Pinocchio and Musahsi

 

You can find several things in common between Pinocchio and Musahsi. 

1) They are somehow outlaw.

2) They are physically strong and have good athletic sense.

3) They know how to fight with many opponents at one time.

You may have a chance to fight with many at one time. Remember

"

Miyamoto Musashi in Book of Five Rings said:

There are Many Enemies

"There are many enemies" applies when you are fighting one against many. Draw both sword and companion sword and assume a wide-stretched left and right attitude. The spirit is to chase the enemies around from side to side, even though they come from all four directions. Observe their attacking order, and go to meet first those who attack first. Sweep your eyes around broadly, carefully examining the attacking order, and cut left and right alternately with your swords. Waiting is bad. Always quickly re-assume your attitudes to both sides, cut the enemies down as they advance, crushing them in the direction from which they attack. Whatever you do, you must drive the enemy together, as if tying a line of fishes, and when they are seen to be piled up, cut them down strongly without giving them room to move.

 

"

 

The Musashi's original Japanese is difficult to understand but the modern Japanese version may have some misunderstanding and not correct translation. See the Japanese at the bottom.

 

One of the points is

 

 "

The spirit is to chase the enemies around from side to side, even though they come from all four directions. 

 

This part is similar to the way Pinnchio fights with seven (7) opponents.

 

 "

http://ercoleguidi.altervista.org/pinocchio/pin_27.htm

Chapter 27

Gran combattimento fra Pinocchio e i suoi compagni:

Pinocchio, sebbene fosse solo, si difendeva come un eroe. Con quei suoi piedi di legno durissimo lavorava così bene, da tener sempre i suoi nemici a rispettosa distanza. Dove i suoi piedi potevano arrivare e toccare, ci lasciavano sempre un livido per ricordo.

Pinocchio, although he were alone, defended himself like a hero. With those feet of very hard wood of his he worked so well, as to keep his enemies always at a respectful distance. Wherever his feet could reach and touch, they always left a bruise as a keepsake.

 

"

 

Musashi's technique goes furgther

 

- do not chase when an opponent or opponents go away

 

- do not wait until an opponent or opponents approach you

https://www.culturebeanz.com/entry/2019/08/09/012734/

【Musahsi's Original Japanese】

 一　多敵の位の事。
多敵のくらゐと云ハ、
一身にして大勢と戦ときの事也。
我刀脇指をぬきて、
左右へ廣く太刀を横に捨て、搆る也。
敵は四方よりかゝるとも、
一方へおひまはす心也。
敵かゝる位、前後を見分て、
先へすゝむものにはやく行あひ、
大に目を付て、敵うち出す位を得て、
右の太刀も左の太刀も、一度に振ちがへて、
行太刀にて、其敵をきり、もどる太刀にて、
わきにすゝむ敵をきる心也。
太刀を振ちがへて待事悪し。
はやく両脇の位に搆、敵の出たる所を、
強くきりこミ、おつくづして、其まゝ、
又敵の出たるかたへかゝり、振くづす心也。
いかにもして、敵をひとへに、
うをつなぎにおひなす心にしかけて、
敵のかさなるとミヘバ、
其まゝ間をすかさず、強くはらひこむべし。
敵あひこむ所、ひたとおひまはしぬれバ、
はか行がたし。
又敵の出るかた／＼と思ヘバ、
待心有て、はか行がたし。
敵の拍子をうけて、くづるゝ所をしり、勝事也。
おり／＼相手をあまたよせ、
おひこミ付て、其心を得れバ、
一人の敵も、十、二十の敵も、心安き事也。
能稽古して吟味有べき也。(1)

 

【Modern Translation】

一　多敵の位の事

多敵〔たてき〕の位というのは、一人で多勢と戦う時のことである。

わが刀と脇差を抜いて、左右に広く太刀を横に拡げておくようにして搆えるのである。

敵が四方からかかってくるとしても、敵を一方へ追廻すようにする心持である。敵がかってくる出方、その前後を見分けて、先へ進む者に素早く行き合い、大どころに目をつけて、敵が打ち出してくるところを捉えて、右の太刀も左の太刀も同時に振りちがえて、行く太刀で前の敵を切り、戻る太刀で脇に進む敵を切るのである。

太刀を振りちがえて待つのはよくない。素早く両脇の位に太刀を搆え、敵の出てくるところを、強く切り込み、追い崩して、すぐさま、また敵の出てくる方へ切りかかり、振り崩すのである。

