Miyamoto Musashi meets Bruce Lee as they toast to the Japanese Sunrise
Written: May 17 '01 (Updated May 17 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: awesome guide for kendo; and sound advice for all forms of martial arts
Cons: i wouldn't consider it a serious business guide.
The Bottom Line: A must read for martial artists.
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| skyth's Full Review: Miyamoto Musashi et al - The Book Of Five Rings Bo... |
Ahh, what a life to live. At old age, ronin Musashi climbs a mountain in Japan for the sole purpose of documenting his life's handiwork. In his case, mastery of the Japanese longsword -- the katana. Here is the story of legends, a life I would like to have lived. But the details of his fights are omited. Musashi has no intention of boasting his achievements; his inclination steers towards delienating his discoeries in the study of martial arts. He does not care that he was never a samurai under a shogun, or that he was famous. He puts it forth simply and arrogantly -- 'I have never been defeated, and gave up looking for worthy challenge at the age of 30.' And than he goes on and admits that he had not reached the apex of his skills until he stopped fighting, and spent the rest of his life studying the sword.
He than jumps straight into the five spheres (it actually means spheres, but I will never know why they decided to call it 'rings' in all the translations). Each sphere respresents an element, with all aspects of swordfighting and warfare brushed slightly. Musashi is short and to the point, and he assumes that the person reading this book is an experienced martial artist. Like Bruce Lee's Tao of Jet Kune Do, this book is useless to a begineer of martial arts.
And although both books were written around 500 years apart, with different methods of combat in mind, coming from two different societies, you will be amazed at the similarities that they pose. Both Musashi and Bruce point out the necessity to learn various arts. Musashi conveys the need to achieve mastery with different weapons -- the halbert, the sai, and spears. Bruce, on the other hand, goes on to describe his findings about Mai Thai, Judo, and Western Boxing. Nevertheless, the two books also include opposing concepts -- like Bruce's advice on feigning attacks. Musashi believes all movement should be done with the intention to kill, every single cut of the sword done for the purpose of inflicting a mortal wound.
But they both make fun of how certain styles have become acrobatic showsports.
Musashi's book has been also revered as a guide for CEOs in major corporations. When you consider every single business deal as a battle to the death, his advice will indeed be useful. But if you ask me, you have to have a really disturbed sense of reality when you walk into a sales deal with Musashi's book in mind.
Moreover, Musashi's points are too obvious for me to consider it a serious guide in business. Keep calm and straight faced, always move with sureness rather than with frenzy. Like, Doi! Speed vs. power is a dubious debate in martial arts, but in the corporate world the issue is clear and simple.
Recommended:
Yes
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skyth
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Member: sky lar
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Skyth misses old Epinions -- where men were men and the sheep scared.
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