Edge is somewhat of an esoteric subject. We all know when someone has it. We can see it and feel it when in their presence. But how do you develop edge? That's what I aim to explain with this article.

Edge, simply put, is something that you reveal and then express.

Everyone has edge within them. They only need to reveal it, then express it.

Have you ever met an MMA fighter who seems like the most normal of guys? There's nothing that's intimidating about him visually, but if you see him train, spar, or fight, you know he's a tough cookie.

While that's cool and has some "hidden value" magic to it, it's not going to help much with socializing with those outside the circle of people who know about your talents.

The point of the edge I'm discussing is to purposefully affect those around you, both men and women. Your edge should intrigue (and maybe even frighten those around you).

It's meant to trigger those around you to think, "There's something more to this guy than meets the eye." Edge is, as the name implies and denotes, a feeling of anticipation. Something is bubbling beneath the surface. What is it? It depends on the type of edge that man possesses.

A quick note before we continue - edge by itself is not enough to be socially and sexually successful. If you're all edge and no substance, and you like basic social skills, you will interest people at first and then repel them when they find out that's all you have to offer. Being able to have basic conversations is necessary and knowing how to respond in a normal, socially calibrated manner is a must. Also, I would like to note that I'm not suggesting you become an edge-lord. I know guys like that and while they are intriguing, they lose their luster quickly when you realize the only have edges and no point.

The Three Types of Edge

The three types of edge are: physical, emotional, and conceptual/spiritual.

Each have their own benefits and drawbacks, depending on the audience you are addressing. Let's start with physical edge.

Physical Edge

Physical edge is the MMA fighter I mentioned before, but now, he is physically intimidating. He might not be tall or girthy, but he walks like an animal. There is something brutal to the way he walks, talks, looks at you, and maybe even dresses. This is the appeal behind the now fading trend of guys wearing Affliction graphic T-shirts. Whether they truly were tough, wearing a glittery graphic T-shirt with the Affliction logo on it was an attempt by guys everywhere to communicate, "I'm a tough guy; don't fuck with me."

Physical edge is quite simply, "If worst comes to worst, I will fight you with the frenzy of a Nordic berserker."

Does it work?

Sure. You can badger it all day, but if you see a bald, ripped guy with eyes of fire walking around with an Affliction T-shirt on it and nearly bursting out of it, you will think twice while being around him. Women will, too. And when women give a guy a second glance or thought, they become intrigued.

Social criticisms aside, there is value to how you express yourself.

Hence the second part of edge: expressing edge.

Edge is nice to develop, but unless you market it correctly, it won't help you socially. If your response to this is, "I don't care, I want to have edge for my OWN sake," then good for you but that's not what I'm discussing. My aim is to make you socially and sexually successful and you need to market your edge properly if you want the attention and respect that comes with good marketing.

How does one express physical edge?

- Muscles. Muscles themselves aren't necessarily testament to fighting potential (and might even hinder you in a fight, since large muscles drain lots of energy, quickly. See the Romero vs Whittaker fight for example. While they weighed the same, Romero was far more toned and had more muscle mass that Whittaker, but tired out in the middle of the third round. Furthermore, Whittaker was the better fighter. Both led to his victory.). However, they are intimidating and DO help if you land a hit on someone or wrestle (and know what you're doing).

- Facial expressions and body language. Stoic and aggressive facial expressions. If you haven't heard, women dig dominant, tough guys. It may be an archaic caveman mentality to some of you, but since we're the dominant species of the planet, the only large mammalian threat (non-viral/bacterial) that humanity faces is other humans. And since, in the majority of inter-personal conflicts, you won't be facing knives or advanced weaponry, the greatest weapon you have is your mouth and your body to fend off competition, both sexually and socially (and knowing how to use weapons of war also contributes to one's physical edge, hence the allure of soldiers). Words and body language are your best tools, but even the latter, body language, is useful because it preempts a physical conflict. Your competition SHOULD think twice before fucking with you physically, and being aggressive/stoic will throw off most men (though you will occasionally run into guys who are ATTRACTED to fighting guys they are intimidated by, whether because of a female in the vicinity or small man syndrome). You achieve strong, defensive facial expression and body language by being slow yet decisive with your movements, hand gestures, and eye contact. I am, without ambiguity, not advocating violence in any way. In fact, I am eschewing violence, unless it is necessary to defend yourself or your friends and loved ones. I am talking about wining without having to fight. Your eye contact should be piercing. Your words and movements should be determined. You are constantly aware of yourself and what you are doing at all times and know how to point those actions in any direction you see fit.

- Words. Be concise and direct. Do not mince words, unless you are being friendly social. This demonstrates a pointed-ness that reflects an assassin in wait.

- Dress. I suggest either a slick dapper look, like John Wick or James Bond, or something culturally edgy (whatever is trending).

However, for this edge to be authentic, you must develop it. True physical edge lends to the expression itself and to one's confidence. This is done behind the curtain. Train in a practical martial art and become proficient enough that you walk with confidence. Get into a few fights (read: I'm not advocating you get into street fights for the sake of experience. If you choose to do so, it is your decision and I am not liable for your decisions, for you may hurt someone, kill someone, or face such consequences yourself). And learn how to express your physical edge through your words so that physical confrontation is unnecessary. This is the ultimate dominance - avoiding violence because you have already brokered peace or submission from your enemy.