できるだけ、敵を一列に魚つなぎ*にしてしまうように追いやるように仕懸けて、敵が（一列に）重なったと見れば、すぐさま、間をあけず強く（横に）払い（切り）込むべし。

敵と接近したところで、しつこく敵を追い廻すのでは、捗〔はか〕が行かない。また（逆に）、敵の出てくる方、出てくる方と思っていると、待つ心があって、（これも）捗が行かない。

敵の拍子をうけて、その崩れる部分を見分けて撃破するのである。

ときおり相手を多数集め（練習して）、追込むのに慣れて、その感じをつかめば、一人の敵でも、十人二十人の敵でも、平気だということになる。よく稽古して、吟味しておくべきである。

――――――――――――

 sptt

 

Bruce Lee and Miyamoto Musashi

Bruce Lee (1940 – 1973) is becoming a legend in Hong Kong while Miyamoto Musashi (c. 1584 – 1645) has been already long a legend in Japan as well as in the world. There must be somethings in common between Bruce Lee and Miyamoto Musashi in terms of fighting technique and philosophy.

From: www.bruceleequotes.org

“I’m not in this world to live up to your expectations and you’re not in this world to live up to mine.”

 

This reminds me rather of the following Ito Hirobumi quote.

I will not order you to follow my way. If you are so destined, I will not feel sorry even if you become a beggar and will not feel pleased either even if you become rich.

 「お前に何でも俺の志を継げよと無理は言はぬ。持って生まれた天分ならば、たとえお前が乞食になったとて、俺は 決し て悲 しま ぬ。 金持 ちになったとて、喜びもせぬ」

Refer to:http://itohirobumi-sptt.blogspot.hk/2012/04/ito-hirobumi-quotes.html

 

“Be like water making its way through cracks. Do not be assertive, but adjust to the object, and you shall find a way around or through it. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Empty your mind, be formless. Shapeless, like water. If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. You put water into a bottle and it becomes the bottle. You put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now, water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend.”

 

In THE WATER BOOK of <A Book of Five Rings >
My translation:  
In strategy your spiritual bearing must not be any different from normal. Both in fighting and in everyday life your spirit should be no difference, without tenseness yet not recklessly, set straight and broad, neither tightened nor slackened, quivered calmly yet quivered constantly. Study this well. 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. Be neither insufficiently spirited nor over spirited. Pay attention to the spirit, no to the body. Even the spirit on the top appears weak, the spirit at the bottom shall be strong. Do not let the enemy see your spirit.

“Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”

 

“Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.” 

 

From <A Book of Five Rings > 

“Do nothing that is of no use” 

“A wise man can learn more from a foolish question than a fool can learn from a wise answer.”

 

“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.”

 

“The doubters said, “Man can not fly,” The doers said, “Maybe, but we’ll try,” And finally soared In the morning glow While non-believers Watched from below.”

 

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done. Make at least one definite move daily toward your goal.”

 

“The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.”

 

“I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

“Don’t fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.”

 

“Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it.”

 

“Do not be tense, just be ready, not thinking but not dreaming, not being set but being flexible. It is being “wholly” and quietly alive, aware and alert, ready for whatever may come.”

 

“Knowing is not enough, we must apply. Willing is not enough, we must do.”

 

“Life is wide, limitless. There is no border, no frontier.”

 

“The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or defeat. Let nature take its course, and your tools will strike at the right moment.”

 

“Empty your cup so that it may be filled; become devoid to gain totality.”

 

“…if you always put limits on what you can do, physical or anything else, it’ll spread over into the rest of your life. It’ll spread into your work, into your morality, into your entire being. There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you. A man must constantly exceed his level.”

 

“Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.”

 

“If there is a God, he is within. You don’t ask God to give you things, you depend on God for your inner theme.”

From <A Book of Five Rings > 

“Respect Buddha and the gods without counting on their help”

“For it is easy to criticize and break down the spirit of others, but to know yourself takes a lifetime.”

 

“Life is never stagnation. It is constant movement, un-rhythmic movement, as we as constant change. Things live by moving and gain strength as they go.”

“In order to taste my cup of water you must first empty your cup.”

 

“Take things as they are. Punch when you have to punch. Kick when you have to kick.”

 

“To spend time is to pass it in a specified manner. To waste time is to expend it thoughtlessly or carelessly. We all have time to either spend or waste and it is our decision what to do with it. But once passed, it is gone forever.”

 

“A good teacher protects his pupils from his own influence.”

 

“Time means a lot to me because you see I am also a learner and am often lost in the joy of forever developing.”

