Jack Hand’s Reviews > The Complete Musashi: The Book of Five Rings and Other Works > Status Update

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.

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.