a book of five rings by musashi

8/2/2019 A Book of Five Rings by Musashi

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A BOOK OF FIVE RINGS

go rin no sho

by

Miyamoto Musashi

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.. Transcrib! to "#s an! $#s by S%agr th Anarch ..

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&ONTENTS

' Intro!uction

' Th Groun! Boo( ' Th )atr Boo( ' Th Fir Boo( ' Th )in! Boo( ' Th Boo( o* th Voi!

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INTRO+,&TION

I ha bn many yars training in th )ay o* stratgy ca%%! Ni Tn IchiRyu an! no/ I thin( I /i%% 01%ain it in /riting *or th *irst tim. It isno/ !uring th *irst tn !ays o* th tnth month in th t/ntith yar o*

Kani 2"3456. I ha c%imb! mountain I/ato o* 7igo in Kyushu to 1ay homagto han 1ray to K/annon 8Go!2!ss6 o* mrcy in Bu!!hism. - S%agr9 an!(n% b*or Bu!!ha. I am a /arrior o* 7arima 1roinc Shinmn Musashi NoKami Fu:i/ara No Gnshin ag si0ty yars.

From youth my hart has bn inc%in! to/ar! th )ay o* stratgy. My *irst!u% /as /hn I /as thirtn I struc( !o/n a stratgist o* th Shintoschoo% on Arima Kihi. )hn I /as si0tn I struc( !o/n an ab%stratgist Ta!ashima A(iyama. )hn I /as t/nty-on I /nt u1 to thca1ita% an! mt a%% mannr o* stratgists nr onc *ai%ing to /in inmany contsts.

A*tr that I /nt *rom 1roinc to 1roinc !u%%ing /ith stratgist o*

arious schoo%s an! not onc *ai%! to /in n though I ha! as many assi0ty ncountrs. This /as bt/n th ags o* thirtn an! t/nty-ight ort/nty-nin.

)hn I rach! thirty I %oo(! bac( on my 1ast. Th 1rious ictoris /rnot !u to my haing mastr! stratgy. ;rha1s it /as natura% abi%ity orth or!r o* han or that othr schoo%s# stratgy /as in*rior. A*trthat I stu!i! morning an! ning sarching *or th 1rinci1% an! cam tora%is th )ay o* stratgy /hn I /as *i*ty.

Sinc thn I ha %i! /ithout *o%%o/ing any 1articu%ar )ay. Thus /ith th


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irtu o* stratgy I 1ractis many arts an! abi%itis - a%% things /ith notachr. To /rit this boo( I !i! not us th %a/ o* Bu!!ha or thtachings o* &on*ucius nithr o%! /ar chronic%s nor boo(s on martia%tactics. I ta( u1 my brush to 01%ain th tru s1irit o* this Ichi schoo%as it is mirror! in th )ay o* han an! K/annon. Th tim is th nighto* th tnth !ay o* th tnth month at th hour o* th tigr 2mastrs o*stratgy>. )arriors must %arn this )ay.

Rcnt%y thr ha bn 1o1% gtting on in th /or%! as stratgists butthy ar usua%%y :ust s/or!-*ncrs. Th attn!ants o* th Kashima Kantorishrins o* th 1roinc 7itachi rci! instruction *rom th go!s an!ma! schoo%s bas! on this taching tra%%ing *rom country to countryinstructing mn. This is th rcnt maning o* stratgy.

In o%!n tims stratgy /as %ist! among th Tn Abi%itis an! Sn Artsas a bn*icia% 1ractic. It /as crtain%y an art but as a bn*icia%1ractic it /as not %imit! to s/or!-*ncing. Th tru a%u o*s/or!-*ncing cannot b sn /ithin th con*ins o* s/or!-*ncingtchni?u.

I* / %oo( at th /or%! / s arts *or sa%. Mn us ?ui1mnt to s%%thir o/n s%s. As i* /ith th nut an! th *%o/r th nut has bcom%ss than th *%o/r. In this (in! o* )ay o* stratgy both thos tachingan! thos %arning th /ay ar concrn! /ith co%ouring an! sho/ing o**thir tchni?u trying to hastn th b%oom o* th *%o/r. Thy s1a( o*>This +o:o> an! >That +o:o>. Thy ar %oo(ing *or 1ro*it. Somon onc sai!>Immatur stratgy is th caus o* gri*>. That /as a tru saying.

Thr ar *our )ays in /hich mn 1ass through %i*@ as gnt%mn *armrsartisans an! mrchants.


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Th )ay o* th *armr. ,sing agricu%tura% instrumnts h ss s1ringsthrough to autumns /ith an y on th changs o* sason.

Scon! is th )ay o* th mrchant. Th /in ma(r obtains his ingr!intsan! 1uts thm to us to ma( his %iing. Th )ay o* th mrchant is a%/aysto %i by ta(ing 1ro*it. This is th )ay o* th mrchant.

Thir!%y th gnt%man /arrior carrying th /a1onry o* his )ay. Th )ay o*

th /arrior is to mastr th irtu o* his /a1ons. I* a gnt%man !is%i(sstratgy h /i%% not a11rciat th bn*it o* /a1onry so must h notha a %itt% tast *or this

Fourth%y th )ay o* th artisan. Th )ay o* th car1ntr 8architct an!bui%!r a%% bui%!ings /r o* /oo!. - S%agr9 is to bcom 1ro*icint inth us o* his too%s *irst to %ay his 1%ans /ith a tru masur an! thn1r*orm his /or( accor!ing to 1%an. Thus h 1asss through %i*. Ths arth *our )ays o* th gnt%man th *armr th artisan an! th mrchant.

&om1aring th )ay o* th car1ntr to stratgy

Th com1arison /ith car1ntry is through th connction /ith houss. 7ouss

o* th nobi%ity houss o* /arriors th Four houss 8thr ar a%so *our!i**rnt schoo%s o* ta. - S%agr9 ruin o* houss thriing o* houss thsty% o* th hous th tra!ition o* th hous an! th nam o* th hous.Th car1ntr uss a mastr 1%an o* th bui%!ing an! th )ay o* stratgyis simi%ar in that thr is a 1%an o* cam1aign. I* you /ant to %arn thcra*t o* /ar 1on!r or this boo(. Th tachr is as a n!% th!isci1% is as thra!. ou must 1ractic constant%y.

Ci( th *orman car1ntr th comman!r must (no/ natura% ru%s an! thru%s o* th country an! th ru%s o* houss. This is th )ay o* th*orman.

Th *orman car1ntr must (no/ th architctura% thory o* to/rs an!

tm1%s an! th 1%ans o* 1a%acs an! must m1%oy mn to rais u1 houss.Th )ay o* th *orman car1ntr is th sam as th )ay o* th comman!r o*a /arrior hous.

In th construction o* houss choic o* /oo!s is ma!. Straight un-(nott!timbr o* goo! a11aranc is us! *or th ra%! 1i%%ars straight timbr/ith sma%% !*cts is us! *or th innr 1i%%ars. Timbrs o* th *insta11aranc n i* a %itt% /a( is us! *or th thrsho%!s %int%s!oors an! s%i!ing !oors an! so on. Goo! strong timbr though it bgnar%! an! (nott! can a%/ays b us! !iscrt%y in construction. Timbr/hich is /a( or (nott! throughout shou%! b us! as sca**o%!ing an!%atr *or *ir/oo!.

Th *orman car1ntr a%%ots his mn /or( accor!ing to thir abi%ity. F%oor%ayrs ma(rs o* s%i!ing !oors thrsho%!s an! %int%s ci%ings an! soon. Thos o* 1oor abi%ity %ay th *%oor :oists an! thos o* %ssr abi%itycar /!gs an! !o such misc%%anous /or(. I* th *orman (no/s an!!1%oys his mn /%% th *inish! /or( /i%% b goo!.

Th *orman shou%! ta( into account th abi%itis an! %imitations o* hismn circu%ating among thm an! as(ing nothing unrasonab%. 7 shou%! (no/thir mora% an! s1irit an! ncourag thm /hn ncssary. This is thsam as th 1rinci1% o* stratgy.


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Th )ay o* Stratgy

Ci( a troo1r th car1ntr shar1ns his o/n too%s. 7 carris his?ui1mnt in his too% bo0 an! /or(s un!r th !irction o* his *orman. 7ma(s co%umns an! gir!rs /ith an a0 sha1s *%oorboar!s an! sh%s /itha 1%an cuts *in o1n/or( an! carings accurat%y giing as 0c%%nt a*inish as his s(i%% /i%% a%%o/. This is th cra*t o* th car1ntrs. )hnth car1ntr bcoms s(i%%! an! un!rstan!s masurs h can bcom a

*orman.

Th car1ntr#s attainmnt is haing too%s /hich /i%% cut /%% to ma(sma%% shrins /riting sh%s tab%s 1a1r %antrns cho11ing boar!s an!1ot-%i!s. Ths ar th s1cia%itis o* th car1ntr. Things ar simi%ar*or th troo1r. ou ought to thin( !1%y about this.

Th attainmnt o* th car1ntr is that his /or( is not /ar1! that th:oints ar not misa%ign! an! that th /or( is tru%y 1%an! so that itmts /%% an! is not mr%y *inish! in sctions. This is ssntia%.

I* you /ant to %arn this )ay !1%y consi!r th things /rittn in thisboo( on at a tim. ou must !o su**icint rsarch.

Out%in o* th Fi Boo(s o* this Boo( o* Stratgy

Th )ay is sho/n as *i boo(s concrning !i**rnt as1cts. Ths arGroun! )atr Fir Tra!ition 2)in!6 an! Voi!. 8th oi! or Nothingnssis a Bu!!hist trm *or th i%%usionary natur o* /or%!%y things. - S%agr9

Th bo!y o* th )ay o* stratgy *rom th i/1oint o* my Ichi schoo% is01%ain! in th Groun! boo(. It is !i**icu%t to ra%is th tru )ay :ustthrough s/or!-*ncing. Kno/ th sma%%st things an! th biggst things thsha%%o/st things an! th !1st things. As i* it /r a straight roa!ma11! out on th groun! th *irst boo( is ca%%! th Groun! boo(.

Scon! is th )atr boo(. )ith /atr as th basis th s1irit bcoms %i(/atr. )atr a!o1ts th sha1 o* its rc1tac% it is somtims a tric(%an! somtims a /i%! sa. )atr has a c%ar b%u co%our. By th c%aritythings o* Ichi schoo% ar sho/n in this boo(.

I* you mastr th 1rinci1%s o* s/or!-*ncing /hn you *r%y bat onman you bat any man in th /or%!. Th s1irit o* !*ating a man is thsam *or tn mi%%ion mn. Th stratgist ma(s sma%% things into bigthings %i( bui%!ing a grat Bu!!ha *rom a on *oot mo!%. I cannot /ritin !tai% ho/ this is !on. Th 1rinci1% o* stratgy is haing on thingto (no/ tn thousan! things. Things o* Ichi schoo% ar /rittn in this th)atr boo(.

Thir! is th Fir boo(. This boo( is about *ighting. Th s1irit o* i*r is*irc /hthr th *ir b sma%% or bigD an! so it is /ith batt%s. Th)ay o* batt%s is th sam *or man to man *ights an! *or tn thousan! asi! batt%s. ou must a11rciat that s1irit can bcom big or sma%%. )hatis big is asy to 1rci@ /hat is sma%% is !i**icu%t to 1rci. Inshort it is !i**icu%t *or %arg numbrs o* mn to chang 1osition sothir momnts can b asi%y 1r!ict!. An in!ii!ua% can asi%y changhis min! so his momnts ar !i**icu%t to 1r!ict. ou must a11rciatthis. Th ssnc o* this boo( is that you must train !ay an! night inor!r to ma( ?uic( !cisions. In stratgy it is ncssary to trattraining as 1art o* norma% %i* /ith your s1irit unchanging. Thus combat in


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batt% is !scrib! in th Fir boo(.

