*Men Only*
I suspect that I were to try and create a list of different traits that men “need,” that it would generate a lot of debate. Some would say I am missing traits, while others would argue that I am including some unnecessarily. There is one trait, however, that I would wager very few would disagree with if it were included in such a list.
That trait? A capacity for focused, disciplined and effective violence.
Note that I say a capacity for violence, not a propensity for violence. Those are two very different things.
There is a time and place for all things, including violence and refraining from violence. But I would argue that a man who is incapable of exercising violence when needed isn’t much of a man at all.
Protecting those you love and care for is part and parcel of being a man. If you are a husband and/or father, then you are ultimately the last line of defense when it comes to protecting your family.
Men and women alike will evaluate you on your perceived ability to defend not only yourself, but others. In fact women are apt to find violent, or at least violence-capable men, to be sexually arousing.
So where am I going with this? The answer is that a man needs to know how to use violence effectively. That means he needs to study martial arts, or to shoot firearms (bows and crossbows are neat and useful, but too specialized). Don’t know how? Start taking lessons? Already know how to do these things? Then keep up with your training.
Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
who trains my hands for war,
    and my fingers for battle
(Psalm 144:1)