The Warrior’s Trinity – Strategy, Game Theory, and Awareness

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Welcome back to the forge, Warrior. In a world saturated with chaos and uncertainty, it’s easy to focus on the tangible aspects of training—lifting heavier, striking faster, enduring longer. We forge our bodies into weapons. But the most powerful weapon, the one that commands all others, is often the most neglected: the mind.

This week, we’re moving beyond the physical. We’re not just training our muscles; we’re sharpening our intellect. We will explore the mental landscape where battles are won or lost long before the first move is ever made. This is the domain of strategy, the art of pre-emption, and the science of awareness.

Let’s dive in.

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Topic: The Warrior’s Trinity – Strategy, Game Theory, and Awareness

For a warrior, strength without strategy is just violence. It’s a tool, but a clumsy one. Strategy is the art of applying that strength with precision and intelligence to achieve a desired outcome. It is the fundamental difference between a brawler and a warrior.

Part 1: The Strategic Mindset

Blindly charging into any situation, be it a confrontation, a business negotiation, or a personal crisis, is a gamble against stacked odds. You might get lucky. I’m of Irish descent myself, and I know a thing or two about landing on your feet against all probability. But a warrior never relies on luck; they manufacture their own. A plan—a strategy—is how you do it.

The masters understood this. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and Miyamoto Musashi’s The Book of Five Rings are not just historical texts; they are timeless manuals for the strategic mind. They teach a fundamental truth: the battle is won in the mind first.

• How to Train It: Strategic games are the mind’s gymnasium.
  • Chess: Teaches foresight, sacrifice, and controlling the center of the board (or situation). You learn to think multiple moves ahead, anticipating your opponent’s reactions to your actions.
  • Go (Wei-qi): An ancient game that is even more complex than chess. It teaches concepts of territory, influence, and interconnectedness. It’s less about destroying your opponent and more about out-maneuvering and surrounding them—a powerful metaphor for life.

Part 2: A Crash Course in Game Theory

When commanders and strategists talk about “gaming a situation,” they’re often referring to the principles of Game Theory. Don’t let the name intimidate you.

• What it is, simply: Game Theory is the study of strategic decision-making. It’s about recognizing that you are not the only “player” in a situation. Everyone else has their own goals, knowledge, and potential moves. Your best move often depends on what you expect them to do.
• The Key Takeaway: In any environment, assume everyone is acting in their own self-interest. Your job is to anticipate those interests and how they might conflict or align with your own, especially your primary interest: safety and survival.

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The Scenario: The Proving Ground

Let’s put this into practice. The old “two guys walk into a bar” setup is a classic for a reason—it’s a dynamic and unpredictable environment.

• Group 1 (The Sheep): A group of friends walks into a bustling tavern. They are loud, laughing, and focused entirely on each other. They spot an empty table in the middle of the room and grab it. They sit down, facing each other, their backs exposed to the entire room. Their world is the four-foot circle of their table. Their awareness is zero.
• Group 2 (The Warriors-in-Training): Another group of friends enters. They are also out to have a good time, but their demeanor is different. They pause for a second inside the doorway, letting their eyes adjust and sweeping the room. This is not a paranoid, shifty scan; it’s a calm, confident observation. They note the exits (including kitchen or service doors), the location of the bouncers, and the general mood of the patrons. They choose a booth against a wall, allowing them to see the majority of the room without being easily flanked. Their conversation is just as lively, but their awareness is active and engaged.

Everyone is having fun. But if chaos erupts—a sudden fight, an active threat—which group is better prepared to react, adapt, and survive?

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The Breakdown: From Unaware to Tactical

The difference between Group 1 and Group 2 isn’t paranoia; it’s practice. Here’s how you cultivate the mindset of Group 2 until it becomes second nature.

Step 1: Master the Color Codes of Awareness

Developed by Jeff Cooper, these are not states of panic, but levels of readiness.

• Condition White: Unaware and unprepared. You are engrossed in your phone, head down, oblivious. This is the state of Group 1. It’s a state you should never be in when in public.
• Condition Yellow: Relaxed awareness. This is the goal. You are alert and aware of your surroundings without being tense. You are simply observing the world around you, noting who is there and what is happening. This is Group 2.
• Condition Orange: Specific alert. Something has caught your attention. A person’s aggressive body language, a car circling the block, an argument escalating. You are now focusing on a potential threat and formulating a plan: “If that person does X, I will do Y.”
• Condition Red: The fight is on. The threat has become reality. You are executing your plan.