Fourth%y th )in! boo(. This boo( is not concrn! /ith my Ichi schoo% but/ith othr schoo%s o* stratgy. By )in! I man o%! tra!itions 1rsnt-!aytra!itions an! *ami%y tra!itions o* stratgy. Thus I c%ar%y 01%ain thstratgis o* th /or%!. This is tra!ition. It is !i**icu%t to (no/yours%* i* you !o not (no/ othrs. To a%% )ays thr ar si!-trac(s. I*you stu!y a )ay !ai%y an! your s1irit !irgs you may thin( you ar

obying a goo! )ay but ob:cti%y it is not th tru )ay. I* you ar*o%%o/ing th tru /ay an! !irg a %itt% this /i%% %atr bcom a %arg!irgnc. ou must ra%is this. Othr stratgis ha com to b thoughto* as mr s/or!-*ncing an! it is not unrasonab% that this shou%! bso. Th bn*it o* my stratgy a%though it inc%u!s s/or!-*ncing %is ina s1arat 1rinci1%. I ha 01%ain! /hat is common%y mant by stratgyin othr schoo%s in th Tra!ition 2)in!6 boo(.

Fi*th%y th boo( o* th Voi!. By oi! I man that /hich has no bginningan! no n!. Attaining this 1rinci1% mans not attaining th 1rinci1%. Th)ay o* stratgy is th )ay o* natur. )hn you a11rciat th 1o/r o*natur (no/ing rhythm o* any situation you /i%% b ab% to hit th nmynatura%%y an! stri( natura%%y. A%% this is th )ay o* th Voi!. I intn!

to sho/ ho/ to *o%%o/ th tru )ay accor!ing to natur in th boo( o* thVoi!.

Th Nam Ichi Ryu Ni To 2On schoo% - t/o s/or!s6

)arriors both comman!rs an! troo1rs carry t/o s/or!s at thir b%t. Ino%!n tims ths /r ca%%! th %ong s/or! an! th s/or!D no/a!ays thyar (no/n as th s/or! an! th com1anion s/or!. Ct it su**ic to say thatin our %an! /hatr th rason a /arrior carris t/o s/or!s at his b%t.It is th )ay o* th /arrior.

>Nito Ichi Ryu> sho/s th a!antags o* using both s/or!s.

Th s1ar an! th ha%br! ar /a1ons /hich ar carri! out o* !oors.

Stu!nts o* th Ichi schoo% )ay o* stratgy shou%! train *rom th start/ith th s/or! an! th %ong s/or! in ithr han!. This is a truth@ /hn yousacri*ic your %i* you must ma( *u%%st us o* your /a1onry. It is*a%s not to !o so an! to !i /ith a /a1on yt un!ra/n.

I* you ho%! a s/or! /ith both han!s it is !i**icu%t to /i%! it *r%y to%*t an! right so my mtho! is to carry th s/or! in on han!. This !osnot a11%y to %arg /a1ons such as th s1ar or ha%br! but s/or!s an!com1anion s/or!s can b carri! in on han!. It is ncumbring to ho%! as/or! in both han!s /hn you ar on horsbac( /hn running on unnroa!s on s/am1y groun! mu!!y ric *i%!s stony groun! or in a cro/! o*

1o1%. To ho%! th %ong s/or! in both han!s is not th tru )ay *or i*you carry a bo/ or s1ar or othr arms in your %*t han! you ha on%y onhan! *r *or th %ong s/or!. 7o/r /hn it is !i**icu%t to cut an nmy!o/n /ith on han! you must us both han!s. It is not !i**icu%t to /i%! as/or! in on han!D th )ay to %arn this is to train /ith t/o %ong s/or!son in ach han!. It /i%% sm !i**icu%t at *irst but rything is!i**icu%t at *irst. Bo/s ar !i**icu%t to !ra/ ha%br!s ar !i**icu%t to/i%!D as you bcom accustom! to th bo/ so your 1u%% /i%% bcomstrongr. )hn you bcom us! to /i%!ing th %ong s/or! you /i%% gainth 1o/r o* th )ay an! /i%! th s/or! /%%.


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As I /i%% 01%ain in th scon! boo( th )atr Boo( thr is no *ast /ayo* /i%!ing th %ong s/or!. Th %ong s/or! shou%! b /i%!! broa!%y an!th com1anion s/or! c%os%y. This is th *irst thing to ra%is.

Accor!ing to this Ichi schoo% you can /in /ith a %ong /a1on an! yt youcan a%so /in /ith a short /a1on. In short th )ay o* th Ichi schoo% isth s1irit o* /inning /hatr th /a1on an! /hatr its si.

It is bttr to us t/o s/or!s rathr than on /hn you ar *ighting acro/! an! s1cia%%y i* you /ant to ta( a 1risonr.

Ths things cannot b 01%ain! in !tai%. From on thing (no/ tnthousan! things. )hn you attain th )ay o* stratgy thr /i%% not b onthing you cannot s. ou must stu!y har!.

Th Bn*it o* th T/o &haractrs ra!ing >Stratgy>

Mastrs o* th %ong s/or! ar ca%%! stratgists. As *or th othr mi%itaryarts thos /ho mastr th bo/ ar ca%%! archrs thos /ho mastr ths1ar ar ca%%! s1armn thos /ho mastr th gun ar ca%%! mar(smnthos /ho mastr th ha%br! ar ca%%! ha%br!irs. But / !o not ca%%

mastrs o* th )ay o* th %ong s/or! >%ongs/or!smn> nor !o / s1a( o*>com1anions/or!smn>. Bcaus bo/s guns s1ars an! ha%br!s ar a%%/arriors# ?ui1mnt thy ar crtain%y 1art o* stratgy. To mastr thirtu o* th %ong s/or! is to gorn th /or%! an! ons%* thus th %ongs/or! is th basis o* stratgy. Th 1rinci1% is >stratgy by mans o* th%ong s/or!>. I* h attains th irtu o* th %ong s/or! on man can battn mn. =ust as on man can bat tn so a hun!r! mn can bat athousan! an! a thousan! can bat tn thousan!. In my stratgy on man isth sam as tn thousan! so this stratgy is th com1%t /arrior#s cra*t.

Th )ay o* th /arrior !os not inc%u! othr )ays such as &on*ucianismBu!!hism crtain tra!itions artistic accom1%ishmnts an! !ancing. Butn though ths ar not 1art o* th )ay i* you (no/ th )ay broa!%y you

/i%% s it in rything. Mn must 1o%ish thir 1articu%ar )ay.

Th Bn*it o* )a1ons in Stratgy

Thr is a tim an! 1%ac *or us o* /a1ons.

Th bst us o* th com1anion s/or! is in a con*in! s1ac or /hn you arngag! c%os%y /ith an o11onnt. Th %ong s/or! can b us! **cti%y ina%% situations.

Th ha%br! is in*rior to th s1ar on th batt%*i%!. )ith th s1ar youcan ta( th initiatiD th ha%br! is !*nsi. In th han!s o* on o*t/o mn o* ?ua% abi%ity th s1ar gis a %itt% 0tra strngth. S1ar

an! ha%br! both ha thir uss but nithr is ry bn*icia% incon*in! s1acs. Thy cannot b us! *or ta(ing a 1risonr. Thy arssntia%%y /a1ons *or th *i%!.

Any/ay i* you %arn >in!oor> tchni?us you /i%% thin( narro/%y an!*orgt th tru )ay. Thus you /i%% ha !i**icu%ty in actua% ncountrs.

Th bo/ is tactica%%y strong at th commncmnt o* batt% s1cia%%ybatt%s on a moor as it is 1ossib% to shoot ?uic(%y *rom among ths1armn. 7o/r it is unsatis*actory in sigs or /hn th nmy ismor than *orty yar!s a/ay. For this rason thr ar no/a!ays */


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tra!itiona% schoo%s o* archry. Thr is %itt% us no/a!ays *or this (in!o* s(i%%.

From insi! *orti*ications th gun has no ?ua% among /a1ons. It is thsu1rm /a1on on th *i%! b*or th ran(s c%ash but onc s/or!s arcross! th gun bcoms us%ss.

On o* th irtus o* th bo/ is that you can s th arro/s in *%ight an!

corrct your aim accor!ing%y /hras gunshot cannot b sn. ou musta11rciat th im1ortanc o* this.

=ust as a hors must ha n!uranc an! no !*cts so it is /ith /a1ons.7orss shou%! /a%( strong%y an! s/or!s an! com1anion s/or!s shou%! cutstrong%y. S1ars an! ha%br!s must stan! u1 to hay us@ bo/s an! gunsmust b stur!y. )a1ons shou%! b har!y rathr than !corati.

ou shou%! not ha a *aourit /a1on. To bcom or-*ami%iar /ith on/a1on is as much a *au%t as not (no/ing it su**icint%y /%%. ou shou%!not co1y othrs but us /a1ons /hich you can han!% 1ro1r%y. It is ba!*or comman!rs an! troo1rs to ha %i(s an! !is%i(s. Ths ar thingsyou must %arn thorough%y.

Timing in stratgy

Thr is timing in rything. Timing in stratgy cannot b mastr!/ithout a grat !a% o* 1ractic.

Timing is im1ortant in !ancing an! 1i1 or string music *or thy ar inrhythm on%y i* timing is goo!. Timing an! rhythm ar a%so ino%! in thmi%itary arts shooting bo/s an! guns an! ri!ing horss. In a%% s(i%%s an!abi%itis thr is timing.

Thr is a%so timing in th Voi!.

Thr is timing in th /ho% %i* o* th /arrior in his thriing an!!c%ining in his harmony an! !iscor!. Simi%ar%y thr is timing in th)ay o* th mrchant in th ris an! *a%% o* ca1ita%. A%% things ntai%rising an! *a%%ing timing. ou must b ab% to !iscrn this. In stratgythr ar arious timing consi!rations. From th outst you must (no/ tha11%icab% timing an! th ina11%icab% timing an! *rom among th %arg an!sma%% things an! th *ast an! s%o/ timings *in! th r%ant timing *irstsing th !istanc timing an! th bac(groun! timing. This is th mainthing in stratgy. It is s1cia%%y im1ortant to (no/ th bac(groun!timing othr/is your stratgy /i%% bcom uncrtain.

ou /in batt%s /ith th timing in th Voi! born o* th timing o* cunningby (no/ing th nmis# timing an! thus using a timing /hich th nmy

!os not 01ct.

A%% th *i boo(s ar chi*%y concrn! /ith timing. ou must trainsu**icint%y to a11rciat this.

I* you 1ractis !ay an! night in th abo Ichi schoo% stratgy yours1irit /i%% natura%%y broa!n. Thus is %arg sca% stratgy an! thstratgy o* han! to han! combat 1ro1agat! in th /or%!. This is rcor!!*or th *irst tim in th *i boo(s o* Groun! )atr Fir Tra!ition2)in!6 an! Voi!. This is th /ay *or mn /ho /ant to %arn my stratgy@


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". +o not thin( !ishonst%y. . Th )ay is in training.


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your s1irit.

Sma%% 1o1% must b com1%t%y *ami%iar /ith th s1irit o* %arg 1o1%an! %arg 1o1% must b *ami%iar /ith th s1irit o* sma%% 1o1%. )hatryour si !o not b mis%! by th ractions o* your o/n bo!y. )Ith yours1irit o1n an! unconstrict! %oo( at things *rom a high 1oint o* i/.ou must cu%tiat your /is!om an! s1irit. ;o%ish your /is!om@ %arn 1ub%ic:ustic !istinguish bt/n goo! an! i% stu!y th )ays o* !i**rnt

arts on by on. )hn you cannot b !ci! by mn you /i%% ha ra%is!th /is!om o* stratgy.

Th /is!om o* stratgy is !i**rnt *rom othr things. On th batt%*i%!n /hn you ar har!-1rss! you shou%! cas%ss%y rsarch th1rinci1%s o* stratgy so that you can !%o1 a sta!y s1irit.

