Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara-no-Genshin, better known as Izumi Miyamoto Musashi, was born in the village of Miyamoto in the Mimasaka region in 1584. This man became a legend during his lifetime and many stories are associated with him. When Miyamoto Musashi, one of the most famous fencing masters, was still a child, a certain Genryu Sasaki, a famous fighter and ruler of the Mori clan from the province of Aki, challenged his father to a duel and lost. Sasaki could not bear the shame that his opponent left him alive, and later treacherously killed him. For many years, revenge became the main thought that occupied the entire being of young Musashi. To carry out his revenge, the young samurai trained in the art of swordsmanship with extraordinary tenacity, and then for a long time searched for his opponent throughout the country. He found him in Kyushu and they met in a duel on Ganryujima Beach. The fight took place at night, in pitch darkness from the sand raised from the beach by a typhoon. Musashi fought with two swords and won.
It is said that once Miyamoto Musashi traveled to the province of Iga. On the road he met an unfamiliar samurai. The power emanating from his traveling companion left no room for doubt. In front of him stood Yagyu Jubei, known as a fighter who knows no defeat. It also became clear to Yagyu Jubei that this was a sword master known throughout Japan. Testing their strength in a duel with such an opponent was a matter of honor for each of them. After walking a few meters, Musashi turned around, and Jubei did the same. “I apologize,” said Miamoto Musashi, “I believe that you are Yagyu Jubei.” “Yes, that’s true,” replied Jubei. “And you, I assume, are Miamoto Musashi?” The masters looked at each other silently for a while. The duel, which was supposed to end in the death of one of the masters, could not satisfy both. Both samurai went to the nearest tavern and ordered tea and a Go board to be brought to them. During three periods of continuous play, none of the masters managed to achieve an advantage over the enemy. When there was no doubt that the forces were equal, both stood up at the same time, bowed and went out into the darkness of the night. Musashi turned right onto the road, Jeyubei left. They never met again in their lives.
Another time, while traveling, Musashi wandered into an inn. He sat down in the corner, placed his sword next to him and ordered lunch. Soon a tipsy group burst into the room. The newcomers were covered from head to toe with weapons and looked like highway robbers. Noticing the lone visitor and his magnificent sword in a precious sheath, the tramps huddled together and began to whisper. Then Musashi calmly took the chopsticks and with four confident movements caught four flies buzzing above the table. The tramps who saw this scene ran away, making low bows.
Once upon a time, in one of the provinces, there lived a young sword fencing master. He defeated many famous opponents, and one day his teacher, realizing that he could give his student nothing more, advised the young man to become an apprentice to the famous master Miamoto Musashi.
The student happily set off on his journey. He was looking forward to meeting the legendary Miamoto, hoping for compliments and praise addressed to him. But the reception turned out to be unexpectedly cold. The new teacher silently handed him a sword and sent him to chop wood.
So a year passed. The young swordsman's patience came to an end, and, unable to bear it, he plucked up courage and approached Musashi: “Master, when will you teach me the way of the sword?”
Musashi looked at him with feigned surprise: “Oh, it’s you... Well, let’s go...” And, bringing him into the hall, he forced him to walk along the narrow edge of the tatami.
So another year passed. And finally, the completely despairing young man again attracted the teacher’s attention. And again Musashi pretended to forget about him. But this time he said: “Get ready. Tomorrow we will go to the mountains, and I will teach you the way of the sword...”
They climbed up the rocks for a long time and finally sat down to rest on the edge of a crevice. “Bring some water,” Musashi said, pointing to a stream flowing on the other side of the chasm. The student approached the edge, stepped onto a log thrown over the abyss, but when he looked down, his head began to spin, and he said through force: “I’m afraid.”
“Are you afraid?” asked Musashi. “Well, then listen to me. The main principle of all martial arts lies in one formula: “shin - waza - tai” (mind - technique - body). When a developed body and a developed technique meet, the developed technique wins, and when a developed mind and a developed technique meet, the mind wins. So, when you came to me, you were already a master, but you didn’t have a powerful enough blow, you didn’t have enough strength - that’s what I determined at first glance, and that’s why you spent a whole year chopping thick wood with a thin sword. Then I saw that you had mistakes in your moving technique, and you walked along a narrow edge for a year, and now you can’t walk along the log.” The student walked to the other side and comprehended the path of the sword.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru