The Way of the Warrior
The Shaolin warriors are known for being the most formidable fighters on the planet. However, legend has it that at one time in history, they weren't so tough…
The story tells of an Indian monk named Bodhidharma, while on a pilgrimage to spread the teachings of Buddhism, stumbled upon the Shaolin Temple in China. What he found were monks who were spiritually wise and mentally intelligent, yet physically weak and frail…
Bodhidharma supposedly looked over this monastery of frail men, warned them of the major political instability and war outside of the temple walls, and began to teach them…
He taught them many of his own practices that he had learned in his homeland, including an Indian martial art.
With time and the help of various other teachers, Bodhidharma is said to have helped transform the Shaolin monks into the Shaolin warriors, training them to become the perfect balance of spiritual wisdom, mental wit, and physical prowess…
"He who is only a student of the sword will become a brute; he who is only a student of the pen will become a coward. He who balances both will become a warrior."
—Plato
Whether the legend of Bodhidharma and the Shaolin warriors is true or not, the story comes with a couple of major lessons…
True strength arises from a life of balance:
The Shaolin monks are among the most disciplined martial artists in the world, maintaining a rigorous physical training routine that pushes both their bodies and minds to the extreme. Alongside their martial abilities, they practice traditional Chinese medicine, including massage (Tui Na) and herbal healing, to promote physical well-being.
Rooted in Chan Buddhism, they abide by moral principles such as discipline, mindfulness, and aspects of the Eightfold Path, dedicating time to retreat and silent meditation. Their practice also extends to artistic expression, including calligraphy and painting. They are extraordinarily well-rounded individuals.
Peacekeeping requires the capacity and strength to fight and protect:
Notice the emphasis on capacity to fight. This is not suggesting that we should go around picking fights. The Shaolin monks, first and foremost, abide by the Buddhist principle of non-harm. In fact, the foundational rule of any martial art is that it should only be used in self-defense.
Maintaining peace, both within ourselves and in society, therefore requires healthy abilities of boundary-setting and assertiveness. Alongside physical and mental fortitude, it calls for a clear understanding of our morals and the courage to stand up for what we know to be good and true.
"The most dangerous man is the one who thinks and listens, combining the strength of the body with the wisdom of the mind."
—Bruce Lee
Now, how do these lessons of the Shaolin warriors apply to our everyday lives? We’re not monks, after all, and we only have so much time in the day…
As a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, I often work with clients who want to build assertiveness, focus, discipline, and confidence. In my experience, one of the most effective ways to develop these qualities is through consistent martial arts training. Even basic study of martial philosophy can help us cultivate a mindset rooted in these qualities…
The martial arts train us to be:
Mentally Focused:
Martial arts require us to continuously bring our attention back to the present moment, enhancing our ability to concentrate.
We learn to observe the smallest details—both in our own movements and those of our opponent—sharpening our awareness.
Emotionally Resilient:
When we spar, we train ourselves to remain calm amidst pressure and pain, a skill known in psychology as emotional regulation.
Martial arts teach us to harness and control intense emotions like anger, cultivating emotional intelligenceand self-mastery.
Physically Strong:
Martial arts condition our bodies for combat, training us for quick, strategic movements.
As our bodies grow stronger, our minds reciprocally receive the powerful message that we are capable, resilient, and disciplined.
These lessons from martial training apply to every area of life. With a strong mind, body, and emotional mastery, we gradually gain the confidence to handle ourselves in any situation that life throws at us. Whether facing physical danger or simply a stressful moment at work, the martial arts train us to remain composed, grounded, and fully in control of our responses.
We become masters of our own minds and bodies, gaining the ability to channel our emotions with intention. In doing so, we take the reins of strong emotions like anger, transmuting them into assertiveness and constructive action…
"He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty."
—Lao Tzu
Anger is the emotion of protection, and for many, it proves to be the most difficult to tame. Therefore, truly mastering our minds and bodies requires us to harness anger at will and utilize it in a controlled manner.
If we don’t learn to intentionally summon and tame anger, it will forever linger in the recesses of our psyche, quietly shaping our thoughts and actions from the shadows. Left unchecked, it festers into bitterness and resentment. We may even project this suppressed anger onto the world, misinterpreting others’ intentions, creating unnecessary conflict, and attempting to control situations or people to ease our own inner turmoil. If left to build, anger can erupt into rage.
For these reasons, anger often gets a bad reputation, frequently mistaken for outright rage rather than recognized as a natural and necessary emotion.
When harnessed properly, anger becomes a tool for assertion, setting boundaries, and taking constructive action.Becoming responsible for our anger means that we no longer react impulsively, but respond thoughtfully to any situation at hand.
A person who uses anger in this intentional way is truly a force of good in the world.
Many of us believe that a good person is always kind, never saying anything oppositional, or completely passive—someone who "wouldn't hurt a fly." However, a good person is not defined by passivity. A truly good person is actually a very dangerous person who has their capacity for harm under control.
These individuals are calm, stable, and prepared. They know when to assert themselves, when to challenge injustices, and when to say "no" for the sake of their well-being and the well-being of others. As a result, the people around them feel a sense of safety and security that radiates from their presence.
They are pillars of peace, possessing emotional maturity and the ability to channel anger into purposeful, constructive action. Even when provoked, they first respond with non-violence.
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting."
—Sun Tzu
Whether provoked by a dangerous threat or a minor conflict, the primary goal of martial arts training is always de-escalation and conflict resolution. Author and martial artist Dr. George Thompson calls this Verbal Judo — the art of redirecting aggression through strategic communication. This might sound like:
"I understand you're frustrated. Help me understand what you need so we can find a solution."
"I respect where you're coming from. Let's work together to make this right."
With these strategic words combined with a calm demeanor, we harness self-control, transforming anger into compassion, humor, peace, and constructive conversation. By maintaining composure while asserting firm boundaries, we subtly yet powerfully diffuse tension without the need for force.
The Shaolin warriors embody these same principles…
They train in the martial arts not to seek violence, but to protect peace, using anger as fuel for constructive action.Just as they balance discipline with compassion, strength with wisdom, and movement with stillness, we too must strive to do the same.
Through this balance and emotional control, we safeguard the peace within ourselves, our relationships, and the world at large.
May we build ourselves to be warriors of peace, able to stand firm without aggression, to set boundaries without cruelty, and to respond with strength without losing our inner stillness.
Max Kristopher Komes
www.MaxKomes.com
Max Komes is a master’s-level mental health professional and author in Pensacola, Florida. His philosophy is that each and every individual holds wellsprings of wisdom within them, and with the right tools, can access this wisdom to live purposeful, healthy, and resilient lives.
How You Can Support:
1-1 Session: if you find that these messages resonate with you, take the next step in rediscovering mental clarity by scheduling a session with Max.
Free Mental Health Resources: if you’re looking for more mental health tools like guided meditations and daily journals, visit our Free Resources Page.
Join the Mission: with support from people like you, we can further spread these messages, transforming the age of confusion to an Era of Clarity. Pledge your support here.
This writing is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. If you have imminent health concerns, please call 1-800-NAMI.
