Way of the Sword (Karate Bears Book 3)

A Book of Five Rings: The Classic Guide to Strategy

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The second translation in the book is The Book of Family Traditions on the Art of War by Yahyu Munenori is far more flowery and makes more sense if you have an understanding of buddhism otherwise the section on existance and non-existance may or may not be ;- be tricky to grasp. In comparision the first book is plainly superior to the second in the manner in which it is written and executed. It's plain talkng and easy to grasp with none of the flowery language prevalent in the second. Aug 15, Vaishali rated it really liked it Shelves: Called the Go Rin No Sho, this treatise is eye-opening, though at times gruesome.

One of the great joys of experiencing older texts is the sheer regality of the narration, so it's overall enjoyable.

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There are sections which are decidedly male and archaic Quite different from Funakoshi's precept of nonviolence in shotokan karate. I've included here some striking quotes, and some lists of Musashi's principles. To be overfamiliar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. It is bad for commanders and troopers to have likes and dislikes. These are things you must learn thoroughly. All things entail rising and falling timing. You must be able to discern this.

This is the two-fold gaze, perception and sight. Perception is strong and sight weak. In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things.

Fixedness means a dead hand. Pliability is a living hand. You must bear this in mind. Never be late with respect to the way of the warrior. Be useful to the lord. Be respectful to your parents. Get beyond love and grief; exist for the good of man. There are 4 ways in which men pass through life: Gentlemen, who master various strategies 2. Farmers, who produce items from the change of the seasons 3. Artisans, who become proficient in tool use 4.

Merchants, who live by taking profit Godai - 5 elements of universe 1. If you do not look at things on a large scale it will be difficult for you to master strategy. Both in fighting and in everyday life you should be determined though calm. Meet the situation without tenseness yet not recklessly, your spirit settled yet unbiased.

Even when your spirit is calm do not let your body relax, and when your body is relaxed do not let your spirit slacken. Do not let your spirit be influenced by your body, or your body be influenced by your spirit. Whatever your size, do not be misled by the reactions of your own body. With your spirit open and unconstricted, look at things from a high point of view. May 05, Brian rated it it was amazing Shelves: I take online instructions in Wing Chun Kung Fu https: Someone recommended this, The Book of Five Rings, by the author. The book, written in , by the undefeated samurai, I take online instructions in Wing Chun Kung Fu https: The book, written in , by the undefeated samurai, divides into five scrolls: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Emptiness.

I took away a few things from the reading. When you study a martial art, or anything for that matter like writing , you should focus your mind into it so much that your mind in daily life becomes the way you do martial arts, and martial arts the way you go about daily life.

I became more serious in my daily practice after this. I realized that the purpose could save my life, that the art becomes a mode of self-defense, for harming someone who intends to harm you, perhaps even to death. The author advises to focus on the peripheral, to see everything, and not to be distracted by one focus-point. This challenged me, provoking mercy in me, and helping me prepare in my heart for the real thing. If you fight, fight- finish it. The feeling could cost your life. I learned that martial arts schools will add fancy spins and things that look great, but they do this to make the art marketable, and it has no practical use for the real thing.

To us took it with my best friend , we wanted to look like the guys on the movies, even mimicking them, pulling our pants up like them, making our faces like they do at certain times, hopping like they did.

Get the job done quickly. Resist the urge to feel fancy or to inflate the ego. Musashi would say the martial arts come down to killing. That must be the focus — a serious matter. Dec 07, George K. Aug 09, Helena Hubert rated it it was amazing. Ok so "It was amazing" is not exactly the correct reaction but it was entrancing. I read this because I was told Sister Sable is either based or borrows heavily from it. It is clear after reading that the author of Sister Sable has read A Book of Five Rings more than once and probably five stars thinks it's a-amen-mazing.

But a lot of this you have to intuit because Miyamooto Mushashi was no poet and seemed to have more intuition for the sword than lucid understanding of it.

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But well worth readi Ok so "It was amazing" is not exactly the correct reaction but it was entrancing. But well worth reading. A life lesson from Musashi: I've always meant to go back and read another translation of Musashi's book. This one is, as you can tell by the title, geared towards martial artists, and this ties into the whole presentation. Perhaps I should give a little background: Musashi was a Japanese swordsman in the seventeenth century who fought in some ridiculous number of duels and won them all.

He wrote a book of strategy called "The Book of the Five Rings" that is considered by many martial artists to be of a comparable worth wit I've always meant to go back and read another translation of Musashi's book. He wrote a book of strategy called "The Book of the Five Rings" that is considered by many martial artists to be of a comparable worth with "The Art of War. I've heard from multiple sources that the chance of surviving a single samurai duel was roughly 1 out of three.

This is because a high number of duels resulted in both samurai killing each other. So, surviving a bunjillion duels and then dying from a disease in his 60's is quite a feat. What I liked about this was the practicality of the fighting philosophy. However, much of this knowledge is now intuitive to those who know anything about military tactics or martial arts: But, it gives one piece of advice that has helped me win or sometimes just survive in lots of sparring matches: It might sound counter-intuitive to someone who hasn't tried applying the philosophy; what if someone with a greater level of expertise is coming at you fast?

