Who is Miyamoto Musashi?
A Japenese famous duelist and undefeated samurai warrior, who composed The book of five rings in 1643. In his book, he teaches strategy principles-based on Ichi school, mainly from the mental and spiritual dimensions.
The way of the warrior is the resolute acceptance of death, not just that, he studies strategy based on overcoming enemies.
Some strategy principles:
- Have one thing, to know ten thousand things
- Treat training as part of normal life
- Merge with nature, know the rhythm of any situation
- There is time and place for use of each weapon
- Don’t become over-familiar with one weapon, it’s the same as not knowing it
Your spirit should be: Determined but calm. Settled but unbiased. Not tense but not reckless. Hidden from your enemy perception.
Elevated and low spirits are both weak. Strive for balance.
Your purpose and attention should be focused on cutting the enemy.
Some fighting strategies:
- To pass on: If the enemy in rush, you relax and be calm. Then wait for him to relax and attack strongly and quickly
- Cause loss of balance: By presenting (1) Danger (2) Hardship (3) Surprise. Attack without warning at the least expected positions
- Frighten: by the unexpected
- Soak in: Happens in situations where you cannot advance. Merge and become one with the enemy. Don’t draw apart
- Injure corners
- Throw into confusion
- Crush all at once: As he is weak. Don’t give the enemy chance to recover
- Penetrate at depth: Defeat his spirit deep inside in its depths
- Move the shade: Attack strongly to discover resources
- Mountain-sea thinking: Do not repeat the same technique twice
- Lead: Think of your enemy as your own troop. You can move him at will and chase him
- Renew: If a deadlock is reached, abandon your efforts and refresh
A lot gets the impression that their enemy is strong so they get cautious. If you think your enemy as a strategy master who know the way, you will surely lose. Instead, understand strategy principles, and know how to beat him. Seek to see your enemy’s spirit.
Lastly, Mr. Miyamoto has, unfortunately, fell into the objectivism trap. By assuming the existence of the “True” way of strategy, and criticizing other martial schools of not following the “true” way.
You have your way. I have my way. As for the “correct, true” way, it doesn’t exist.
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