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

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.