What Does It Mean to Be a Modern Day Warrior?
Don Tran, Marine Raider and Co-Founder of Deep End Fitness, explains what it takes to be a present-day warrior including physical, mental, and spiritual preparedness such as accountability, discipline, and resiliency.
What is a Modern Day Warrior
By definition, a warrior is a person of war, hardened individuals who specialize in warfare and have the skills and tactics to engage in combat, wherever that may be. Warriors exist to protect a nation, borders, and the lives of others.
Growing up, I was exposed to the world of the Shogun Samurais, King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table, and the Marine Raiders of World War 2. As a kid, this was the idea I developed of warriors: Men and women who showed bravery, loyalty, conviction and action to put down the enemy and defend their lands. But as I went on to adulthood and as the world’s realities dawned on me, my idea of a warrior has changed.
We are now living in a world with many seen and unseen enemies where blades, guns, and artillery will not always work as defense, and it takes a different kind of warrior attitude to engage in everyday challenges. Allow me to share my story.
My Journey to Becoming a Modern-Day Warrior
I was born and raised in Long Beach, California. I had my fair share of street brawls and unnecessary violence growing up. I was the one who threw the first punch, fought back, and was aggressive, protecting myself and those around me. I was in and out of Juvenile Hall because I surrounded myself with the wrong company for the wrong reasons.
At 17, I barely passed high school before enlisting in the Marine Corps, where I served 13 years as an infantryman and as a Marine Raider with several combat deployments overseas. It was my job to find and destroy enemy insurgents and rebels from different countries and my team and I were great at doing that. During those years, I thought this was the epitome of being a warrior.
After many tours, I decided it was time to get back to the real world and pursue different adventures and goals in my life. In 2018, I left active duty, went back to school, and started business, Deep End Fitness and the Underwater Torpedo League, with my good friend and Raider brethren, Prime Hall. While transitioning into the real world, my definition of being a warrior shifted, and I felt lost and angry that I no longer had a clear mission and way to continue my warrior identity.
Becoming a Warrior in the Real World
As I continued to drive forward in school and my business, I was blessed with many opportunities to help others in school through leading group projects, being a trainer at the pool and gym, and coaching/mentoring individuals to get ready for the military. I was passionate to share my journey and realizations from my experiences with others that really ignited a fire within me. The more I trained and helped others be prepared, overcome their fears, surpass their perceived boundaries, and fight their own battles, the more clearly I saw what was becoming my new mission: igniting the warrior inside of them. I quickly realized that just because people were engaging in combat doesn’t mean they don’t have a warrior inside of them. Doctors, parents, engineers, community leaders, and students all have the opportunity and need to rise up and engage in battle in their own lives every day.
How You Can Become an Everyday Warrior?
Our hope is that you can step into becoming an everyday warrior. The world now has seen and unseen enemies, battles on a battlefield and battles within. My intention is to help awaken the warrior-spirit in everyone, in and out of the pool, to tackle the battles in their everyday lives. The daily battles are ever changing, but as modern-day warriors we must hone our skills spiritually, physically and mentally, to see us through trying times.
What It Takes to Be a Present-Day Warrior?
We are now living in a world with many seen and unseen enemies where blades, guns, and artillery will not always work as defense, and it takes a different kind of warrior attitude to engage in everyday challenges.
Although the code of conduct of past warriors that integrate honor, courage, loyalty, respect, and compassion is still very much the same, now the battlefield is different. Many still believe that joining the military is the only way to show warrior qualities, but this is not the case. Though there will always be active conflicts around the world and warriors will be needed to fight and protect, we can be warriors in our own lives by a continuous drive to train and be prepared.
General Preparedness
There is a saying, “You don’t have to get ready if you stay ready.” Being prepared for any eventuality is one trait modern-day warriors have. This is the readiness and ability to tackle anything thrown before you. Preparedness is not only being able to physically defend yourself or your loved ones, it is the capability to think and act appropriately at any given moment.
Physical Preparedness
Having martial arts skills or acquiring firearms is only half of being physically prepared. A warrior should be 110% healthy and robust. This means that he or she should have an exercise and practice regimen to keep muscles strong and flexible. This is a baseline requirement. A modern-day warrior must always be battle-ready.
Mental Preparedness
Critical Thinking Skill
Focus is the ability to evaluate the situation, develop different courses of action, and make the right decisions with the amount of time you have. As a Grad student in USC’s Marshall School of Business, I need to keep my critical thinking skills sharp inside the classroom, which better helps me pivot and make sound decisions in my business.
Critical thinking is another skill I maintain when I train on the range, or compete in a powerlifting meet, or even just take a moment to gauge how to manage a full Deep End Fitness session.
Stress Management
There are many ways to manage your levels of stress. One is through relaxation breathing. Surfers, divers, and swimmers have acquired an ability that allows them to relax while in stressful situations. Those who do meditation know that our breathing is one way to go into a state of calmness and peace of mind. Stress management is a key component behind all that we do: Calm in the clutch.
Accountability
Many warriors are workaholics. They want to succeed in their lives. They do not quit no matter what they are up against, and they know that no one is responsible for them but themselves. This is the reason why warriors are successful in business. They are accountable for every single one of their moves and decisions. They are bold and fearless. This differentiates a warrior from the average person.
Discipline
The balanced life of a modern-day warrior is achieved through discipline. His or her life is set by high standards of excellence. The warrior pushes himself beyond limits while following a code of discipline. A warrior knows there is no such thing as a shortcut, that success is hard-earned, and that it is your own level of discipline that will get you there. There is no room for excuses. This self-imposed discipline propels him or her to succeed.
Spiritual Preparedness
Resiliency
Resiliency prevents burn-out. A modern-day warrior has the capacity to handle negative effects of difficulties and the stress that accompanies such situations. He or she can effectively cope with day-to-day stress. This is resiliency, which is a complex process that involves the individual’s physical and mental capability and other factors in the environment.
The Unseen Enemy
Much has been said and reported about the COVID19 pandemic. People are now battling not only unseen current-day enemies but also something that is unknown and unpredictable. The COVID19 pandemic has shown the rise of more warriors, the medical front liners and other people who are keeping the peace and economy going.
I have resolved to inspire more individuals to become warriors to fight enemies, both seen and unseen. In the forthcoming articles, I will share my preparation and strategies to those who are willing to join the present-day warriors.