Stanc in Stratgy

A!o1t a stanc /ith th ha! rct nithr hanging !o/n nor %oo(ing u1nor t/ist!. our *orha! an! th s1ac bt/n your ys shou%! not b/rin(%!. +o not ro%% your ys nor a%%o/ thm to b%in( but s%ight%ynarro/ thm. )ith your *aturs com1os! (1 th %in o* your nos

straight /ith a *%ing o* s%ight%y *%aring your nostri%s. 7o%! th %in o*th rar o* th nc( straight@ insti% igour into your hair%in an! in thsam /ay *rom th shou%!rs !o/n through your ntir bo!y. Co/r bothshou%!rs an! /ithout th buttoc(s :utting out 1ut strngth into your%gs *rom th (ns to th ti1s o* your tos. Brac your ab!omn so thatyou !o not bn! at th hi1s. )!g your com1anion s/or! in your b%tagainst your ab!omn so that your b%t is not s%ac( - this is ca%%!>/!ging in>.

In a%% *orms o* stratgy it is ncssary to maintain th combat stanc inry!ay %i* an! to ma( your ry!ay stanc your combat stanc. ou mustrsarch this /%%.

Th Ga in Stratgy

Th ga shou%! b %arg an! broa!. This is th t/o*o%! ga >;rc1tionan! Sight>. ;rc1tion is strong an! sight /(.

In stratgy it is im1ortant to s !istant things as i* thy /r c%os an!to ta( a !istanc! i/ o* c%os things. It is im1ortant in stratgy to(no/ th nmy#s s/or! an! not to b !istract! by insigni*icant momntso* his s/or!. ou must stu!y this. Th ga is th sam *or sing% combatan! *or %arg-sca% stratgy.

It is ncssary in stratgy to b ab% to %oo( to both si!s /ithout moingth yba%%s. ou cannot mastr this abi%ity ?uic(%y. Carn /hat is /rittn

hrD us this ga in ry!ay %i* an! !o not ary it /hatr ha11ns.

7o%!ing th Cong S/or!

Gri1 th %ong s/or! /ith a rathr *%oating *%ing in your thumb an!*or*ingr /ith th mi!!% *ingr nithr tight nor s%ac( an! /ith th%ast t/o *ingrs tight. It is ba! to ha 1%ay in your han!s.

)hn you ta( u1 a s/or! you must *% intnt on cutting th nmy. As youcut an nmy you must not chang your gri1 an! your han!s must not>co/r>. )hn you !ash th nmy#s s/or! asi! or /ar! it o** or *orc it


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!o/n you must s%ight%y chang th *%ing in your thumb an! *or*ingr.Abo a%% you must b intnt on cutting th nmy in th /ay you gri1 ths/or!.

Th gri1 *or combat an! *or s/or!-tsting is th sam. Thr is no suchthing as a >man-cutting gri1>.

Gnra%%y I !is%i( *i0!nss in both %ong s/or!s an! han!s. Fi0!nss

mans a !a! han!. ;%iabi%ity is a %iing han!. ou must bar this in min!.

Foot/or(

)ith th ti1s o* your tos som/hat *%oating tra! *irm%y /ith your h%s.)hthr you mo *ast or s%o/ /ith %arg or sma%% st1s your *t musta%/ays mo as in norma% /a%(ing. I !is%i( th thr /a%(ing mtho!s (no/as >:um1ing-*oot> >*%oating-*oot> an! >*i0!-st1s>.

So-ca%%! >in-ang *oot> is im1ortant in th )ay. in-ang *oot mans notmoing on%y on *oot. It mans moing your *t %*t-right an! right-%*t/hn cutting /ith!ra/ing or /ar!ing o** a cut. ou shou%! not mo on on*oot 1r*rntia%%y.

Th Fi Attitu!s

Th *i attitu!s ar@ ,11r Mi!!% Co/r Right Si! an! C*t Si!.Ths ar th gi. A%though attitu! has ths *i !iisions th on1ur1os o* a%% o* thm is to cut th nmy. Thr ar non but ths *iattiti!u!s.

)hatr attitu! you ar in !o not b conscious o* ma(ing th attitu!Dthin( on%y o* cutting.

our attitu! shou%! b %arg or sma%% accor!ing to th situation. ,11rCo/r an! Mi!!% attitu!s ar !cisi. C*t Si! an! Right Si! attitu!s

ar *%ui!. C*t an! Right attitu!s shou%! b us! i* thr is anobstruction orha! or to on si!. Th !cision to us C*t or Right!1n!s on th 1%ac.

Th ssnc o* th )ay is this. To un!rstan! attitu! you must thorough%yun!rstan! th mi!!% attitu!. Th mi!!% attitu! is th hart o*attitu!s. I* / %oo( at stratgy on a broa! sca% th Mi!!% attitu! isth sat o* th comman!r /ith th othr *our attitu!s *o%%o/ing thcomman!r. ou must a11rciat this.

Th )ay o* th Cong S/or!

Kno/ing th )ay o* th %ong s/or! mans / can /i%! /ith t/o *ingrs th

s/or! / usua%%y carry. I* / (no/ th 1ath o* th s/or! /%% / can /i%!it asi%y.

I* you try to /i%! th %ong s/or! ?uic(%y you /i%% mista( th )ay. To/i%! th %ong s/or! /%% you must /i%! it ca%m%y. I* you try to /i%! it?uic(%y %i( a *o%!ing *an or a short s/or! you /i%% rr by using >shorts/or! cho11ing>. ou cannot cut !o/n a man /ith a %ong s/or! using thismtho!.

)hn you ha cut !o/n/ar!s /ith th %ongs/or! %i*t it straight u1/ar!sD/hn you cut si!/ays rturn th s/or! a%ong a si!/ays 1ath. Rturn th


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s/or! in a rasonab% /ay a%/ays strtching th %bo/s broa!%y. )i%! ths/or! strong%y. This is th )ay o* th %ongs/or!.

I* you %arn to us th *i a11roachs o* my stratgy you /i%% b ab% to/i%! a s/or! /%%. ou must train constant%y.

Th Fi A11roachs

". Th *irst a11roach is th Mi!!% attitu!. &on*ront th nmy /ith th 1oint o* your s/or! against his *ac. )hn h attac(s !ash his s/or! to th right an! >ri!> it. Or /hn th nmy attac(s !*%ct th 1oint o* his s/or! by hitting !o/n/ar!s (1 your %ong s/or! /hr it is an! as th nmy rn/s his attac( cut his arms *rom b%o/. This is th *irst mtho!.

Th *i a11roachs ar this (in! o* thing. ou must train r1at!%y using a %ong s/or! in or!r to %arn thm. )hn you mastr my )ay o* th %ong s/or! you /i%% b ab% to contro% any attac( th nmy ma(s. I assur you thr ar no attitu!s othr than th *i attitu!s o* th %ong s/or! o* Ni To.

. In th scon! a11roach /ith th %ong s/or! *rom th ,11r attitu! cut th nmy :ust as h attac(s. I* th nmy a!s th cut (1 your s/or! /hr it is an! scoo1ing u1 *rom b%o/ cut him as h rn/s th attac(. It is 1ossib% to r1at th cut *rom hr.

In this mtho! thr ar arious changs in timing an! s1irit. ou /i%% b ab% to un!rstan! this by training in th Ichi schoo%. ou /i%% a%/ays /inn /ith th *i %ong s/or! mtho!s. ou must train r1titi%y.

crossing>. This mans that *rom th %o/r attitu!s you hit th nmy at th instant that h attac(s.

ou /i%% ncountr this mtho! o*tn both as a bginnr an! in %atr stratgy. ou must train ho%!ing a %ong s/or!.

4. In this *ourth a11roach a!o1t th C*t Si! attitu!. As th nmy attac(s hit his han!s *rom b%o/. I* as you hit his han!s h attm1ts to !ash !o/n your s/or! /ith th *%ing o* hitting his han!s 1arry th 1ath o* his %ong s/or! an! cut across *rom abo your shou%!r.

This is th )ay o* th %ong s/or!. Through this mtho! you /in by 1arrying th %in o* th nmy#s attac(. ou must rsarch this.

5. In th *i*th a11roach th s/or! is in th Right Si! attitu!. In accor!anc /ith th nmy#s attac( cross your %ong s/or! *rom b%o/ at th si! to th ,11r attitu!. Thn cut straight *rom abo.

This mtho! is ssntia% *or (no/ing th )ay o* th %ong s/or! /%%. I* you can us this mtho! you can *r%y /i%! a hay %ong s/or!.

I cannot !scrib in !tai% ho/ to us ths *i a11roachs. ou mustbcom /%% ac?uaint! /ith my >in harmony /ith th %ong s/or!> )ay %arn%arg-sca% timing un!rstan! th nmy#s %ong s/or! an! bcom us! to


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th *i a11roachs *rom th outst. ou /i%% a%/ays /in by using ths*i mtho!s /ith arious timing consi!rations !iscrning th nmy#ss1irit. ou must consi!r a%% this car*u%%y.

Th >Attitu! No-Attitu!> Taching

>Attitu! No-Attitu!> mans that thr is no n! *or /hat ar (no/ as%ong s/or! attitu!s.

En so attitu!s 0ist as th *i /ays o* ho%!ing th %ong s/or!.7o/r you ho%! th s/or! it must b in such a /ay that it is asy to cutth nmy /%% in accor!anc /ith th situation th 1%ac an! yourr%ation to th nmy. From th ,11r attitu! as your s1irit %ssns youcan a!o1t th Mi!!% attitu! an! *rom th Mi!!% attitu! you can raisth s/or! a %itt% in your tchni?u an! a!o1t th ,11r attitu!. From th%o/r attitu! you can rais th s/or! an! a!o1t th Mi!!% attitu!s asth occasion !man!s. Accor!ing to th situation i* you turn your s/or!*rom ithr th C*t Si! or Right Si! attitu! to/ar!s th cntr thMi!!% or th Co/r attitu! rsu%ts.

Th 1rinci1% o* this is ca%%! >E0isting Attitu! - Non0isting Attitu!>.

Th 1rimary thing /hn you ta( a s/or! in your han!s is your intntion tocut th nmy /hatr th mans. )hnr you 1arry hit s1ring stri(or touch th nmy#s cutting s/or! you must cut th nmy in th sammomnt. It is ssntia% to attain this. I* you thin( on%y o* hittings1ringing stri(ing or touching th nmy you /i%% not b ab% actua%%y tocut him. Mor than anything you must b thin(ing o* carrying your momntthrough to cutting him. ou must thorough%y rsarch this.

Attitu! in stratgy on a %argr sca% is ca%%! >Batt% Array>. Suchattitu!s ar a%% *or /inning batt%s. Fi0! *ormation is ba!. Stu!y this/%%.

To 7it th Enmy >In On Timing>

>In On Timing> mans /hn you ha c%os! /ith th nmy to hit him as?uic(%y an! !irct%y as 1ossib% /ithout moing your bo!y or stt%ing yours1irit /hi% you s that h is sti%% un!ci!!. Th timing o* hittingb*or th nmy !ci!s to /ith!ra/ bra( or hit is this >In OnTiming>.

ou must train to achi this timing to b ab% to hit in th timing o*an instant.

Th >Ab!omn Timing o* T/o>

)hn you attac( an! th nmy ?uic(%y rtrats as you s him tns youmust *int a cut. Thn as h r%a0s *o%%o/ u1 an! hit him. This is th>Ab!omn Timing o* T/o>.

It is ry !i**icu%t to attain this by mr%y ra!ing this boo( but you/i%% soon un!rstan! /ith a %itt% instruction.

No +sign No &onc1tion

/hn /or! an! actions ar s1ontanous%y th sam. - S%agr9


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In this mtho! /hn th nmy attac(s an! you a%so !ci! to attac( hit/ith your bo!y an! hit /ith your s1irit an! hit *rom th Voi! /ith yourhan!s acc%rating strong%y. This is th >No +sign No &onc1tion> cut.

This is th most im1ortant mtho! o* hitting. It is o*tn us!. ou musttrain har! to un!rstan! it.

Th F%o/ing )atr &ut

Th >F%o/ing )atr &ut> is us! /hn you ar strugg%ing b%a! to b%a! /ithth nmy. )hn h bra(s an! ?uic(%y /ith!ra/s trying to s1ring /ith his%ong s/or! 01an! your bo!y an! s1irit an! cut him as s%o/%y as 1ossib%/ith your %ong s/or! *o%%o/ing your bo!y %i( stagnant /atr. ou can cut/ith crtainty i* you %arn this. ou must !iscrn th nmy#s gra!.

