Vicente: The transition of the "No Retreat, No Surrender" rule

FOR WARRIORS, retreat or surrender is not an option. It will haunt the consciousness of a warrior if he does so.

So more often than not, if the warrior isn't successful in his battle he might as well die in it. This was the code of the warriors of old, only accepting defeat through death.

Then came the understanding that by doing so, warriors would become scarce, dying in battle never to retreat even when consciously outnumbered.

So the belief "Retreat to fight again another day" came into existence. The shame of retreat was eradicated. Rather than surrender a retreat is seen more appropriate for a chance to recover which would mean a fiercer and more improved retaliation.

Rather than dying in battle, regroup and reassess the tactics and strategy used to address the weak points of the troops and studying how to take advantage of the weak points of the opponent. It was the era where barbaric careless battles were minimized and a more scientific approach to combat came into existence.

In these times where aside from the military, modern day gladiators, as we would like to call them or at least for some writers or authors, are the athletes in sports most particularly in the field of martial arts and other combative sports. They bring their battle to the ring, the matt or whatever surface it may be. And on it they test their prowess, engaging in combat against an opponent and with the clash there could only be one winner.

And the other must surrender, acknowledging that his opponent is the better fighter in that particular meeting. With the right composure that involves mental, physical and spiritual maturity he goes back to the drawing board, so to speak, and reassess what was left out in his training thus patching up those loop holes and get back to training in order to retaliate for redemption and earn his right to face the one who has beat him in the hope he has done enough to subdue that opponent.

In this modern times, the evolution of the "No retreat, No surrender" battle cry has changed, with the same principle of strong will but with the scientific approach to winning and defeat.

In the olden times, where battle only means to kill or be killed, the battle fought by the modern day gladiators has reached the level of chances - the chance to fight another day or a chance prove that the win is deserved.

The shame of defeat has toned down; retreat or surrender can now be an option - but not as a priority. When pitted in a situation where the fighter and his ward must choose between tapping, throwing the white towel or conceding a fight or a match against an obvious better opponent it could now be done without thinking twice.

The safety of the fighter is the utmost concern in that particular moment.

Redemption will only be sought after a defeat if the fighter is fit to go back to the gym and retrain in with the goal of becoming stronger and wiser for his rematch or next fight.

For comments and suggestions e-mail me at jaysonscorpio@yahoo.com.ph.

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