 

“Be self aware, rather than a repetitious robot”

 

“Art calls for complete mastery of techniques, developed by reflection within the soul.”

 

“If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.”

 

“Now I see that I will never find the light Unless, like the candle, I am my own fuel, Consuming myself.”

 

The knowledge and skills you have achieved are meant to be forgotten so you can float comfortably in emptiness, without obstruction.”

In  the book of the Void of <A Book of Five Rings >
My translation:

By void I mean that which has no interior and no entrance. Attaining principle means departing from principle. In the Way of strategy you naturally appreciate the freedom and power, knowing rhythm in any situation, you will be able to hit the enemy naturally and strike naturally. All this is the Way of the Void. I intend to show how to enter naturally the true Way of true in the book of the Void.

 

“As you think, so shall you become.”

 

“The spirit of the individual is determined by his dominating thought habits.”

 

“Self-knowledge involves relationship. To know oneself is to study one self in action with another person. Relationship is a process of self evaluation and self revelation. Relationship is the mirror in which you discover yourself – to be is to be related.”

 

“Life is better lived than conceptualized. — This writing can be less demanding should I allow myself to indulge in the usual manipulating game of role creation. Fortunately for me, my self-knowledge has transcended that and I’ve come to understand that life is best to be lived — not to be conceptualized. If you have to think, you still do not understand.”

 

“Defeat is not defeat unless accepted as a reality-in your own mind.”

 

“Fear comes from uncertainty; we can eliminate the fear within us when we know ourselves better. As the great Sun Tzu said: “When you know yourself and your opponent, you will win every time. When you know yourself but not your opponent, you will win one and lose one. However, when you do not know yourself or your opponent, you will be imperiled every time.”

 

“Choose the positive. You have choice, you are master of your attitude, choose the positive, the constructive. Optimism is a faith that leads to success.”

 

“Don’t get set into one form, adapt it and build your own, and let it grow, be like water.”

“Using no way as a way, having no limitation as limitation.”

 

“The meaning of life is that it is to be lived, and it is not to be traded and conceptualized and squeezed into a patter of systems.”

 

“If you want to learn to swim jump into the water. On dry land no frame of mind is ever going to help you.”

 

“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one”

 

“Be happy, but never satisfied.”

 

“Many people dedicate their lives to actualizing a concept of what they should be like, rather than actualizing themselves. This difference between self-actualization and self-image actualization is very important. Most people live only for their image”

 

“Boards don’t hit back.”

 

“The stillness in stillness is not the real stillness; only when there is stillness in movement does the universal rhythm manifest.”

 

“Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential.”

 

“Everything you do, if not in a relaxed state will be done at a lesser level than you are proficient. Thus the tensed expert marksman will aim at a level less than his/her student.”

“Flow in the living moment. — We are always in a process of becoming and nothing is fixed. Have no rigid system in you, and you’ll be flexible to change with the ever changing. Open yourself and flow, my friend. Flow in the total openness of the living moment. If nothing within you stays rigid, outward things will disclose themselves. Moving, be like water. Still, be like a mirror. Respond like an echo.”

 

“A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.”

 

“It’s not what you give, it’s the way you give it.

 

“The moment is freedom. — I couldn’t live by a rigid schedule. I try to live freely from moment to moment, letting things happen and adjusting to them.”

 

“When one has reached maturity in the art, one will have a formless form. It is like ice dissolving in water. When one has no form, one can be all forms; when one has no style, he can fit in with any style.”

“Man, the living creature, the creating individual, is always more important than any established style or system.”

 

“Life itself is your teacher, and you are in a state of constant learning.”

 

“I am not teaching you anything. I just help you to explore yourself.”

 

“The second-hand artist blindly following his sensei or sifu accepts his pattern. As a result, his action is and , more importantly, his thinking become mechanical. His responses become automatic, according to set patterns, making him narrow and limited.”

 

“Art is the way to the absolute and to the essence of human life. The aim of art is not the one-sided promotion of spirit, soul and senses, but the opening of all human capacities – thought, feeling, will – to the life rhythm of the world of nature. So will the voiceless voice be heard and the self be brought into harmony with it.”

 

“If you don’t want to slip up tomorrow, speak the truth today.”

 

“Forget about winning and losing; forget about pride and pain. Let your opponent graze your skin and you smash into his flesh; let him smash into your flesh and you fracture his bones; let him fracture your bones and you take his life! Do not be concerned with escaping safely- lay your life before him!!”

 

“Showing off is the fool’s idea of glory.”