&ontinuous &ut

)hn you attac( an! th nmy a%so attac(s an! your s/or!s s1ringtogthr in on action cut his ha! han!s an! %gs. )hn you cut sra%1%acs /ith on s/1 o* th %ong s/or! it is th >&ontinuous &ut>. oumust 1ractic this cutD it is o*tn us!. )ith !tai%! 1ractic you shou%!

b ab% to un!rstan! it.

Th Fir an! Stons &ut

Th Firs an! Stons &ut mans that /hn th nmy#s %ong s/or! an! your%ong s/or! c%ash togthr you cut as strong%y as 1ossib% /ithout raisingth s/or! n a %itt%. This mans cutting ?uic(%y /ith th han!s bo!yan! %gs - a%% thr cutting strong%y. I* you train /%% nough you /i%% bab% to stri( strong%y.

Th R! Cas &ut

Th R! Cas &ut 8a%%usion to *a%%ing !ying %as. - S%agr9 mans

(noc(ing !o/n th nmy#s %ong s/or!. Th s1irit shou%! b gtting contro%o* his s/or!. )hn th nmy is in a %ong s/or! attitu! in *ront o* youan! intnt on cutting hitting an! 1arrying you strong%y hit th nmy#s%ong s/or! /ith th Fir an! Stons &ut 1rha1s in th s1irit o* th >No+sign No &onc1tion> &ut. I* you thn bat !o/n th 1oint o* his s/or!/ith a stic(y *%ing h /i%% ncssari%y !ro1 th s/or!. I* you 1ractisthis cut it bcoms asy to ma( th nmy !ro1 his s/or!. ou must trainr1titi%y.

Th Bo!y in ;%ac o* th Cong S/or!

A%so >th %ong s/or! in 1%ac o* th bo!y>. ,sua%%y / mo th bo!y an!th s/or! at th sam tim to cut th nmy. 7o/r accor!ing to th

nmy#s cutting mtho! you can !ash against him /ith your bo!y *irst an!a*tr/ar!s cut /ith th s/or!. I* his bo!y is immoab% you can cut *irst/ith th %ong s/or! but gnra%%y you hit *irst /ith th bo!y an! thn cut/ith th %ong s/or!. ou must rsarch this /%% an! 1ractis hitting.

&ut an! S%ash

To cut an! to s%ash ar t/o !i**rnt things. &utting /hatr *orm o*cutting it is is !cisi /ith a rso%ut s1irit. S%ashing is nothingmor than touching th nmy. En i* you s%ash strong%y an! n i* thnmy !is instant%y it is s%ashing. )hn you cut your s1irit is


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rso%!. ou must a11rciat this. I* you *irst s%ash th nmy#s han!s or%gs you must thn cut strong%y. S%ashing is in s1irit th sam astouching. )hn you ra%is this thy bcom in!istinguishab%. Carn this/%%.

&hins Mon(y#s Bo!y

Th &hins Mon(y#s Bo!y 8short-arm! mon(y. - S%agr9 is th s1irit o*

not strtching out your arms. Th s1irit is to gt in ?uic(%y /ithout inth %ast 0tn!ing your arms b*or th nmy cuts. I* you ar intntu1on not strtching out your arms you ar **cti%y *ar a/ay th s1iritis to go in /ith your /ho% bo!y. )hn you com to /ithin arm#s rach itbcoms asy to mo your bo!y in. ou must rsarch this /%%.

G%u an! Cac?ur Emu%sion Bo!y

Th s1irit o* >G%u an! Cac?ur Emu%sion Bo!y> is to stic( to th nmy an!not s1arat *rom him. )hn you a11roach th nmy stic( *irm%y /ith yourha! bo!y an! %gs. ;o1% tn! to a!anc thir ha! an! %gs ?uic(%ybut thir bo!y %ags bhin!. ou shou%! stic( *irm%y so that thr is notth s%ightst ga1 bt/n th nmy#s bo!y an! your bo!y. ou must consi!r

this car*u%%y.

To Stri *or 7ight

By >to stri *or hight> is mant /hn you c%os /ith th nmy tostri /ith him *or su1rior hight /ithout cringing. Strtch your %gsstrtch your hi1s an! strtch your nc( *ac to *ac /ith him. )hn youthin( you ha /on an! you ar th highr thrust in strong%y. ou must%arn this.

To A11%y Stic(inss

)hn th nmy attac(s an! you a%so attac( /ith th %ong s/or! you shou%!

go in /ith a stic(y *%ing an! *i0 your %ong s/or! against th nmy#s asyou rci his cut. Th s1irit o* stic(inss is not hitting ry strong%ybut hitting so that th %ong s/or!s !o not s1arat asi%y. It is bst toa11roach as ca%m%y as 1ossib% /hn hitting th nmy#s %ong s/or! /ithstic(inss. Th !i**rnc bt/n >Stic(inss> an! >Entang%mnt> is thatstic(inss is *irm an! ntang%mnt is /a(. ou must a11rciat this.

Th Bo!y Stri(

Th Bo!y Stri( mans to a11roach th nmy through a ga1 in his guar!. Ths1irit is to stri( him /ith your bo!y. Turn your *ac a %itt% asi! an!stri( th nmy#s brast /ith your %*t shou%!r thrust out. A11roach /ithth s1irit o* bouncing th nmy a/ay stri(ing as strong%y as 1ossib% in

tim /ith yout brathing. I* you achi this mtho! o* c%osing /ith thnmy you /i%% b ab% to (noc( him tn or t/nty *t a/ay. It is1ossib% to stri( th nmy unti% h is !a!. Train /%%.

Thr )ays to ;arry 7is Attac(

Thr ar thr mtho!s to 1arry a cut@

First by !ashing th nmy#s %ong s/or! to your right as i* thrusting athis ys /hn h ma(s an attac(.


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Or to 1arry by thrusting th nmy#s %ong s/or! to/ar!s his right y /ithth *%ing o* sni11ing his nc(.

Or /hn you ha a short >%ong s/or!> /ithout /orrying about 1arrying thnmy#s %ong s/or! to c%os /ith him ?uic(%y thrusting at his *ac /ithyour %*t han!.

Ths ar th thr mtho!s o* 1arrying. ou must bar in min! that you can

a%/ays c%nch your %*t han! an! thrust at th nmy#s *ac /ith your *ist.For this it is ncssary to train /%%.

To Stab at th Fac

To stab at th *ac mans /hn you ar in con*rontation /ith th nmythat your s1irit is intnt o* stabbing at his *ac *o%%o/ing th %in o*th b%a!s /ith th 1oint o* your %ong s/or!. I* you ar intnt on stabbingat his *ac his *ac an! bo!y /i%% bcom ri!a%. )hn th nmy bcomsas i* ri!ab% thr ar arious o11ortunitis *or /inning. ou mustconcntrat on this. )hn *ighting an! th nmy#s bo!y bcoms as i*ri!ab% you can /in ?uic(%y so you ought not to *orgt to stab at th*ac. ou must 1ursu th a%u o* this tchni?u through training.

To Stab at th 7art

To stab at th hart mans /hn *ighting an! thr ar obstructions aboor to th si!s an! /hnr it is !i**icu%t to cut to thrust at thnmy. ou must stab th nmy#s brast /ithout %tting th 1oint o* your%ong s/or! /ar sho/ing th nmy th ri!g o* th b%a! s?uar-on an!/ith th s1irit o* !*%cting his %ong s/or!. Th s1irit o* this 1rinci1%is o*tn us*u% /hn / bcom tir! or *or som rason our %ong s/or! /i%%not cut. ou must un!rstan! th a11%ication o* this mtho!.

To Sco%! >Tut-T,TJ>

>Sco%!> mans that /hn th nmy tris to countr-cut as you attac( youcountr-cut again *rom b%o/ as i* thrusting at him trying to ho%! him!o/n. )ith ry ?uic( timing you cut sco%!ing th nmy. Thrust u1>TutJ> an! cut >T,TJ> This timing is ncountr! tim an! tim again in0chang o* b%o/s. Th /ay to sco%! Tut-T,T is to tim th cutsimu%tanous%y /ith raising your %ong s/or! as i* to thrust th nmy. oumust %arn this through r1titi 1ractic.

Th Smac(ing ;arry

By >smac(ing 1arry> is mant that /hn you c%ash s/or!s /ith th nmy youmt his attac(ing cut on your %ong s/or! /ith a t-!um t-!um rhythmsmac(ing his s/or! an! cutting him. Th s1irit o* th smac(ing 1arry is not

1arrying or smac(ing strong%y but smac(ing th nmy#s %ong s/or! inaccor!anc /ith his attac(ing cut 1rimari%y intnt on ?uic(%y cutting him.I* you un!rstan! th timing o* smac(ing ho/r har! your %ong s/or!sc%ash togthr your s/or!1oint /i%% not b (noc(! bac( n a %itt%. oumust rsarch su**icint%y to ra%is this.

Thr ar Many Enmis

>Thr ar many nmis> a11%is /hn you ar *ighting on against many.+ra/ both s/or! an! com1anion s/or! an! assum a /i!-strtch! %*t an!right attitu!. Th s1irit is to chas th nmis aroun! *rom si! to


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si! n though thy com *rom a%% *our !irctions. Obsr thirattac(ing or!r an! go to mt *irst thos /ho attac( *irst. S/1 yourys aroun! broa!%y car*u%%y 0amining th attac(ing or!r an! cut %*tan! right a%trnat%y /ith your s/or!s. )aiting is ba!. A%/ays ?uic(%yr-assum your attitu!s to both si!s cut th nmis !o/n as thya!anc crushing thm in th !irction *rom /hich thy attac(. )hatryou !o you must !ri th nmy togthr as i* tying a %in o* *ishsan! /hn thy ar sn to b 1i%! u1 cut thm !o/n strong%y /ithout

giing thm room to mo.

Th A!antag /hn coming to B%o/s

ou can (no/ ho/ to /in through stratgy /ith th %ong s/or! but it cannotb c%ar%y 01%ain! in /riting. ou must 1ractic !i%ignt%y in or!r toun!rstan! ho/ to /in.

Ora% tra!ition@ >Th tru )ay o* stratgy is ra%! in th %ong s/or!.>

On &ut

ou can /in /ith crtainity /ith th s1irit o* >on cut>. It is !i**icu%t

to attain this i* you !o not %arn stratgy /%%. I* you train /%% in this)ay stratgy /i%% com *rom your hart an! you /i%% b ab% to /in at/i%%. ou must train !i%ignt%y.

+irct &ommunication

Th s1irit o* >+irct &ommunication> is ho/ th tru )ay o* th Ni To Ichischoo% is rci! an! han!! !o/n.

Ora% tra!ition@ >Tach your bo!y stratgy.>

Rcor!! in th abo boo( is an out%in o* Ichi schoo% s/or!-*ighting.

To %arn ho/ to /in /ith th %ong s/or! in stratgy *irst %arn th *ia11roachs an! th *i attitu!s an! absorb th )ay o* th %ong s/or!natura%%y in your bo!y. ou must un!rstan! s1irit an! timing han!% th%ong s/or! natura%%y an! mo bo!y an! %gs in harmony /ith your s1irit.)hthr bating on man or t/o you /i%% thn (no/ a%us in stratgy.

Stu!y th contnts o* this boo( ta(ing on itm at a tim an! through*ighting /ith nmis you /i%% gra!ua%%y com to (no/ th 1rinci1% o* th)ay.

+%ibrat%y /ith a 1atint s1irit absorb th irtu o* a%% this *romtim to tim raising your han! in combat. Maintain this s1irit /hnr youcross s/or!s /ith an! nmy.

St1 by st1 /a%( th thousan!-mi% roa!.

Stu!y stratgy or th yars an! achi th s1irit o* th /arrior. To!ayis ictory or yours%* o* ystr!ayD tomorro/ is your ictory or %ssrmn. N0t in or!r to bat mor s(i%%*u% mn train accor!ing to thisboo( not a%%o/ing your hart to b s/ay! a%ong a si!-trac(. En i* you(i%% an nmy i* it is not bas! on /hat you ha %arn! it is not thtru )ay.