But, this is actually the situation where this technique has served me the best. For a while, we sparred every friday night at a youth center in a little dojo ran by a second degree blackbelt, and most of the time he would join in the sparring rotation. He was a battering ram. He didn't know how to NOT move forward while fighting. I could never beat him, but I was the only person who could score points on him because he wasn't used to people moving forward to meet him. But, in martial arts philosophies like Aikido, the idea is to use your opponent's energy against them: Actual attacks are usually part of this kind of redirection.

I think that the idea of being on the offense has more to do with space though, and doesn't necessarily mean you aren't parrying attacks. Even Aikido fighters can catch opponents by surprise more effectively when quickly moving toward them. And, in a case like my example above where you really aren't as good as your opponent , surprising your opponent might be your only chance to win. Could also get you killed, though. But this advice has served me well. Most of the other strategies are good, but few are surprising.

And, because it is modified to apply specifically to the martial arts, it can't be adapted all that well into non-combat aspects of life. For those interested in the martial arts, it is a very good read. For the rest of you, I'd give it a pass. View all 8 comments.

I have been won over by the convenience of ebooks, however, I expect that there will always be reasons to buy a book as an artifact. This wonderfully designed book is made from high quality materials and is adorned throughout by paintings, photographs, maps, scrolls, elaborate print designs including kanji, and includes intricate border designs on the pages through I have been won over by the convenience of ebooks, however, I expect that there will always be reasons to buy a book as an artifact.

This wonderfully designed book is made from high quality materials and is adorned throughout by paintings, photographs, maps, scrolls, elaborate print designs including kanji, and includes intricate border designs on the pages throughout. Groff's informative introduction give important background knowledge in which to consider Musashi's philosophical task at hand and understand it in context of the times he lived through. I have not had a particular interest in martial arts or ancient Japanese history before. However, I must admit that I come to find interest in it through viewings of samurai films from the likes of Kurosawa, Kobayashi, Shinoda, and others.

This volume will serve as a gateway into further study of samurai and Japanese history. A classic, which is about individual and tactical combat as well as spirit. It should be read in conjunction with The Art Of War. The Way is Existence.

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The Mind is Emptiness. He finished this book in the last year of his life when Peace and reunification had been achieved, but despite his credentials as one of the great teachers of the sword, he was never a retainer. By the time he " In Emptiness exists Good but no Evil. By the time he had become renown, Japan's feudal Caste system had been restored and he would stay a ronin for much of his life, even with his kids becoming retainers and vassals.

This book is concerned primarily with Miyamoto's martial art, but he says it can be applied to any discipline. I was surprised how much detail he went into to explain his methods on his technique. The book is very plain and precise in what it is explaining and I'm pretty sure if I owned a pair of swords, I'd be an expert fighter in weeks. The Five Rings speaks to every age about the essential roles of harmony and self-mastery in our lives. Miyamoto Musashi is known in Japan as a kensi, or a "sword saint". One who has perfected the art of the sword so completely that they also Written by the legendary swordsman Musashi Miyamoto, The Five Rings c.

One who has perfected the art of the sword so completely that they also achieve spiritual enlightenment through it. A peace that comes with the way of Samurai - "one who serves". Miyamoto's teachings tell us of how we must not only serve the sword, but others, as well as the world around us. How we must serve Nature and become at peace with it, how we must fight for the preservation of Nature and not against it. As forms have grown in complexity and quantity over the years, and many forms alone could be practiced for a lifetime, modern styles of Chinese martial arts have developed that concentrate solely on forms, and do not practice application at all.

These styles are primarily aimed at exhibition and competition, and often include more acrobatic jumps and movements added for enhanced visual effect [61] compared to the traditional styles. Those who generally prefer to practice traditional styles, focused less on exhibition, are often referred to as traditionalists. Some traditionalists consider the competition forms of today's Chinese martial arts as too commercialized and losing much of their original values. Traditional Chinese schools of martial arts, such as the famed Shaolin monks, often dealt with the study of martial arts not just as a means of self-defense or mental training, but as a system of ethics.

Wude deals with two aspects; "morality of deed" and "morality of mind". References to the concepts and use of Chinese martial arts can be found in popular culture. Historically, the influence of Chinese martial arts can be found in books and in the performance arts specific to Asia. As a result, Chinese martial arts have spread beyond its ethnic roots and have a global appeal. This genre is still extremely popular in much of Asia [70] and provides a major influence for the public perception of the martial arts.

Martial arts influences can also be found in dance, theater [71] and especially Chinese opera , of which Beijing opera is one of the best-known examples. This popular form of drama dates back to the Tang Dynasty and continues to be an example of Chinese culture. Some martial arts movements can be found in Chinese opera and some martial artists can be found as performers in Chinese operas. In modern times, Chinese martial arts have spawned the genre of cinema known as the Kung fu film. The films of Bruce Lee were instrumental in the initial burst of Chinese martial arts' popularity in the West in the s.

