Status Updates From The Complete Musashi: The B...

21 point article Dokkodo.

The victor of a fight is determined before it begins so do not delay starting.
Going on about why his way is the best and others rely on far weaker enemy’s.
Talks about how all “fights” are of similar structure and that once you remain calm, understand your enemy, you will win.

Advises that simply doing something makes you better at it.
“Combat posture in everyday life, everyday posture in combat.”
More importance of gaze, look only at the enemy with focus and calm.
Your mind should never be fixed in one perspective.
Mind should be like water.
Keep your spirt centered no matter the situation.
Attack a slow enemy quickly and a quick enemy composed.
Become your enemy.
Body of boulder

More about combat strategy, posture, gaze, mindset.
Always be focused on strategy.

More sword work.
When confronting a group, have left foot forward and everyone in sight. Attack the weakest first.

Remain calm in confrontation. Try to see into opponents mind, try ascertain how capable they are.
The importance of gaze, focus only on their face while taking everything else in. Feign inattentiveness.
Remove tautness from muscles.

The ether scroll. Follow whatever path you choose with sincerity and you will understand the meaning of the ether.

Critiques other schools and claims that the abundance of techniques not associated with the way are simply products for the school to sell, which “deviates” from the way in itself.
Very important to play at your own pace.

“Mountain-sea alternation” says to never use the same move 3 times.

“Recognising collapse” - attack the enemy in moments of weakness or mistake with one minded resolve. It
“Become your enemy” - don’t overestimate your enemy, put yourself in their shoes, understand and exploit their fears or weakness from being in that position.
“Infecting” means to manipulate the enemy through your own actions/reactions.

Talks about using the location. Have the sun if source of light behind or to the right of you. Use your environment to fight.
3 initiatives (Crackdown,Cleanup,Coinciding). Always be aware of what initiative to use which keeps you calm and composed.
Stopping the start - prevent opponents move before he knows what it is.
“Traversing critical points” is about knowing the optimum moment to engage in danger or risk.

Seek victory today over the self of yesterday.

Difference between hitting(probing for prospects) and striking (definitive attacks).
Dealing with a group of enemies, don’t rely on counterattacks or pauses, be aggressive in exposing weaknesses, herd them into a straight line instead of compact groups.

Exterior forms and fighting techniques for swordsman.

Importance of posture. Head not tilted, eyes not to be rolled or blinked, head and nose lined up, chin protruding, neck upright, shoulders back, back straight, become a singular entity.

Importance of understanding the difference between looking at and looking in.

A rigid hand is a dead hand, a fluid hand is the hand of life.

The importance of your mind. Always remain calm. “Wisdom will settle in the seat of a broad mind.”

Discipline increases strength and skill. “Too much of one thing is just as bad as not enough”. “Do not imitate what others are using. Instead, take to hand weapons that are suited to you and feel right.”
Be sure of yourself.
Have discipline.
Be familiar with all vocations.
Always look for truth.
See worth in everything.
Understand what cannot be seen with the eye.

Let your mind be like water, taking the shape of whatever container it’s put in. “The mindset for defeating one man is the same as for beating one man or ten thousand.”

Understand the the aptitudes of the people under you and assign them accordingly. Make sure to keep your “tools” ready, sharpening them at any spare moment. Make sure basic tasks are done with focus.

The way of combat. Talks about how it does not only rely on swordsmanship (physicality) but also the arts (primarily strategy).

About musashis later years. Wrote many texts which were passed down to his student maganojo. Died in a cave and was buried in his armour.

Musashi humiliated the yoshioka clan on 3 separate occasions, then started his own school. He also won a duel on Ganryujima. Not demeaning to artistry like other samurai who thought themselves above it.

A bit more on Musashi’s “adopted” father, who allegedly taught him the double swords swordsmanship technique, although a lot of the information is debated among scholars.

Just started, lots of Japanese names that are confusing. Interesting how his identity was more than likely blown out of proportion, especially in early modern Japan when they were trying to heavily promote nationalism.