I* you attain this )ay o* ictory thn you /i%% b ab% to bat sra%


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tns o* mn. )hat rmains is s/or!-*ighting abi%ity /hich you can attainin batt%s an! !u%s.---------------------------------------------------------------------------

T7E FIRE BOOK

In this th Fir Boo( o* th Ni To Ichi schoo% o* stratgy I !scrib*ighting as *ir.

In th *irst 1%ac 1o1% thin( narro/%y about th bn*it o* stratgy. Byusing on%y thir *ingrti1s thy on%y (no/ th bn*it o* thr o* th*i inchs o* th /rist. Thy %t a contst b !ci!! as /ith th*o%!ing *an mr%y by th s1an o* thir *orarms. Thy s1cia%is in thsma%% mattr o* !0trity %arning such tri*%s as han! an! %g momnts/ith th bamboo 1ractic s/or!.

In my stratgy th training *or (i%%ing nmis is by /ay o* manycontsts *ighting *or suria% !iscoring th maning o* %i* an! !ath%arning th )ay o* th s/or! :u!ging th strngth o* attac(s an!un!rstan!ing th )ay o* th >!g an! ri!g> o* th s/or!.

ou cannot 1ro*it *rom sma%% tchni?us 1articu%ar%y /hn *u%% armour is/orn. 8>Ro(u Gu> 2si0 1ics6@ bo!y armour h%mt mas( thigh 1icsgaunt%ts an! %g 1ics. - S%agr9 My )ay o* stratgy is th sur mtho!to /in /hn *ighting *or your %i* on man against *i or tn. Thr isnothing /rong /ith th 1rinci1% >on man can bat tn so a thousan! mncan bat tn thousan!>. ou must rsarch this. O* cours you cannotassmb% a thousan! or tn thousan! mn *or ry!ay training. But you canbcom a mastr o* stratgy by training a%on /ith a s/or! so that you canun!rstan! th nmy#s stratgms his strngth an! rsourcs an! com toa11rciat ho/ to a11%y stratgy to bat tn thousan! nmis.

Any man /ho /ants to mastr th ssnc o* my stratgy must rsarch!i%ignt%y training morning an! ning. Thus can h 1o%ish his s(i%%

bcom *r *rom s%* an! ra%is 0traor!inary abi%ity. 7 /i%% com to1ossss miracu%ous 1o/r.

This is th 1ractica% rsu%t o* stratgy.

+1n!ing on th ;%ac

E0amin your nironmnt.

Stan! in th sunD that is ta( u1 an attitu! /ith th sun bhin! you. I*th situation !o/s not a%%o/ this you must try to (1 th sun on yourright si!. In bui%!ings you must stan! /ith th ntranc bhin! you or toyour right. Ma( sur that your rar is unobstruct! an! that thr is

*r s1ac on your %*t your right si! bing occu1i! /ith your si!attitu!. At night i* th nmy can b sn (1 th *ir bhin! you an!th ntranc to your right an! othr/is ta( u1 your attitu! as abo.ou must %oo( !o/n on th nmy an! ta( u1 your attitu! on s%ight%yhighr 1%acs. For 0am1% th Kamia 8rsi!nc o* th ancstra% s1irito* a housD o*tn a s%ight%y rais! rcss in a /a%% 2/ith ornamnts6. -S%agr9 in a hous is thought o* as a high 1%ac.

)hn th *ight coms a%/ays n!aour to chas th nmy aroun! to your%*t si!. &has him to/ar!s a/(/ar! 1%acs an! try to (1 him /ith hisbac( to a/(/ar! 1%acs. )hn th nmy gts into an inconnint 1osition


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!o not %t him %oo( aroun! but conscintious%y chas him aroun! an! 1inhim !o/n. In houss chas th nmy into th thrsho%!s %int%s !oorsran!as 1i%%ars an! so on again not %tting him s his situation.

A%/ays chas th nmy into ba! *ootho%!s obstac%s at th si! an! soon using th irtus o* th 1%ac to stab%ish 1r!ominant 1ositions *rom/hich to *ight. ou must rsarch an! train !i%ignt%y in this.

Th Thr Mtho!s to Forsta%% th Enmy

Th *irst is to *orsta%% him by attac(ing. This is ca%%! Kn No Sn 2tost him u16.

Anothr mtho! is to *orsta%% him as h attac(s. This is ca%%! Tai No Sn2to /ait *or th initiati6.

Th othr mtho! is /hn you an! th nmy attac( togthr. This is ca%%!Tai Tai No Sn 2to accom1any him an! *orsta%% him6.

Thr ar no mtho!s o* ta(ing th %a! othr than ths thr. Bcaus youcan /in ?uic(%y by ta(ing th %a! it is on o* th most im1ortant things

in stratgy. Thr ar sra% things ino%! in ta(ing th %a!. ou mustma( th bst o* th situation s through th nmy#s s1irit so that yougras1 his stratgy an! !*at him. It is im1ossib% to /rit about this in!tai%.

Th First - Kn No Sn

)hn you !ci! to attac( (1 ca%m an! !ash in ?uic(%y *orsta%%ing thnmy. Or you can a!anc sming%y strong%y but /ith a rsr! s1irit*orsta%%ing him /ith th rsr.

A%trnati%y a!anc /ith as strong a s1irit as 1ossib% an! /hn yourach th nmy mo /ith your *t a %itt% ?uic(r than norma%

unstt%ing him an! or/h%ming him shar1%y.

Or /ith your s1irit ca%m attac( /ith a *%ing o* constant%y crushing thnmy *rom *irst to %ast. Th s1irit is to /in in th !1ths o* th nmy.

Ths ar a%% Kn No Sn.

Th Scon! - Tai No Sn

)hn th nmy attac(s rmain un!isturb! but *ign /a(nss. As th nmyrachs you su!!n%y mo a/ay in!icating that you intn! to :um1 asi!thn !ash in attac(ing strong%y as soon as you s th nmy r%a0. This ison /ay.

Or as th nmy attac(s attac( sti%% mor strong%y ta(ing a!antag o*th rsu%ting !isor!r in his timing to /in.

This is th Tai No Sn 1rinci1%.

Th Thir! - Tai Tai No Sn

)hn th nmy ma(s a ?uic( attac( you must attac( strong%y an! ca%m%yaim *or his /a( 1oint as h !ra/s nar an! strong%y !*at him.


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Or i* th nmy attac(s ca%m%y you must obsr his momnts an! /ithyour bo!y rathr *%oating :oin in /ith his momnts as h !ra/s nar.Mo ?uic(%y an! cut him strong%y.

This is Tai Tai No Sn.

Ths things cannot b c%ar%y 01%ain! in /or!s. ou must rsarch /hatis /rittn hr. In ths thr /ays o* *orsta%%ing you must :u!g th

situation. This !os not man that you a%/ays attac( *irstD but i* thnmy attac(s *irst you can %a! him aroun!. In stratgy you ha**cti%y /on /hn you *orsta%% th nmy so you must train /%% toattain this.

To 7o%! +o/n a ;i%%o/

>To 7o%! +o/n a ;i%%o/> mans not a%%o/ing th nmy#s ha! to ris.

In contsts o* stratgy it is ba! to b %! about by th nmy. ou musta%/ays b ab% to %a! th nmy about. Obious%y th nmy /i%% a%so bthin(ing o* !oing this but h cannot *orsta%% you i* you !o not a%%o/ himto com out. In stratgy you must sto1 th nmy as h attm1ts to cutD

you must 1ush !o/n his thrust an! thro/ o** his ho%! /hn h tris togra11%. This is th manin! o* >to ho%! !o/n a 1i%%o/>. )hn you hagras1! this 1rinci1% /hatr th nmy tris to bring about in th*ight you /i%% s in a!anc an! su11rss it. Th s1irit is too chc( hisattac( at th sy%%ab% >at...> /hn h :um1s chc( his :um1 at thsy%%ab% >:u...> an! chc( his cut at >cu...>.

Th im1ortant thing in stratgy is to su11rss th nmy#s us*u% actionsbut a%%o/ his us%ss actions. 7o/r !oing this a%on is !*nsi.First you must act accor!ing to th )ay su11rssing th nmy#stchni?us *oi%ing his 1%ans an! thnc comman! him !irct%y. )hn you can!o this you /i%% b a mastr o* stratgy. ou must train /%% an! rsarch>ho%!ing !o/n a 1i%%o/>.

&rossing at a For!

>&rossing at a *or!> mans *or 0am1% crossing th sa at a strait orcrossing or a hun!r! mi%s o* broa! sa at a crossing 1%ac. I b%ithis >crossing at a *or!> occurs o*tn in man#s %i*tim. It mans sttingsai% n though your *rin!s stay in harbour (no/ing th rout (no/ingth soun!nss o* your shi1 an! th *aour o* th !ay. )hn a%% thcon!itiongs ar mt an! thr is 1rha1s a *aourab% /in! or atai%/in! thn st sai%. I* th /in! changs /ithin a */ mi%s o* your!stination you must ro/ across th rmaining !istanc /ithout sai%.

I* you attain this s1irit it a11%is to ry!ay %i*. ou must a%/ays

thin( o* crossing at a *or!.

In stratgy a%so it is im1ortant to >cross at a *or!>. +iscrn th nmy#sca1abi%ity an! (no/ing your o/n strong 1oints >cross th *or!> at tha!antagous 1%ac as a goo! ca1tain crosss a sa rout. I* you succ!in crossing at th bst 1%ac you may ta( your as. To cross at a *or!mans to attac( th nmy#s /a( 1oint an! to 1ut yours%* in ana!antagous 1osition. This is ho/ to /in %arg-sca% stratgy. Th s1irito* crossing at a *or! is ncssary in both %arg- an! sma%%-sca% stratgy.

ou must rsarch this /%%.


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To Kno/ th Tims

>To (no/ th tims> mans to (no/ th nmy#s !is1osition in batt%. Is it*%ourishing or /aning By obsring th s1irit o* th nmy#s mn an!gtting th bst 1osition you can /or( out th nmy#s !is1osition an!mo your mn accor!ing%y. ou can /in through this 1rinci1% o* stratgy*ighting *rom a 1osition o* a!antag.

)hn in a !u% you must *orsta%% th nmy an! attac( /hn you ha *irstrcognis! his schoo% o* stratgy 1rci! his ?ua%ity an! his strong an!/a( 1oints. Attac( in an unsus1cting mannr (no/ing his mtr an!mo!u%ation an! th a11ro1riat timing.

Kno/ing th tims mans i* your abi%ity is high sing right into things.I* you ar thoroug%y conrsant /ith stratgy you /i%% rcognis thnmy#s intntions an! thus ha many o11ortunitis to /in. ou mustsu**icint%y stu!y this.

To Tra! +o/n th S/or!

>To tra! !o/n th s/or!> is a 1rinci1% o*tn us! in stratgy. First in%arg sca% stratgy /hn th nmy *irst !ischargs bo/s an! guns an!thn attac(s it is !i**icu%t *or us to attac( i* / ar busy %oa!ing 1o/!rinto our guns or notching our arro/s. Th s1irit is to attac( ?uic(%y /hi%th nmy is sti%% shooting /ith bo/s or guns. Th s1irit is to /in by>tra!ing !o/n> as / rci th nmy#s attac(.

In sing% combat / cannot gt a !cisi ictory by cutting /ith a>t-!um t-!um> *%ing in th /a( o* th nmy#s attac(ing %ong s/or!.) must !*at him at th start o* his attac( in th s1irit o* tra!inghim !o/n /ith th *t so that h cannot ris again to th attac(.

>Tra!ing> !os not sim1%y man tra!ing /ith th *t. Tra! /ith th

bo!y tra! /ith th s1irit an! o* cours tra! an! cut /ith th %ongs/or!. ou must achi th s1irit o* not a%%o/ing th nmy to attac( ascon! tim. This is th s1irit o* *orsta%%ing in ry sns. Onc at thnmy you shou%! not as1ir :ust to stri( him but to c%ing a*tr thattac(. ou must stu!y this !1%y.

To Kno/ >&o%%a1s>

Erything can co%%a1s. 7ouss bo!is an! nmis co%%a1s /hn thirrhythm bcoms !rang!.

