Tu Lam, a former Green Beret with the US Army, shares his philosophy of living like a modern samurai, taking cues from the ancient samurai code of bushidō. After 23 years of military service, Lam founded Ronin Tactics, where he imparts his wisdom and skills through gear, instruction, and training videos to a worldwide audience.
Key Points:
- Tu Lam, a former US Army Green Beret, was born during the Vietnam War and moved to the United States at a young age. As a child, he was influenced by the samurai moral code of bushidō, which initiated a lifelong commitment to self-improvement and discipline.
- After 23 years of service, Lam started his own company, Ronin Tactics. The company sells gear and provides instruction and training videos to audiences across the world. His impact was so substantial that he was chosen as a character in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
- Lam’s philosophy is heavily based on the teachings of the samurai. He believes in waking up before sunrise to set a daily intention, reinforcing a strong mind with a strong body, and preparing oneself to face discomfort and hardship. He likens these to the samurai’s commitment to discipline, physical training, and acceptance of death.
- Lam strongly believes in training both the body and the mind. He highlights the importance of physical training as well as training the mind to have control over thoughts, an essential aspect of mental strength.
- One aspect of samurai philosophy Lam highlights is “mushin,” a state of no mind where the body moves free from thoughts. It requires practicing in different scenarios and helps one transcend past fear during crucial moments.
- Lam’s modern interpretation of the samurai code extends to protecting those who need it and standing by a personal code of honor, values he exemplified during his military service and continues to uphold through his work with Ronin Tactics.
Source: https://www.insidehook.com/article/health-and-fitness/modern-samurai-tu-lam-interview
