your own standards, embodying your own ideals as best you can, presenting yourself with integrity and dignity, and maintaining grace (genuineness).  Loyalty in the context of being loyal to one's Lord or King.  Courage or valor in the tournament, barrier or battlefield.  Courtliness is the highest mannerisms and ethics in the Court (relating to non warriors).

With the definition or context given.  Now the answer can be seen.  The film did feature prowess, loyalty and courage in several scenes whereas there was a lack of courtliness.  Franchise was seen more by Arthur and the rebels to a small degree  but not enough.

What the film did not show was the concept of Inner Nobility which is this: the importance of upholding one's convictions and maintaining a sense of honor and dignity at all times, especially when no one else is watching.  The reason why I say this is because Arthur comes off as reluctant at the beginning only to realize his calling later on and accepts it.  While the end of the film does seem to to hint at this being realized, however by no mentioning of it or reference it leaves much to be desired.

Overall, I deemed this film to be entertaining and worth a watch.  However, one must know what True Chivalry is so as to know what is real and what is false.  The lesson to take from this film is this: No matter where an individual originates from, but rather where that individual will go is what will determine the future of that person.  In addition, one can never outrun the past, it is wise to embrace the calling placed before you and make the best of everything. Inner Nobility is best seen in action rather than in empty words, the hero is not one who reluctantly walks away from the calling, rather is the warrior who accepts what is in front of him and makes the best of himself. 

Know what the ideal is, and you will find in anything cinematic, but take everything with a grain of salt.