In %arg-sca% stratgy /hn th nmy starts to co%%a1s you must 1ursuhim /ithout %tting th chanc go. I* you *ai% to ta( a!antag o* your

nmis# co%%a1s thy may rcor.

In sing% combat th nmy somtims %oss timing an! co%%a1ss. I* you%t this o11ortunity 1ass h may rcor an! not b so ng%igntthra*tr. Fi0 your y on th nmy#s co%%a1s an! chas him attac(ingso that you !o not %t him rcor. ou must !o this. Th chasing attac( is/ith a strong s1irit. ou must uttr%y cut th nmy !o/n so that h !osnot rcor his 1osition. ou must un!rstan! ho/ to uttr%y cut !o/n thnmy.

To Bcom th Enmy


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>To bcom th nmy> mans to thin( yours%* in th nmy#s 1osition. Inth /or%! 1o1% tn! to thin( o* a robbr trabb! in a hous as a*orti*i! nmy. 7o/r i* / thin( o* >bcoming th nmy> / *% thatth /ho% /or%! is against us an! that thr is no sca1. 7 /ho is shutinsi! is a 1hasant. 7 /ho ntrs to arrst is a ha/(. ou musta11rciat this.

In %arg-sca% stratgy 1o1% ar a%/ays un!r th im1rssion that thnmy is strong an! so tn! to bcom cautious. But i* you ha goo!so%!irs an! i* you un!rstan! th 1rinci1%s o* stratgy an! i* you (no/ho/ to bat th nmy thr is nothing to /orry about.

In sing% combat a%so you must 1ut yours%* in th nmy#s 1osition. I* youthin( >7r is a a mastr o* th )ay /ho (no/s th 1rinci1%s o*stratgy> thn you /i%% sur%y %os. ou must consi!r this !1%y.

To R%as Four 7an!s

>To r%as *our han!s> is us! /hn you an! th nmy ar contn!ing /ithth sam s1irit an! th issu cannot b !ci!!. Aban!on this s1irit an!

/in through an a%trnati rsourc.

In %arg-sca% stratgy /hn thr is a >*our han!s> s1irit !o not giu1 - it is man#s 0istnc. Imm!iat%y thro/ a/ay this s1irit an! /in /itha tchni?u th nmy !os not 01ct.

In sing% combat a%so /hn / thin( / ha *a%%n into th >*our han!s>situation / must !*at th nmy by changin our min! an! a11%ying asuitab% tchni?u accor!ing to his con!ition. ou must b ab% to :u!gthis.

To Mo th Sha!

>To mo th sha!> is us! /hn you cannot s th nmy#s s1irit.

In %arg-sca% stratgy /hn you cannot s th nmy#s 1osition in!icatthat you ar about to attac( strong%y to !iscor his rsourcs. It isasy thn to !*at him /ith a !i**rnt mtho! onc you s his rsourcs.

In sing% combat i* th nmy ta(s u1 a rar or si! attitu! o* th %ongs/or! so that you cannot s his intntion ma( a *int attac( an! thnmy /i%% sho/ his %ong s/or! thin(ing h ss your s1irit. Bn*iting*rom /hat you ar sho/n you can /in /ith crtainty. I* you ar ng%ignyou /i%% miss th timing. Rsarch this /%%.

To 7o%! +o/n a Sha!o/

>7o%!ing !o/n a sha!o/> is us /hn you can s th nmy#s attac(ings1irit.

In %arg-sca% stratgy /hn th nmy mbar(s on an attac( i* you ma( asho/ o* strong%y su11rssing his tchni?u h /i%% chang his min!. Thna%tring your s1irit !*at him by *orsta%%ing him /ith a Voi! s1irit.

Or in sing% combat ho%! !o/n th nmy#s strong intntion /ith asuitab% timing an! !*at him by *orsta%%ing him /ith this timing. oumust stu!y this /%%.


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To ;ass On

Many things ar sai! to b 1ass! on. S%1inss can b 1ass! on an!ya/ning can b 1ass! on. Tim can b 1ass! on a%so.

In %arg-sca% stratgy /hn th nmy is agitat! an! sho/s aninc%ination to rush !o not min! in th %ast. Ma( a sho/ o* com1%t

ca%mnss an! th nmy /i%% b ta(n by this an! /i%% bcom r%a0!. )hnyou s that this s1irit has bn 1ass! on you can bring about thnmy#s !*at by attac(ing strong%y /ith a Voi! s1irit.

In sing% combat you can /in by r%a0ing your bo!y an! s1irit an! thncatching on to th momnt th nmy r%a0s attac( strong%y an! ?uic(%y*orsta%%ing him.

)hat is (no/ as >gtting somon !run(> is simi%ar to this. ou can a%soin*ct th nmy /ith a bor! car%ss or /a( s1irit. ou must stu!ythis /%%.

To &aus Coss o* Ba%anc

Many things can caus a %oss o* ba%anc. On caus is !angr anothr ishar!shi1 an! anothr is sur1ris. ou must rsarch this.

In %arg-sca% stratgy it is im1ortant to caus %oss o* ba%anc. Attac(/ithout /arning /hr th nmy is not 01cting it an! /hi% his s1iritis un!ci!! *o%%o/ u1 your a!antag an! haing th %a! !*at him.

Or in sing% combat start by ma(ing a sho/ o* bing s%o/ thn su!!n%yattac( strong%y. )ithout a%%o/ing him s1ac *or brath to rcor *orm th*%uctuation o* s1irit you must gras1 th o11ortunity to /in. Gt th *%o* this.

To Frightn

Fright o*tn occurs caus! by th un01ct!.

In %arg-sca% stratgy you can *rightn th nmy not :ust by /hat you1rsnt to thir ys but by shouting ma(ing a sma%% *orc sm %arg orby thratning thm *rom th *%an( /ithout /arning. Ths things a%%*rightn. ou can /in by ma(ing bst us o* th nmy#s *rightn! rhythm.

In sing% combat a%so you must us th a!antag o* ta(ing th nmyuna/ars by *rightning him /ith your bo!y %ong s/or! or oic to !*athim. ou shou%! rsarch this /%%.

To Soa( In

)hn you ha com to gri1s an! ar striing togthr /ith th nmy an!you ra%is that you cannot a!anc you >soa( in> an! bcom on /ith thnmy. ou can /in by a11%ying a suitab% tchni?u /hi% you ar mutua%%yntang%!.

In batt%s ino%ing %arg numbrs as /%% as in *ights /ith sma%% numbrsyou can o*tn /in !cisi%y /ith th a!antag o* (no/ing ho/ to >soa(>into th nmy /hras /r you to !ra/ a1art you /ou%! %os th chancto /in. Rsarch this /%%.


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To In:ur th &ornrs

It is !i**icu%t to mo strong things by 1ushing !irct%y so you shou%!>in:ur th cornrs>.

In %arg-sca% stratgy it is bn*icia% to stri( at th cornrs o* thnmy#s *orc. I* th cornrs ar orthro/n th s1irit o* th /ho% bo!y

/i%% b orthro/n. To !*at th nmy you must *o%%o/ u1 th attac( /hnth cornrs ha *a%%n.

In sing% combat it is asy to /in onc th nmy co%%a1ss. This ha11ns/hn you in:ur th >cornrs> o* his bo!y an! thus /a(n him. It isim1ortant to (no/ ho/ to !o this so you must rsarch !1%y.

To Thro/ into &on*usion

This mans ma(ing th nmy %os rso%.

In %arg-sca% stratgy / can us our troo1s to con*us th nmy on th*i%!. Obsring th nmy#s s1irit / can ma( him thin( >7r Thr

Ci( that Ci( this S%o/ Fast>. Victory is crtain /hn th nmy iscaught u1 in a rhythm /hich con*uss his s1irit.

In sing% combat / can con*us th nmy by attac(ing /ith ari!tchni?us /hn th chanc ariss. Fint a thrust or cut or ma( th nmythin( ou ar going to c%os /ith him an! /hn h is con*us! you canasi%y /in.

This is th ssnc o* *ighting an! you must rsarch it !1%y.

Th Thr Shouts

T7 thr shouts ar !ii!! thus@ b*or !uring an! a*tr. Shout

accor!ing to th situation. Th oic is a thing o* %i*. ) shout against*irs an! so on against th /in! an! th /as. Th oic sho/s nrgy.

In %arg-sca% stratgy at th start o* batt% / shout as %ou!%y as1ossib%. +uring th *ight th oic is %o/-1itch! shouting out as /attac(. A*tr th contst / shout in th /a( o* our ictory. Ths arth thr shouts.

In sing% combat / ma( as i* to cut an! shout >EiJ> at th sam tim to!isturb th nmy thn in th /a( o* our shout / cut /ith th %ongs/or!. ) shout a*tr / ha cut !o/n th nmy - this is to announcictory. This is ca%%! >sn go no (o> 2b*or an! a*tr oic6. ) !o notshout simu%tanous%y /ith *%ourishing th %ong s/or!. ) shout !uring th

*ight to gt into rhythm. Rsarch this !1%y.

To Ming%

In batt%s /hn th armis ar in con*rontation attac( th nmy#s strong1oints an! /hn you s that thy ar batn bac( ?uic(%y s1arat an!attac( yt anothr strong 1oint on th 1ri1hry o* his *orc. Th s1irito* this is %i( a /in!ing mountain 1ath.

This is an im1ortant *ighting mtho! *or on man against many. Stri( !o/nth nmis in on ?uartr or !ri thm bac( thn gras1 th timing an!


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attac( *urthr strong 1oints to right an! %*t as i* on a /in!ing mountain1ath /ighing u1 th nmis# !is1osition. )hn you (no/ th nmis#%% attac( strong%y /ith no trac o* rtrating s1irit.

)hat is mant by >ming%ing> is th s1irit o* a!ancing an! bcoming ngag!/ith th nmy an! not /ith!ra/ing n on st1. ou must un!rstan!this.

To &rush

This mans to crush th nmy rgar!ing him as bing /a(.

In %arg-sca% stratgy /hn / s that th nmy has */ mn or i* hhas many mn but his s1irit is /a( an! !isor!r! / (noc( th hat orhis ys crushing him uttr%y. I* / crush %ight%y h may rcor. oumust %arn th s1irit o* crushing as i* /ith a han!-gri1.

In sing% combat i* th nmy is %ss s(i%*u% than ours%* i* his rhythmis !isorganis! or i* h has *a%%n into asi or rtrating attitu!s/ must crush him straighta/ay /ith no concrn *or his 1rsnc an!/ithout a%%o/ing him s1ac *or brath. It is ssntia% to crush him a%% at

onc. Th 1rimary thing is not to %t him rcor his 1osition n a%itt%. ou must rsarch this !1%y.

Th Mountain-Sa &hang

Th >mountain-sa> s1irit mans that it is ba! to r1at th sam thingsra% tims /hn *ighting th nmy. Thr may b no h%1 but to !osomthing t/ic but !o not try it a thir! tim. I* you onc ma( an attac(an! *ai% thr is %itt% chanc o* succss i* you us th sam a11roachagain. I* you attm1t a tchni?u /hich you ha 1rious%y tri!unsuccss*u%%y an! *ai% yt again thn you must chang your attac(ingmtho!.

I* th nmy thin(s o* th mountains attac( %i( th saD an! i* h thin(so* th sa attac( %i( th mountains. ou must rsarch this !1%y.

To ;ntrat th +1ths

)hn / ar *ighting /ith th nmy n /hn it can b sn that / can/in on th sur*ac /ith th bn*it o* th )ay i* his s1irit is not0tinguish! h may b batn su1r*icia%%y yt un!*at! in s1irit !1insi!. )ith this 1rinci1% o* >1ntrating th !1ths> / can !stroy thnmy#s s1irit in its !1ths !mora%ising him by ?uic(%y changing ours1irit. This o*tn occurs.

;ntrating th !1ths mans 1ntrating /ith th %ong s/or! 1ntrating

/ith th bo!y an! 1ntrating /ith th s1irit. This cannot b un!rstoo!in a gnra%isation.

Onc / ha crush! th nmy in th !1ths thr is no n! to rmains1irit!. But othr/is / must rmai s1irit!. I* th nmy rmainss1irit! it is !i**icu%t to crush him. ou must train in 1ntrating th!1ths *or %arg-sca% stratgy an! a%so sing% combat.

