Weapons are force multipliers
For those of you that have been reading this blog for a while, you may have noticed a recurring theme, which is, What does it mean to be human?
It seems like a silly question but we’re all essentially imperfect; physically, mentally, and emotionally, we’re all lacking in something that makes us fully realized human beings.
On that note, I had an interesting exchange with a young visitor at the gym the other day.
Him: I never knew that there was such a thing like knife and stick fighting, I just thought people picked these things up and used them.
Me: All fighting is skill-based. Some require more skill than others. The argument against weapons fighting is that it’s unnatural, because we’re not always armed, and I think that’s precisely the opposite of reality.
Him: What do you mean?
Me: It’s empty-hand fighting that’s unnatural; the nature of being human is that we use tools.
Imagine you’re alone in your home and you hear a noise in your living room. Do you just saunter out to check things out or do you grab a bat, stick, or lamp first?
Or, google any uprising and lemme know how many unarmed people you see? Or any mob action, including the January 6th riot – how many people are completely unarmed?
The nature of human violence is that we want something – anything – in our hands, in times of stress. Because we all instinctively know that weapons are force multipliers.
Fighting someone without any type of weapon is unnatural, precisely the opposite of what most people think.
And that’s why I think everyone should have some weapons training.
Here’s the kicker: If you’re unarmed, you don’t get to decide if you’re in a weapons fight or not. Only the armed person gets to decide that.
On a somewhat related point, we had to cancel the children’s classes at our gym because the kid’s coach we were using got an offer we couldn’t match.
So, I signed up the boy to the local gym around me.
I’m probably a bit biased but…man, he’s so damn cute, I can’t stand it.
This is in addition to alla his other afterschool activities like swimming. He’s the lime green blur in the photo below.
Trying to get into the new rhythm of the school year. One unexpectedly sad thing I realized was that every year for the past three years is that I’m the only emergency contact for him.
I had someone as a second contact when he was pre-4K but that was a long time ago.
It’s annoying, these little heartaches that randomly crop up.
On a much happier note, while I was there at the gym signing the kid up for his new class, this young man – very excitedly – waved to me:
Him: I’m so sorry, but are you Logan Lo?
Me: (laughing) Yes! Do you watch Scenic Fights?
Him: YES! I’m a subscriber! This is so cool!
Me: For me too!
I’m a solid D-list celebrity at this point, now.
Eh, I’ll take it.
Location: out in the village with RE Mike
Mood: concerned
Music: I can’t do this again, do this again (Spotify)
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