Too often the terms fighter and warrior are used interchangeably, and it needs to stop.
You can be a warrior and a fighter, but a fighter may not be a warrior. The difference is what’s inside. A blogger from this blog said that in the heart of a warrior is an unconditional willingness to protect other people from harm. A warrior trains and prepares with the knowledge that they might have to protect themselves or someone else. A warrior is dedicated to a cause or goal greater them him or herself.
So many people label themselves as a “warrior” but do not embody the warrior lifestyle. Simply because someone trains hard, practices in the gym 24/7, and wins fights doesn’t make him or her a warrior.
| Fighter | Warrior |
| A fighter simply likes to fight. | A warrior avoids conflict when possible, but engages if the fight is inevitable. |
| A fighter starts conflict because they enjoy it. | A warrior trains with the hope that they won’t need to use their skills, but that they will if necessary. |
| A fighter trains with the expectation of fighting and winning. | A warrior expands his or her training to positively affect life in other ways. |
| A fighter only knows how to fight one way. | A warrior knows that there are many ways to fight, it is not always physical, and that most battles are won without violent action. |
| A fighter is a champion in fights for him or herself, but flees when others are in danger. | A warrior would irrationally, unreasonably sacrifice him or herself for innocents. |
| A fighter only fights professionally for personal gain. | A warrior may choose to fight professionally, but with a different mindset. |
| A fighter only knows competition. | A warrior knows the value in competition, and that winning is not the point. |
The list can go on and on.
These are just a few examples of the difference between the fighter and the warrior. Let’s leave you with one more thought.
“Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.” – Heraclitus
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