What is a Warrior?

By: Chris Raper

Webster defines warrior as, “one who is engaged in, or experienced in battle.” If you have made a mental commitment to use deadly force to defend your life or that of your family, then you are on the road to becoming a warrior. Much more is needed other than a mental commitment. You need training, and it must be as realistic as possible.

Getting a concealed handgun permit does not make us a warrior. Unfortunately, only a very small percentage of those who obtain a permit ever go beyond that stage, and seek out professional training.

A few will practice on a regular basis.  Others will never fire another round for practice.  Those who fall into that category are only fooling themselves. They have lulled themselves into a false sense of security.

After you learn the basics of markmanship, STANDING IN FRONT OF A STATIC TARGET AND SHOOTING FROM A STATIC POSITION IS NOT GOOD DEFENSIVE TRAINING! It could very well contribute to getting yourself killed or seriously injured in a gun fight.  Standing in front of your target and expecting your target to stand still in a REAL shooting situation is not what will happen!  You must prepare for the real event BEFORE it happens.

A good example of a warrior would be the early Hoplites from around 480 BC. They were the citizen-soldiers of Greece. The word “Hoplite” is derived from the Greek word “hoplon” which means “shield.” The shield, worn on the left arm, offered protection for the Hoplite soldier. Today they would be compared to our National Guard and modern armies.

The Hoplite soldier was groomed from his early teens to be a warrior. The most famous Hoplite soldiers were the 300 Spartans, who, for three days withstood the onslaught of many thousands of Persians at the “Gates of Fire”, the Thermopylae Pass, in Greece. In the end, all 300 died, but their brave and valiant stand allowed the government of Greece to survive.

Many Historians today believe that if it were not for the 300 Spartans, who sacrificed their lives for Greece, Democracy would not have survived, and today we would not have our Constitutional Republic.

While most of us will never reach the status of the Hoplite warrior, we can aspire to be the best warrior we can be. That means we must dedicate ourselves to training that will help us be victorious in battle.

Our battle probably will not be on a battlefield in a foreign country. Most likely, it will be during the hours of darkness, when you hear that “bump in the dark” and you reach for your weapon. All the training of your past will, at that time present itself for the ultimate test. Will you succeed, or will you fail at your own very personal “Gates of Fire?”

                                     Defensive Shooting Class                                                                   

Our Defensive ShootingClass offers some of the most realistic handgun training available in North Carolina.  It can truly be called Warrior training.  It is far from "static" training.  When it comes to saving your life, there is no substitute for proper training.  The Defensive Shooting is a class that will push you beyond your previous training.  You will return home more confident knowing you have learned  a new set of skills that will help define your warrior status. 

 In appreciation for the loyalty of our past and future students, each who has successfully completed the following three classes wll receive his/her very own  sterling silver Spartan Warrior (shown below), and a very nice certificate, suitable for framing.   The three classes are, After Deadly Force, Defensive Shooting  Class. and AR-15 Carbine Class

This award will only be issued to those, who through their dedication to firearms training, personal responsibility, and exhibition of firearms safety make them truly unique among our citizens.  I am proud to have been their instructor.  They have earned the title "Warrior."

All eligible students should receive their  awards by December 15.

This is a custom designed award on glossy photographic paper.  It is 8.5 X 11  inches.

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