To Rn/

>To rn/> a11%is /hn / ar *ighting /ith th nmy an! an ntang%!


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s1irit ariss /hr thr is no 1ossib% rso%ution. ) must aban!on our**orts thin( o* th situation in a *rsh s1irit thn /in in th n/rhythm. To rn/ /hn / ar !a!%oc(! /ith th nmy mans that /ithoutchanging our circumstanc / chang our s1irit an! /in through a !i**rnttchni?u.

It is ncssary to consi!r ho/ >to rn/> a%so a11%is in %arg-sca%stratgy. Rsarch this !i%ignt%y.

Rat#s 7a! O0#s Nc(

>Rat#s ha! an! o0#s nc(> mans that /hn / ar *ighting /ith th nmyan! both h an! / ha bcom occu1i! /ith sma%% 1oints in an ntang%!s1irit / must a%/ays thin( o* th )ay o* stratgy as bing both a rat#sha! an! an o0#s nc(. )hnr / ha bcom 1roccu1i! /ith sma%%!tai% / must su!!n%y chang into a %arg s1irit intrchanging %arg/ith sma%%.

This is on o* th ssncs o* stratgy. It is ncssary that th /arriorthin( in this s1irit in ry!ay %i*. ou must not !1art *rom this s1iritin %arg-sca% stratgy nor in sing% combat.

Th &omman!r Kno/s th Troo1s

>Th comman!r (no/s th troo1s> a11%is ry/hr in *ights in my )ay o*stratgy.

,sing th /is!om o* stratgy thin( o* th nmy as your o/n troo1s. )hnyou thin( in this /ay you can mo him at /i%% an! b ab% to chas himaroun!. ou bcom th gnra% an! th nmy bcoms your troo1s. ou mustmastr this.

To Ct Go th 7i%t

Thr ar arious (in!s o* s1irit ino%! in %tting go th hi%t.

Thr is th s1irit o* /inning /ithout a s/or!. Thr is a%so th s1irit o*ho%!ing th %ong s/or! but not /inning. Th arious mtho!s cannot b01rss! in /riting. ou must train /%%.

Th Bo!y o* a Roc(

)hn you ha mastr! th )ay o* stratgy you can su!!n%y ma( your bo!y%i( a roc( an! tn thousan! things cannot touch you. This is th bo!y o*a roc(.

ou /i%% not b mo!. Ora% tra!ition.

)hat is rcor!! abo is /hat has bn constant%y on my min! about Ichischoo% s/or! *ncing /rittn !o/n as it cam to m. This is th *irst timI ha /rittn about my tchni?u an! th or!r o* things is a bitcon*us!. It is !i**icu%t to 01rss it c%ar%y.

This boo( is a s1iritua% gui! *or th man /ho /ishs to %arn th )ay.

My hart has bn inc%in! to th )ay o* stratgy *rom my youth on/ar!s. Iha !ot! mys%* to training my han! tm1ring my bo!y an! attainingth many s1iritua% attitu!s o* s/or! *ncing. I* / /atch mn o* othr


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schoo%s !iscussing thory an! concntrating on tchni?us /ith th han!sn though thy sm s(i%*u% to /atch thy ha not th s%ightst trus1irit.

O* cours mn /ho stu!y in this /ay thin( thy ar training th bo!y an!s1irit but it is an obstac% to th tru )ay an! its ba! in*%uncrmains *or r. Thus th tru )ay o* stratgy is bcoming !ca!nt an!!ying out.

Th tru )ay o* s/or! *ncing is th cra*t o* !*ating th nmy in a*ight an! nothing othr than this. I* you attain an! a!hr to th /is!omo* my stratgy you n! nr !oubt that you /i%% /in.---------------------------------------------------------------------------

T7E )IN+ BOOK

In stratgy you must (no/ th )ays o* othr schoo%s so I ha /rittnabout arious othr tra!itions o* stratgys in this th )in! Boo(.

)ithout (no/%!g o* th )ays o* othr schoo%s it is !i**icu%t toun!rstan! th ssnc o* my Ichi schoo%. Coo(ing at othr schoo%s / *in!

som that s1cia%is in tchni?us o* strngth using 0tra-%ong s/or!s.Som schoo%s stu!y th )ay o* th short s/or! (no/n as (o!achi. Somschoo%s tach !0trity in %arg numbrs o* s/or! tchni?us tachingattitu!s o* th s/or! as th >sur*ac> an! th )ay as th >intrior>.

That non o* ths ar th tru )ay I sho/ c%ar%y in th intrior o* thisboo( - a%% th ics an! irtus an! rights an! /rongs. My Ichi schoo% is!i**rnt. Othr schoo%s ma( accom1%ishmnts thir mans o* %i%ihoo!gro/ing *%o/rs an! !corati%y co%ouring artic%s in or!r to s%% thm.This is !*inat%y not th )ay o* stratgy.

Som o* th /or%!#s stratgists ar concrn! on%y /ith s/or!-*ncing an!%imit thir training to *%ourishing th %ong s/or! an! carriag o* th

bo!y. But is !0trity a%on su**icint to /in This is not th ssnc o*th )ay.

I ha rcor!! th unsatis*actory 1oint o* othr schoo%s on by on inthis boo(. ou must stu!y ths mattrs !1%y to a11rciat th bn*it o*my Ni To Ichi schoo%.

Othr Schoo%s ,sing E0tra-Cong S/or!s

Som othr schoo%s ha a %i(ing *or 0tra-%ong s/or!s. From th 1oint o*i/ o* my stratgy ths must bn sn as /a( schoo%s. This is bcausthy !o not a11rciat th 1rinci1% o* cutting th nmy by any mans.Thir 1r*rnc is *or th 0tra-%ong s/or! an! r%ying on th irtu o*

its %ngth thy thin( to !*at th nmy *rom a !istanc.

In this /or%! it is sai! >On inch gis th han! a!antag> but thsar th i!% /or!s o* on /ho !os not (no/ stratgy. It sho/s th in*riorstratgy o* a /a( s1irit that mn shou%! b !1n!nt on th %ngth o*thir s/or! *ighting *rom a !istanc /ithout th bn*it o* stratgy.

I 01ct thr is a cas *or th schoo% in ?ustion %i(ing 0tra-%ongs/or!s as 1art o* its !octrin but i* / com1ar this to ra% %i* it isunrasonab%. Sur%y / n! not ncssari%y b !*at! i* / ar using ashort s/or! an! ha no %ong s/or!


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It is !i**icu%t *or ths 1o1% to cut th nmy /hn at c%os ?uartrsbcaus o* th %ngth o* th %ong s/or!. Th b%a! 1ath is %arg so th%ong s/or! is an ncumbranc an! thy ar at a !isa!antag com1ar! tothman arm! /ith a short com1anion s/or!.

From o%!n tims it has bn sai!@ >Grat an! sma%% go togthr.>. So !onot uncon!itiona%%y !is%i( 0tra-%ong s/or!s. )hat I !is%i( is th

inc%ination to/ar!s th %ong s/or!. I* / consi!r %arg-sca% stratgy /can thin( o* %arg *orcs in trms o* %ong s/or!s an! sma%% *orcs asshort s/or!s. &annot */ m gi batt% against many Thr ar manyinstancs o* */ mn orcoming many.

our stratgy is o* no account i* /hn ca%%! on to *ight in a con*in!s1ac your hart is inc%in! to th %ong s/or! or i* you ar in a housarm! on%y /ith your com1anion s/or!. Bsi!s som mn ha not thstrngth o* othrs.

In my !octrin I !is%i( 1rconci! narro/ s1irit. ou must stu!y this/%%.

Th Strong Cong S/or! S1irit in Othr Schoo%s

ou shou%! not s1a( o* strong an! /a( %ong s/or!s. I* you :ust /i%! th%ong s/or! in a strong s1irit your cutting /i%% b coars an! i* you usth s/or! coars%y you /i%% ha !i**icu%ty in /inning.

I* you ar concrn! /ith th strngth o* your s/or! you /i%% try to cutunrasonab%y strong%y an! /i%% not b ab% to cut at a%%. It is a%so ba!to try to cut strong%y /hn tsting th s/or!. )hnr you cross s/or!s/ith an nmy you must not thin( o* cutting him ithr strong%y or /a(%yD:ust thin( o* cutting an! (i%%ing him. B intnt so%%y u1on (i%%ing thnmy. +o not try to cut strong%y an! o* cours !o not thin( o* cutting/a(%y. ou shou%! on%y b concrn! /ith (i%%ing th nmy.

I* you r%y on strngth /hn you hit th nmy#s s/or! you /i%% initab%yhit too har!. I* you !o this your o/n s/or! /i%% b carri! a%ong as arsu%t. Thus th saying >Th strongst han! /ins> has no maning.

In %arg-sca% stratgy i* you ha a strong army an! ar r%ying onstrngth to /in but th nmy a%so has a strong army th batt% /i%% b*irc. This is th sam *or both si!s.

)ithout th corrct 1rinci1% th *ight cannot b /on.

Th s1irit o* my schoo% is to /in through th /is!om o* stratgy 1aying noattntion to tri*%s. Stu!y this /%%.

,s o* th Shortr Cong S/or! in Othr Schoo%s

,sing a shortr %ong s/or! is not th tru )ay to /in.

In ancint tims tachi an! (atana mant %ong an! short s/or!s. Mn o*su1rior strngth in th /or%! can /i%! n a %ong s/or! %ight%y sothr is no cas *or thir %i(ing th short s/or!. Thy a%so ma( us o*th %ngth o* s1ars an! ha%br!s. Som mn us a shortr %ong s/or! /ithth intntion o* :um1ing in an! stabbing th nmy at th unguar!! momnt/hn h *%ourishs his s/or!. This inc%ination is ba!.


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To aim *or th nmy#s unguar!! momnt is com1%t%y !*nsi an!un!sirab% at c%os ?uartrs /ith th nmy. Furthrmor you cannot usth mtho! o* :um1ing insi! his !*nc /ith a short s/or! i* thr armany nmis. Som mn thin( that i* thy go against many nmis /ith ashortr %ong s/or! thy can unrstrict!%y *ris( aroun! cutting in s/1sbut thy ha to 1arry cuts continuous%y an! ntua%%y bcom ntang%!/ith th nmy. This is inconsistant /ith th tru )ay o* stratgy.

Th sur )ay to /in thus is to chas th nmy aroun! in con*using mannrcausing him to :um1 asi! /ith your bo!y h%! strong%y an! straight. Thsam 1rinci1% a11%is to %arg-sca% stratgy. Th ssnc o* stratgy isto *a%% u1on th nmy in %arg numbrs an! bring about his s1!y!o/n*a%%. By thir stu!y o* stratgy 1o1% o* th /or%! gt us! tocountring a!ing an! rtrating as th norma% thing. Thy bcom st inthis habit so can asi%y b 1ara!! aroun! by th nmy. Th )ay o*stratgy is straight an! tru. ou must chas th nmy aroun! an! ma( himoby your s1irit.

Othr Schoo%s /ith many Mtho!s o* using th Cong S/or!

;%acing a grat !a% o* im1ortanc on th attitu!s o* th %ong s/or! is amista(n /ay o* thin(ing. )hat is (no/n in th /or%! as >attitu!> a11%is/hn thr is no nmy. Th rason is that this has bn a 1rc!nt sincancint tims an! thr shou%! b no such thing as >This is th mo!rn /ayto !o it> in !u%%ing. ou must *orc th nmy into inconnintsituations.

Attitu!s ar *or situations in /hich you ar not to b mo!. That is *orgarrisoning cast%s batt% array an! so on sho/ing th s1irit o* notbing mo! n by a strong assau%t. In th )ay o* !u%%ing ho/r youmust a%/ays b intnt u1on ta(ing th %a! an! attac(ing. Attitu! is ths1irit o* a/aiting an attac(. ou must a11rciat this.

In !u%s o* stratgy you must mo th o11onnt#s attitu!. Attac( /hrhis s1irit is %a0 thro/ him into con*usion irritat an! trri*y him. Ta(a!antag o* th nmy#s rhythm /hn h is unstt%! an! you can /in.

