How to Be a Warrior

A Matter of Ethos, Training, Readiness and Fitness.

In a precedent article, How to remain Warriors, Ólafr inn hvítrúlfr (one of the twins for those who are unfamiliar with the name), explains that the Norse Warrior does not necessarily meet the modern or typical definition of a formal soldier involved in actual state conflicts. Instead, Ólafr summarises the entire warrior concept in Norse culture and history into four words: “Farmers came to blows”. As in the Norse warrior being based on a specific ethos, training, readiness, and fitness, to be able to engage in combat as needed, based on honor and ideology, even on a very small scale. In contrast, and opposition, to being a pawn (and canon fodder) of the state. 

This, of course, doesn’t mean that anyone is or can be a warrior. Modern society’s position that anyone, including a woman, is a warrior for social justice activities, or even for merely surviving a disease, is asinine. As a matter of fact, a warrior remains an exception and the elite, not the norm.

As Ἡράκλειτος (535-475 BCE) put it:

Out of every one hundred men,
ten shouldn’t even be there,
eighty are just targets,
nine are the real fighters,
and we are lucky to have them,
for they make the battle.
Ah, but the one, one is a warrior,
and he will bring the others back.

This, however, does not mean that a man must necessarily be involved in combat in order to be a warrior. Being a warrior is in the blood. It is a very specific ethos. It is constant training and exceptional fitness to achieve permanent readiness. Precisely so if or when combat is necessary, the warrior is ready to perform, to shine and to excel. 

Among us Raiders and regular Marines, among hybrid youths, we have consistently seen exceptional combat performance from the get go, from those who had no previous combat experience. Reinforcing the premise that being a warrior does not necessarily require prior involvement in combat. Instead, the ability to perform in combat. 

This is a concept or particular importance at a time in our history where young men can no longer find what they need in the military, are unlikely to even be involved in actual combat due to increasingly insane rules of engagement, and should they be, they are likely to be treated as disposable and mere canon fodder. An issue addressed in an article by one of the Raiders here: Berger on Retention in the Corps. 

So, how can a man be a warrior without being involved in combat? Simple really. By developing and/or maintaining a very specific ethos (many of us believe we some men genetically predisposed to being warriors), by constantly and relentlessly training in the art of fighting, at all possible levels. This includes grappling/glíma or fighting activities known as contact sports. Firearms operation. Tactical concepts. Wilderness and urban survival. Strategy, military and otherwise. Geopolitical science. An extensive understanding of history, including military. By maintaining exceptional fitness. By reaching ultimate levels of spirituality. By mastering Óðr. By essentially being ready to actually engage in combat at any time, and excel in it. 

Being a warrior is reaching ultimate readiness for combat, rather than actually being involved in combat.