There are types brilliance of various sorts. Brilliance that does not always correlate with a strictly intellectual endeavor. Oftentimes the brilliance one witnesses within art or music may not always be the most technically proficient but possesses a unity that makes it greater than the sum of its parts. There is a noted brilliance in combat, there are of course neglected pure intellectual aspects of combat such as study, analysis, and preparation and being able to do those quicker than your opponent. Refer to John Boyd’s OODA( Observe, orient, decide, act) for more details of how this plays out. But in the chaos of physical conflict this process transcends something merely intellectual and becomes a unity of intuition and physicality that is the polar opposite of a library or laboratory. Nevertheless, there is a wisdom that exists and a type of intellect that plays out in the combat space.

Mike Tyson is a great example of this. Some people think of Mike Tyson as simply a bulldozer that ground up his opponents through raw power but it’s far from the truth. Mike was an incredibly tactical fighter with a balance of aggression and defense that allowed him to control the ring and his opponents.  On the other hand his life was marked by absurd, yet hugely entertaining, behavior and a number of outlandish decisions. The brash things he said still retained a childlike, not childish, quality. Many speak of what could have been had his coach and father figure Cus D’Amato had not passed early in his life as he did.

What’s immediately apparent when watching Mike Tyson’s interviews and even his fighting is that he is a deeply emotional person. There is a theme among some circles that being emotional is either a weakness or a feminine hysterical quality. However, there is  also a kind of intelligence to emotions and many masculine qualities such as honor and loyalty that when examined are seen to be seated firmly in the seat of the emotions. It is a testament to the withered emotional life of modern people to immediately associate emotion with childish theatrics and disregard the wide range of emotions that have fueled men throughout the ages.

I believe this interview is a great example of that. The show of mutual and respect and the coming to terms with another stage of life that is always difficult similar to how it can be uncomfortable to deal with a drastic change in the weather. I’m struck most by when he says “ if he comes out hell’s coming with him.” This applies to us in that the realization of one’s potential is a terrifying process and the Templar path is a terrifying one. For one it speaks of a kind of death that aspects of yourself will fight tooth and nail to avoid. The seat of the emotions was often symbolized by the horse. To the ancient knight he was nothing without his horse. The chivalric charge that Anna Komnena described as being able to crash straight through the wall of Constantinople itself was only possible thanks to warriors being mounted and bonded with an animal bred and trained for combat. If you have any experience with equines you will see that ,while a noble animal, in many ways horses are incredibly stupid. They must be cajoled, assessed and prodded in various specific ways to accomplish whatever task they are asked to do. But a trained warhorse is capable through its own style of genius to accomplish feats that are impossible for the rider if he was alone and managed to dominate battle for centuries. In charging into battle one has , to a certain degree, to relinquish some logical faculties to the power that’s driving you forward and being comfortable with a somewhat tenuous control. This is akin to what Valentin Tomberg speaks of in first letter.

“Concentration without effort is the transposition of the directing centre of the brain to the rhythmic system-from the domain of the mind and imagination to that of morality and will.” Letter I The Magician

In our lives the broad range of our emotions are the horse driving us into battle or carrying us on long arduous campaigns and a close bond must exist just like with a knight and his horse. As I mentioned this can be a frightening process and it is much more of a letting go than an addition to your life. Take the time to assess your own emotional life and ensure you aren’t missing the broad spectrum it can exhibit.