Expression trumps substance in the social sphere, but actual physical edge will lend to authentic expression.

Emotional Edge

Emotional edge is most aptly developed and express via passion. There should be passion in the way you talk about that which you love. Your movements should show decisive love of that which you pursue. Technically, this is expressed via intonation, volume, and cadence in your speech.

Be someone who is excited about what they do. If you don't love what you do or talk about, you shouldn't be doing that or talking about that. Make your life a life that directs you towards your love. I love writing. Writing this fills me with pleasure. Fantasies fill me as I write this, and, often, find myself intoxicated with the writing itself and the dreams it inspires, so much so that I must take a break from writing. I see anything else as a waste of time. Of course one must do their duty, whatever that duty is, and discipline is important, but duty and discipline for that which one does not love does not seem like real duty or discipline to me. Even the Buddha himself advised that those not completely drawn to the monastic life should not embark on the path of Nibbana as a monk.

Find what you love and do that for a living, if you can. We live in an age where this is very possible. You love playing video games? Become a professional in that game. It is a blooming field with a very rich future. You love fighting? Join an MMA gym and go professional. You love writing? Write every day about what you love and learn the craft. You love building business then selling them or running them? Become an entrepreneur. Find what is profitable, what you love, and do it. People who do what they do for money alone don't make it far. The richest people you see and know do it because they LIKE it, whether they admit or not.

With friends, love them without boundaries. Show them your gratitude with time, energy, and gifts. Praise them, lift them up, and reveal to them their god-hood.

With women, ravish them. Tell them they are beautiful. Expect nothing in return. Kiss them with fury. In bed, fuck them like it's your last night on earth. Do this properly, and you'll never be a loser - you'll be a man who isn't afraid to express himself.

Will you make mistakes with emotional edge? Of course. That's why it's called edge. You're sitting on a precipice of...something. That something at the bottom, when it all falls and you're revealed for who you are, could be annoying and pathetic. It could also be dopetastic and awesomely powerful. That's why there's TWO parts to edge: development and expression.

Develop powerful, COOL emotional attitudes towards your life and everything within it. We live in an infinite sanbox, bois. Have fun with it. Play with it. Life is clay.

Conceptual/Spiritual Edge

I combine these two because it's hard to separate them.

On one hand you have the philosopher. He is accurate with his thinking, always penetrating the clouds with his logic beamz, seeing what lies beyond fancy words and flighty ideals. His mind is his edge. He cuts through obfuscation like a samurai cuts through soft flesh. Being around him is sometimes dangerous and exhausting, because he holds no attachment to that which makes no sense and can't be articulated clearly.

Then you have the mystic. He is quiet and speaks in riddles, but his thinking is clear....to him. His metaphors and expressions have purpose even if you can't see them. It's not that he's being difficult, it's that it's difficult to express that which is in-expressible. While the philosopher cuts straight with a paddle, little by little, the mystic parts the sea and and sees the end, while you're standing there looking at the monstrous mountains of water that he's parted. His finger points to the moon and you're busy looking at the finger.

One of my favorite contemporary examples of this is Rust Cohele from the TV show True Detective. He is constantly on edge because he is fighting demons and angels that you can't see, because you don't even know they exist. Or Alan Watts. Buddha. Jesus. Nagarjuna.

Some are more clear than others, depending on their skill of expression, but what they share is that you can't fucking ignore them, even if you hate what they say or despise their character. They cannot be ignored. You hang on their every word, even if it's to retaliate or to admire.

They are awful. Full of awe.

How does one develop conceptual or spiritual edge?

You can read. Or you can watch your thoughts. Pay attention to the swirls in your mind. The thoughts that keep you up at night. Those are your bridges to an edge. Each edge brings a fall to another edge.

You might be reading my words and thinking I'm obtuse. That's not my intention but I find it hard to express myself in any way other than metaphor, on many occasions.

But what cannot be denied is the rhetorical power of such expressions. This post could get 0 likes, and who cares? I'm expressing it with passion and love, and there is something that underlines it that you could not take away from me. Isn't that what we all aim to do? To act, speak, and move with such impunity that even if it takes hundreds of years for our words to be appreciated, it matters not.

Mystics and (true) intellectuals speak like this. This is not edge-lord philosophy. This is not sophomoric expressions from a guy who read some random book on mysticism and thinks himself synchronized with the Fire. He Is the Fire Incarnate. It burns whether you watch or acknowledge.

Expressing this Fire is another deal. Learn rhetoric. Learn how to express yourself with words of ink, vibration, and bits.

But first, you MUST develop this or else you will be a snake oil salesmen of Yoga-sunday bullshit.

Of course, the aim of this post is to gain attraction, from men and women alike. What matters, in the context of sexual and social success, is your results. I know false prophets of wisdom who do well with women. I do not despise their method. They achieve what they seek to achieve. That alone is to be admired. Of course there are consequences to one's facades that reach far beyond one night with a woman enraptured with their words, but that is another subject.

Edge is something to be found through the body and the mind. That edge can be one of violent potential, physically, emotionally, and conceptually. Your goal with edge is to disrupt the normal buzz of every day life.

Disrupt the norm, but flow enough within it to be accessible, or at the very least, persuasive, and you will find attraction.

Hector Castillo