It is a hybrid style of martial art that Bruce Lee practiced and mastered. Jeet Kune Do is his very own unique style of martial art that uses little to minimum movement but maximizes the effect to his opponents. The influence of Chinese martial art have been widely recognized and have a global appeal in Western cinemas starting off with Bruce Lee. Martial artists and actors such as Jet Li and Jackie Chan have continued the appeal of movies of this genre. Jackie Chan successfully brought in a sense of humour in his fighting style in his movies. The talent of these individuals have broadened Hong Kong's cinematography production and rose to popularity overseas, influencing Western cinemas.

In the west, kung fu has become a regular action staple, and makes appearances in many films that would not generally be considered "Martial Arts" films. Martial arts themes can also be found on television networks.

With 60 episodes over a three-year span, it was one of the first North American TV shows that tried to convey the philosophy and practice in Chinese martial arts. In the s, Bruce Lee was beginning to gain popularity in Hollywood for his martial arts movies. The fact that he was a non-white male who portrayed self-reliance and righteous self-discipline resonated with black audiences and made him an important figure in this community. Urban youth in New York City were still going from every borough to Time Square every night to watch the latest movies.

One of the pioneers responsible for the development of the foundational aspects of hip-hop was DJ Kool Herc, who began creating this new form of music by taking rhythmic breakdowns of songs and looping them. From the new music came a new form of dance known as b-boying or breakdancing , a style of street dance consisting of improvised acrobatic moves.

The pioneers of this dance credit kung fu as one of its influences. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Modern history of East Asian martial arts. Wushu sport and International Wushu Federation. Styles of Chinese martial arts. List of Chinese martial arts. Sanshou and Shuai jiao. This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.

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Chinese martial artists and Category: China portal Martial arts portal. An Elementary Chinese Text. The Chinese University Press. Narratives of the New China. Chinese University of Michigan Press.

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Mastering Yang Style Taijiquan. Warfare in Chinese History. A Military History of China. Soldiers of the Dragon: Martial arts of the world: University Of Chicago Press. The Method of Chinese Wrestling. Zhang Jue , pp. Handbook of Chinese Popular Culture. The Earliest Records of Zen, Berkeley: Jin Dynasty to the Period of Disunity". A Geek in China: The Case of The Shaolin Monastery". Asia Major Third Series. Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies. The Secret of High Strategy. Chinese Martial Arts Training Manuals: Guoshu Martial arts and the Nanjing State, — Training the Body for China: University of Chicago Press.

Sport in Asian Society: Marrow of the Nation: University of California Press. Marginality and the Hero's Art: Martial artists in Hong Kong and Guangzhou Canton. University of California at Los Angeles: The Party and the Arty in China: Essentials of Chinese Wushu. Sport and Physical Education in China. Liu Yamin, Xing Yan, ed. A Guide to Chinese Martial Arts. The Way of the Dragon Publishing. Chinese Martial Arts and Traditional Medicine. University of Hawaii Press.

The Sword Polisher's Record: The Way of Kung-Fu 1st ed. The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Complete Book of Shaolin: Xin hua shu dian jing xiao. Chinese Wushu Research Institute. Fundamentals of High Performance Wushu: More mysterious, secret techniques are also discussed, including those involving armor, and the variety of renowned mutodori no-sword forms-the ultimate martial skill of the samurai. Works of calligraphy by famous samurai masters, such as Asari Matashichiro and Yamaoka Tesshu, accompany the descriptions, as well as important historical scrolls and an array of lavish illustrations that help demonstrate the grace and beauty of Japanese sword fighting.

After his highly acclaimed works The Way of the Ninja and Advanced Stick Fighting , Masaaki Hatsumi continues to pursue his life's ambition of fostering and spreading Budo throughout the world, with this definitive book on the art of Japanese sword fighting. Within his technical descriptions and musings on the history of Bushido, Hatsumi's philosophy of promoting a world of peace and tolerance is ever present, as is his firm belief in the universality of Budo, espoused in his own words: Hardcover , pages.

Published February 10th by Kodansha first published February 7th To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Japanese Sword Fighting , please sign up. Be the first to ask a question about Japanese Sword Fighting. Lists with This Book.

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Jun 25, Jen rated it it was ok Recommends it for: Some quotes to satisfy no one in particular. If you are unaware of this and proceed down the path of thinking that sword training is only about cutting and thrusting, then there is a dange Some quotes to satisfy no one in particular.

If you are unaware of this and proceed down the path of thinking that sword training is only about cutting and thrusting, then there is a danger that you will go down the path of the evil sword. The sword harnesses a pure essence that is life-giving- one who cannot live the way of the sword saint will foolishly think that the sword is only a tool for cutting.

Those who do this can never achieve enlightenment. Sucks to be me. So, that is it. I will never harness the way of the sword like grandmaster supersamurai man. But, thanks to this book, I have a new rule- yay for rules! I am sure I could be a samurai master if only I could read this in the original! Oh the relief and shame of admitting this: I am never to be a sword saint, only to be a foolish one who thinks the sword a tool for cutting. View all 3 comments. Mar 15, Ian rated it liked it. Martial arts are filled with ego.

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