Your goal is to live in Condition Yellow. It’s not tiring; it’s engaging. It’s the difference between being a passive passenger in your life and an active pilot.

Step 2: Actively “Game” Your Environment

This is where you apply basic Game Theory. When you enter a new space, run a quick mental wargame.

• Exits: Where are the primary and secondary exits? (Doors, large windows, etc.)
• Cover/Concealment: What can stop a projectile or a person (Cover)? What can simply hide you (Concealment)? A thick pillar is cover; a curtain is concealment. Know the difference.
• Potential Threats: Who seems out of place? Who is watching the room instead of their companions? Who is displaying signs of aggression or intoxication? Trust your intuition—if your subconscious flags something as wrong, listen to it.
• Potential Allies: Where is security? Who else looks aware and capable?

Step 3: Own Your Position

Always choose a position that gives you a tactical advantage. Sitting with your back to a wall is the most basic and effective tactic. It eliminates half the directions a threat can come from and allows you to observe the “battlefield.” Avoid being boxed into a corner or getting trapped in the center of a room.

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In Conclusion: The Path of the Mindful Warrior

The objective is not to live in fear or to project paranoia. A person who looks paranoid and jumpy is often seen as a target. The goal is to cultivate a quiet, calm confidence that comes from knowing you are in control of your own awareness.

Practice this everywhere: the grocery store, the movie theater, the mall, while pumping gas. Make it a habit. The more you practice, the more these observations become subconscious, running in the background like software. You won’t even have to think about it.

The body is the warrior’s tool. The spirit is the warrior’s fire. But the mind is the warrior’s edge. Sharpen it daily.

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Spy Craft: The Art of Counter-Surveillance

Are you being followed? It’s not just for spies. It could be a prelude to a carjacking, a mugging, or a home invasion. Here’s a simple, professional technique to find out for sure.

• While Driving: Don’t just make random turns. Execute a series of three or four right-hand turns. This will essentially have you circling a block. There is almost no reason for another car to make the exact same four turns behind you by coincidence. If they’re still there after the third turn, you have likely confirmed a tail. Your next move is to drive to a police station, fire station, or a well-lit, busy public place. Do not drive home.
• While Walking: Use reflections. Casually glance at shop windows or the screen of your phone (as if checking a message) to see who is behind you. To confirm, cross the street. Then, a block later, cross back. Or, abruptly enter a store and see if they follow you in or wait outside. If you confirm a tail, walk into a busy public building and call for help.

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Gear Box:

New gear I’m playing with: I’m seeing a lot of multi-tools being advertised but when I saw this one made by the company SOG, I had to get it. I’ve always been a fan of SOG backpacks, axes, etc so I was not let down at all with this multi-tool. Combine a knife, flashlight, screwdriver and bottle opener and you have a great addition to your day bag, emergency kit, etc. Check out the SOG Multitool EDC Pen Light – Baton Q2 LED Flashlight with EDC Knife and Screwdriver Multi Tool with Pocket Clip. You won’t regret it. 

I am currently reading:  Game Frame: Using Games as a Strategy for Success where Aaron Dignan shows that games produce peak learning conditions and accelerated achievement. I’m really into this book and how it relates to warrior training as well as all areas of my life. READ IT

Books On Strategy And Game Theory That Relates:
“Art of War – by Sun Tzu”
“The Book of Five Rings – by Miyamoto Musashi“

 That’s it for now! Keep on crafting your art. Remember, being a warrior is a personal thing as each of us is unique. Pick and choose what makes you who you are, discard the rest as not everything is for everyone.– Collin

Training Resources That I Recommend:

Combat shooting program – Discover the simplest and most effective shooting system out there! It is so good that you will narrow your grouping of rounds from the size of a basketball to the width of a NICKEL in less than 20 minutes! Developed by an active-duty special operations soldier, this shooter system has been tested and refined so that it’s even more effective, more accurate, and easier to learn. Once you master this simple shooting system you will actually find it hard to miss your target even if you tried… no matter how much chaos storms around you! LEARN MORE

Hack the Flow – The flow state is the optimal performance state of mind, which is also known as the zone. Achieve a superhuman level of performance, fitness enthusiasts will unleash untapped potential, and even if you’re just training to manage your health, well this simple technique will give you the ability to overcome the obstacles in your way to a more healthy vibrant life. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE