The Warrior Priest Podcast

Why You Want Cops to Have a Warrior’s Mindset by Ayman Kafel Over the past several years, the term “warrior” has been used, labeled, demonized, idolized, and applied to all kinds of professions. These days when someone mentions the word “warrior,” typically, it is synonymous with members of the military, sports figures, MMA, UFC, and others. The term “warrior” in the law enforcement community has been a taboo title. It went as far and removing the word completely from the culture and replaced with words like “guardian” and “sheepdog.” In the law enforcement community, when the word “warrior” was used, it was referred to as a mindset. The warrior mindset. Political correctness demonized it in the profession and associated it as part of the “militarization” of police. Across the country, that word was wiped out from any curriculum at police academies. It meant that police officers were too aggressive for modern society, it meant police officers will only use lethal force, it meant police officers will think of themselves as above their fellow man. The warrior mindset is far from that. The core beliefs of someone adopting the warrior mindset are discipline, respect, selfless service, honor, courage, and integrity. A warrior mindset, at a deeper level, helps individuals realize the true enemy is not external forces but the internal. Weakness, fear, jealousy, greed, ego, laziness, and many other negative traits are recognized as the enemy of the warrior mindset. Miyamoto Musashi once said, “If you wish to control others you must control yourself.” Think about it, Musashi did not mean literally “control” people, he was referring to the idea of the “self.” To have a warrior mindset is to look inward and defeat those negative traits in our hearts to be an effective officer in the community.

When the crime itself is unclear, the punishment should be light.

“The coward believes he will live forever If he holds back in the battle, But in old age he shall have no peace Though spears have spared his limbs.” ― Hávamál 16

There is nothing felt quite so deeply as giri, but what is "giri" and what can it teach us about ourselves in the present?

Every fighter faces total exhaustion in the ring someday. Instead of panicking and getting beat up, you can learn how to fight tired and box your way through exhaustion. The sport of boxing is forever characterized by endurance and exhaustion. To ever be a good boxer, you will have to eventually face the challenge of fighting beyond your limits. Your body will be pushed beyond a point of exhaustion you never thought was possible. Spiritually, you must have the heart to dig deep inside yourself and find energy you no longer have. Technically, you must find ways to fight without exerting energy. If you can do this, you will have successfully learn how to fight when you are tired. - Johnny Nguyen

Look at the human condition. It is unseemly for a per- son to become prideful and extravagant when things are going well. Therefore, it is better to have some unhappiness while one is still young, for if a person does not experience some bitter- ness, his disposition will not settle down. A person who becomes fatigued when unhappy is useless.

The voice tells us not to work today and it gives us a reason. Our daughter’s dance recital starts at seven; this headache is killing us; the boss wants us to organize the Penske file. This is not self-talk, it’s self-sabotage. https://wordpress.com/block-editor/post/thewarriorpriestpodcast.wordpress.com/615

Hagakure is the essential book of the Samurai. Written by Yamamoto Tsunetomo... These philosophies are centered on loyalty, devotion, purity and selflessness, and Yamamoto places a strong emphasis on the notion of living in the present moment with a strong and clear mind. Hagakure Link: http://3yryua3n3eu3i4gih2iopzph.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/pdf/hagakure.pdf

Where did the Warrior Ethos come from? Why would anyone choose this hard, dangerous life? What could be the philosophy behind such a choice? https://www.trngcmd.marines.mil/Portals/207/Docs/SOI-W/MCTB/Student-Resources/Reference-2_The_Warrior_Ethos.pdf?ver=2018-10-12-135250-303

The United States is headed down a dangerous road. Without modern-day warriors, who will protect the people?  Who will step up when the citizens need it? https://havokjournal.com/law-enforcement/the-death-of-the-modern-day-warrior/