I !is%i( th !*nsi s1irit (no/ as >attitu!>. Thr*or in my )aythr is somthing ca%%! >Attitu!-No Attitu!>.

In %arg-sca% stratgy / !1%oy our troo1s *or batt% baring in min! ourstrngth obsring th nmy#s numbrs an! noting th !tai%s o* thbatt% *i%!. This is at th start o* th batt%.

Th s1irit o* attac(ing *irst is com1%t%y !i**rnt *rom th s1irit o*bing attac(!. Baring an attac( /%% /ith a strong attitu! an!

1arrying th nmy#s attac( /%% is %i( ma(ing a /a%% o* s1ars an!ha%br!s. )hn you attac( th nmy your s1irit must go to th 0tnt o*1u%%ing th sta(s out o* a /a%% an! using thm as s1ars an! ha%br!s. oumust 0amin this /%%.

Fi0ing th Eys in Othr Schoo%s

Som schoo%s maintain that th ys shou%s b *i0! on th nmy#s %ongs/or!. Som schoo%s *i0 th ys on th han!s. Som *i0 th ys on th*ac an! som *i0 th ys on th *t an! so on. I* you *i0 th ys onths 1%acs your s1irit can bcom con*us! an! your stratgy th/art!.


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I /i%% 01%ain this in !tai%. Footba%%rs !o not *i0 thir ys on thba%% but by goo! 1%ay on th *i%! thy can 1r*orm /%%. )hn you bcomaccustom! to somthing you ar not %imit! to th us o* your ys.;o1% such as mastr musicians ha th music scor in *ront o* thirnos or *%ourish s/or!s in sra% /ays /hn thy ha mastr! th )aybut this !os not man that thy *i0 thir ys on ths thingss1ci*ica%%y or that thy ma( 1oint%ss momnts o* th s/or!. It mans

that thy can s natura%%y.

In th )ay o* stratgy /hn you ha *ought many tims you /i%% asi%y bab% to a11rais th s1! an! 1osition o* th nmy#s s/or! an! haingmastry o* th )ay you /i%% s th /ight o* his s1irit. In stratgy*i0ing th ys mans gaing at th man#s hart.

In %arg-sca% stratgy th ara to /atch is th nmy#s strngth.>;rc1tion> an! >sight> ar th t/o mtho!s o* sing. ;rc1tion consistso* concntrating strong%y on th nmy#s s1irit obsring th con!ition o*th batt%*i%! *i0ing th ga strong%y sing th 1rogrss o* th *ightan! th changs o* a!antags. This is th sur /ay to /in.

In sing% combat you must not *i0 th ys on th !tai%s. As I sai!b*or i* you *i0 your ys on !tai%s an! ng%ct im1ortant things yours1irit /i%% bcom b/i%!r! an! ictory /i%% sca1 you. Rsarch this1rinci1% /%% an! train !i%ignt%y.

,s o* th Ft in Othr Schoo%s

Thr ar arious mtho!s o* using th *t@ *%oating *oot :um1ing *oots1ringing *oot tra!ing *oot cro/#s *oot an! such nimb% /a%(ingmtho!s. From th 1oint o* i/ o* my stratgy ths ar a%%unsatis*actory.

I !is%i( *%oating *oot bcaus th *t a%/ays tn! to *%oat !uring th

*ight. Th )ay must b tro! *irm%y.

Nithr !o I %i( :um1ing *oot bcaus it ncourags th habit o* :um1ingan! a :um1y s1irit. 7o/r much you :um1 thr is no ra% :usti*ication*or itD so :um1ing is ba!.

S1ringing *oot causs a s1ringing s1irit /hich is in!cisi.

Tra!ing *oot is a >/aiting> mtho! an! I s1cia%%y !is%i( it.

A1art *rom ths thr ar arious *ast /a%(ing mtho!s such as cro/#s*oot an! so on.

Somtims ho/r you may ncountr th nmy on marsh%an! s/am1ygroun! rir a%%ys stony groun! or narro/ roa!s in /hich situationsyou cannot :um1 or mo th *t ?uic(%y.

In my stratgy th *oot/or( !os not chang. I a%/ays /a%( as I usua%%y !oin th strt. ou must nr %os contro% o* your *t. Accor!ing to thnmy#s rhythm mo *ast or s%o/%y a!:usting you bo!y not too much an!not too %itt%.

&arrying th *t is im1ortant a%so in %arg-sca% stratgy. This isbcaus i* you attac( ?uic(%y an! thought%ss%y /ithout (no/ing th


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nmy#s s1irit your rhythm /i%% bcom !rang! an! you /i%% not b ab%to /in. Or i* you a!anc too s%o/%y you /i%% not b ab% to ta(a!antag o* th nmy#s !isor!r th o11ortunity to /in /i%% sca1 an!you /i%% not b ab% to *inish th *ight ?uic(%y. ou must /in by siingu1on th nmy#s !isor!r an! !rangmnt an! by not accor!ing him n a%itt% ho1 o* rcory. ;ractis this /%%.

S1! in Othr Schoo%s

S1! is not 1art o* th tru )ay o* stratgy. S1! im1%is that thingssm *ast or s%o/ accor!ing to /hthr or not thy ar in rhythm. )hatrth )ay th mastr o* stratgy !os not a11ar *ast.

Som 1o1% can /a%( as *ast as a hun!r! or a hun!r! an! t/nty mi%s ina !ay but this !os not man that thy run continuous%y *rom morning ti%%night. ,n1ractis! runnrs may sm to ha bn running a%% !ay but thir1r*ormanc is 1oor.

In th )ay o* !anc accom1%ish! 1r*ormrs can sing /hi% !ancing but/hn bginnrs try this thy s%o/ !o/n an! thir s1irit bcoms busy. Th>o%! 1in tr> m%o!y batn on a %athr !rum is tran?ui% but /hn

bginnrs try this thy s%o/ !o/n an! thir s1irit bcoms busy. Vrys(i%*u% 1o1% can manag a *ast rhythm but it is ba! to bat hurri!%y.I* you try to bat too ?uic(%y you /i%% gt out o* tim. O* courss%o/nss is ba!. Ra%%y s(i%*u% 1o1% nr gt out o* tim an! ara%/ays !%ibrat an! nr a11ar busy. From this 0am1% th 1rinci1%can b sn.

)hat is (no/n as s1! is s1cia%%y ba! in th )ay o* stratgy. Th rason*or this is that !1n!ing on th 1%ac marsh or s/am1 an! so on it maynot b 1ossib% to mo th bo!y an! %gs togthr ?uic(%y. Sti%% %ss /i%%you b ab% to cut ?uic(%y i* you ha a %ong s/or! in this situation. I*you try to cut ?uic(%y as i* using a *an or short s/or! you /i%% notactua%%y cut n a %itt%. ou must a11rciat this.

In %arg-sca% stratgy a%so a *ast busy s1irit is un!sirab%. Th s1iritmust b that o* ho%!ing !o/n a 1i%%o/ thn you /i%% not b n a %itt%%at.

)hn your o11onnt is hurrying rc(%ss%y you must act contrari%y an! (1ca%m. ou must not b in*%unc! by th o11onnt. Train !i%ignt%y toattain this s1irit.

>Intrior> an! >Sur*ac> in Othr Schoo%s

Thr is no >intrior> nor >sur*ac> in stratgy.

Th artistic accom1%ishmnts usua%%y c%aim innr maning an! scrttra!ition an! >intrior> an! >gat> but in combat thr is no such thingas *ighting on th sur*ac or cutting /ith th intrior. )hn I tach my)ay I *irst tach by training in tchni?us /hich ar asy *or th 1u1i%to un!rstan! a !octrin /hich is asy to un!rstan!. I gra!ua%%yn!aour to 01%ain th !1 1rinci1% 1oints /hich it is har!%y 1ossib%to com1rhn! accor!ing to th 1u1i%#s 1rogrss. In any nt bcaus th/ay to un!rstan!ing is through 01rinc I !o not s1a( o* >intrior>an! >gat>.

In this /or%! i* you go into th mountains an! !ci! to go !1r an!


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yt !1r insta! you /i%% mrg at th gat. )hatr th )ay it hasan intrior an! it is somtims a goo! thing to 1oint out th gat. Instratgy / cannot say /hat is conca%! an! /hat is ra%!.

Accor!ing%y I !is%i( 1assing on my )ay through /rittn 1%!gs an!rgu%ations. ;rciing th abi%ity o* my 1u1i%s I tach th !irct )ayrmo th ba! in*%unc o* othr schoo%s an! gra!ua%%y intro!uc thm toth tru )ay o* th /arrior.

Th mtho! o* taching my stratgy is /ith a trust/orthy s1irit. ou musttrain !i%ignt%y.

I ha tri! to rcor! an out%in o* th stratgy o* othr schoo%s in thabo nin sctions. I cou%! no/ continu by giing a s1ci*ic account o*ths schoo%s on by on *rom th >gat> to th >intrior> but I haintntiona%%y not nam! th schoo%s or thir main 1oints. Th rason *orthis is that !i**rnt branchs o* schoo%s gi !i**rnt intr1rtationso* th !octrins. In as much as mn#s o1inions !i**r so thr must b!i**ring i!as on th sam mattr. Thus no on man#s conc1tion is a%i!*or any schoo%.

I ha sho/n th gnra% tn!ncis o* othr schoo%s on nin 1oints. I* /%oo( at thm *rom an honst i/1oint / s that 1o1% a%/ays tn! to%i( %ong s/or!s or short s/or!s an! bcom concrn! /ith strngth inboth %arg an! sma%% mattrs. ou can s /hy I !o not !a% /ith th>gats> o* othr schoo%s.

In my Ichi schoo% o* th %ong s/or! thr is nithr gat nor intrior.Thr is no innr maning in s/or! attitu!s. ou must sim1%y (1 yours1irit tru to ra%is th irtu o* stratgy.---------------------------------------------------------------------------

T7E BOOK OF T7E VOI+

Th Ni To Ichi )ay o* stratgy is rcor!! in this th Boo( o* th Voi!.

)hat is ca%%! th s1irit o* th oi! is /hr thr is nothing. It is notinc%u!! in man#s (no/%!g. O* cours th oi! is nothingnss. By (no/ingthings that 0ist you can (no/ that /hich !os not 0ist. That is thoi!.

;o1% in this /or%! %oo( at things mista(n%y an! thin( that /hat thy !onot un!rstan! must b th oi!. This is not th tru oi!. It isb/i%!rmnt.

In th )ay o* stratgy a%so thos /ho stu!y as /arriors thin( that/hatr thy cannot un!rstan! in thir cra*t is th oi!. This is not th

tru oi!.

To attain th )ay o* stratgy as a /arrior you must stu!y *u%%y othrmartia% arts an! not !iat n a %itt% *rom th )ay o* th /arrior.)ith your s1irit stt%! accumu%at 1ractic !ay by !ay an! hour by hour.;o%ish th t/o*o%! s1irit hart an! min! an! shar1n th t/o*o%! ga1rc1tion an! sight. )hn your s1irit is not in th %ast c%ou!! /hnth c%ou!s o* b/i%!rmnt c%ar a/ay thr is th tru oi!.

,nti% you ra%is th tru )ay /hthr in Bu!!hism or in common sns youmay thin( that things ar corrct an! in or!r. 7o/r i* / %oo( at


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things ob:cti%y *rom th i/1oint o* %a/s o* th /or%! / s arious!octrins !1arting *rom th tru )ay. Kno/ /%% this s1irit an! /ith*orthrightnss as th *oun!ation an! th tru s1irit as th )ay. Enactstratgy broa!%y corrct%y an! o1n%y.

Thn you /i%% com to thin( o* things in a /i! sns an! ta(ing th oi!as th )ay you /i%% s th )ay as oi!.

In th oi! is irtu an! no i%. )is!om has 0istanc 1rinci1% has0istanc th )ay has 0istanc s1irit is nothingnss.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------T/%*th !ay o* th *i*th month scon! yar o* Shoho 2"3456Truro Magono:oS7INMEN M,SAS7I---------------------------------------------------------------------------

a book of five rings by musashi

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