Warrior Flow Instructor Character and Philosophy

This document establishes the most fundamental philosophy, attributes, and character a practitioner should possess commensurate to their physical ability to become a Warrior Flow Instructor.

WARRIOR FLOW is a serious martial art, one specifically designed to train people to be able to fight in the body they have for their lives. Of this there should be no ambiguity in your mind. The art focuses on developing people within the body they already have to fight at the highest levels. Since the system is rooted in physics and human physiology by training and with through diligent practice, and hard work a person can attain skills which transcend their physical ability.

Attaining rank in WARRIOR FLOW is a serious matter because it is not only a reflection of a person’s level of achievement, but as a WARRIOR FLOW practitioner or certified instructor, you are the living embodiment of the art itself, a reflection of us all and the honor of our art. The rank structure described in this document focuses on developing people “who desire” to become “Instructors” in the system.

Becoming an in Instructor at any level is not automatic. A person attaining an Instructor Certification must attend an Instructors Certification Course after they have achieved the requisite minimum level of skill.

It is implied that anyone reaching the rank of Instructor has already demonstrated the skill and moral will to fight at a level commensurate to their rank.

In other words, we are not “Fight Club” so we do not,

1) pit students and instructors against each other (we train Warriors so go measure your dick somewhere else);

2) view our students as training partners, they are not;

3) “entertain” ourselves through wasteful, meaningless drills, and exercises and “hazing rituals”.

Such things have no place in any self-defense system and are examples of low moral character, childishness, narcissism, sadism, and demonstrate a severe lack of honor and moral courage, and just outright cowardice.

Warrior’s train hard and lift each other up so that they all can prevail in battle not denigrate others to feel better about themselves. Again, we are Warriors who train Warriors, we do not spar, we do not play stupid games with people, we train to fight for our lives!

Additionally, the bestowing of rank and/or certification is also our way of recognizing “your achievement” of skill and our appreciation of your commitment. As we like to say, “If we give you a certificate you had better be who and what the Hell we say you are”.  So you had better believe it because we mean what we say. You did the work, you earned it you deserve the credit!

Now, before I go any further because it must be said, as a WARRIOR FLOW Instructor if you cannot get control of your fears; face them; manage them; overcome them to a degree; if you cannot develop the moral will to stand in that space and hold your ground; if you cannot hold the bridge even unto death; if you are not capable of protecting your students and are willing to die a Warriors Death. If you cannot get there for whatever reason. First of all, you shouldn’t be an Instructor “in any art”. However, I can assure you definitely cannot and will not be a WARRIOR FLOW Instructor!

What part of “Warrior” do you not understand?

This is non-negotiable!

If you feel you cannot do these things, if you feel you cannot get there, there is no shame in bowing out gracefully…

Step up or step off… Either bow out or be thrown out!

Self-Defense training is “life defense” training and is not for everyone. Your students come to you for help and to help them manage and overcome these things and if you cannot manage your own fear you sure as Hell cannot help someone else manage theirs.

All you will do is reinforce their fear and you are of no use to them or anyone else. In other words, you cannot be an Instructor of self-defense and be a coward. Being a coward is not about being without fear but allowing it to control you in a negative fashion. Again, you either face it and step up or step the fuck off!

Anyone at any time exhibiting such “low” and “poor moral character” as described above. CANNOT and WILL NOT be allowed to train or ever become certified in the WARRIOR FLOW system. This is nonnegotiable!

Additionally, our students are our customers and it is our job to serve them and collect the money, there is nothing else. They are not our pals, our friends, or potential “love interest” or “prospects”. Save the personal nonsense and drama for your life outside of our training venues and keep the two worlds separate.

We are in the business of training people to fight for their lives, and fight if necessary, to “the death” in the shortest amount of time necessary. For profit, to make money, I’ll say it again, “make money”, and yes it is about the fucking money!

At the end of the day as a business whether in a school or a workshop etc., it’s always about the money. Never forget that! If you do not wish to make money training people to defend themselves go elsewhere. There is nothing else. Period.

The Five Levels of WARRIOR FLOW Rank Structure

There are “Five Levels” in the WARRIOR FLOW system, they are, Apprentice, Instructor, Senior Instructor, Master Instructor, and Senior Master Instructor.

All practitioners after achieving a minimum level of skill regardless of the amount of time it takes to become proficient are eligible to become promoted to and certified at the Apprentice Level.

When evaluating whether a person should become an Instructor, Senior Instructor, Master Instructor, and Senior Master Instructor in WARRIOR FLOW. The main criteria we look for is to see if a person, regardless of size or physical ability can do the following described below. Additionally, we’ve approached the initial indoctrination into the art from a position of thinking about WARRIOR FLOW as a “function of movement” and the “skillfulness of movement” of the practitioner. 

We can teach anyone to strike that’s the easy part, but can they strike where they need, when they need to and for effect?

In a fight for your life you have to win! Make no mistake about this.

Can you improvise or create, overcome and “win” the battle?

Can you overcome fear and stand in that space even if it means your life?

Do you have the confidence in your abilities to do what must be done even unto death?

More importantly as an Instructor can you teach others to do so?

This is what it’s all about, this is what we’re talking about, this is where your mind needs to be. If you cannot get there then you cannot become a WARRIOR FLOW Instructor.  Anything else is a lie…

Final point, this is not an all-inclusive list but a useful way to think about the movement of WARRIOR FLOW practitioners from a perspective of “skill”. Focusing on the most fundamental attributes a practitioner should possess commensurate to their physical ability. These standards are the “minimum requirements” for each rank. The minimum time frames required are also presented to provide some measure of structure and objectivity toward evaluating a person as to whether they are ready to advance to the next level.

However, the time frames are also not so long and drawn out that they make it infeasible for a person who is “gifted” and may come to the art already possessing a number of attributes due to training in other arts. Such as person who may already possess the physical and mental talent to be at a certain level will not be held back from advancing because they haven’t “paid their dues” or “kissed the ring” long enough to be “worthy” of knighthood so to speak.

This type of thing is bullshit! It has no place in the WARRIOR FLOW system and WILL NOT be tolerated.