 

“The More we value things, the less we value ourselves”

 

“Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later the man who wins, is the man who thinks he can.”

“Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable.”

 

“Knowledge will give you power, but character respect.”

 

“Always be yourself, express yourself, have faith in yourself, do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.”

From <A Book of Five Rings > 

“there is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself.”  

 

“Those who are unaware they are walking in darkness will never seek the light.”

 

“Real living is living for others.”

 

“After all, all knowledge simply means self-knowledge.”

 

“Do not deny the classical approach, simply as a reaction, or you will have created another pattern and trapped yourself there.”

 

“To know oneself is to study oneself in action with another person.”

 

“But neither can you condemn nor justify and yet be extraordinarily alive as you walk on. You can never invite the wind but you must leave the window open.”

 

“The possession of anything begins in the mind.”

“The world is full of people who are determined to be somebody or to give trouble. They want to get ahead, to stand out. Such ambition has no use for a gung fu man, who rejects all forms of self-assertiveness and competition”

 

“Absorb what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely your own.”

 

“To me, the extraordinary aspect of martial arts lies in its simplicity. The easy way is also the right way, and martial arts is nothing at all special; the closer to the true way of martial arts, the less wastage of expression there is.”

 

“As long as I can remember I feel I have had this great creative and spiritual force within me that is greater than faith, greater than ambition, greater than confidence, greater than determination, greater than vision. It is all these combined. My brain becomes magnetized with this dominating force which I hold in my hand.”

 

“Man, the living creature, the creating individual, is always more important than any established style or system.”

 

“Take no thought of who is right or wrong or who is better than. Be not for or against.”

 

“It’s not the daily increase but daily decrease. Hack away at the unessential.”

 

“All fixed set patterns are incapable of adaptability or pliability. The truth is outside of all fixed patterns.”

 

“‎The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.”

 

“The less effort, the faster and more powerful you will be.”

“Its like a finger pointing away to the moon. Don’t concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.”

 

“Obey the principles without being bound by them.”

 

“A quick temper will make a fool of you soon enough.”

 

“Preparation for tomorrow is hard work today.”

 

“You cannot force the Now. — But can you neither condemn nor justify and yet be extraordinarily alive as you walk on? You can never invite the wind, but you must leave the window open. Sourced, Striking Thoughts (2000) p. 13”

- Bruce Lee, Striking Thoughts: Bruce Lee’s Wisdom for Daily Living

“If you think a thing is impossible,you’ll only make it impossible.”

 

“Because one does not want to be disturbed, to be made uncertain, he establishes a pattern of conduct, of thought, a pattern of relationship to man etc. Then he becomes a slave to the patter and takes the pattern to be the real thing.”

 

“The consciousness of self is the greatest hindrance to the proper execution of all physical action.”

 

“Don’t think. FEEL. It’s like a finger pointing at the moon. Do not concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all of the heavenly glory.”

- Bruce Lee, Enter the Dragon (1973); In a training session with one of the temple students.

“A fight is not won by one punch or kick. Either learn to endure or hire a bodyguard.”

 

“Linda and I aren’t one and one. We are two halves that make a whole — two halves fitted together are more efficient than either half would ever be alone!”

 

“The word “superstar” is an ilusion”

-----

Other quotes from <A Book of Five Rings >
www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/1318780-go-rin-no-sho

“Think lightly of yourself and deeply of the world” 

“You must understand that there is more than one path to the top of the mountain” 

“from one thing, know ten thousand things” 

“Get beyond love and grief: exist for the good of Man.” 

“Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye.” 

“If you wish to control others you must first control yourself” 

“The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them” 

“It is difficult to understand the universe if you only study one planet” 

“You should not have any special fondness for a particular weapon, or anything else, for that matter. Too much is the same as not enough. Without imitating anyone else, you should have as much weaponry as suits you.” 

My translation:

You should not have a favorite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well. You should not copy others, but use weapons which you can handle properly. It is bad for commanders and troopers to have likes and dislikes. These are things you must learn thoroughly.

“You can only fight the way you practice” 

“The primary thing when you take a sword in your hands is your intention to cut the enemy, whatever the means. Whenever you parry, hit, spring, strike or touch the enemy's cutting sword, you must cut the enemy in the same movement. It is essential to attain this. If you think only of hitting, springing, striking or touching the enemy, you will not be able actually to cut him.” 

“Do not regret what you have done” 

“If you do not control the enemy, the enemy will control you” 

“Do not sleep under a roof. Carry no money or food. Go alone to places frightening to the common brand of men. Become a criminal of purpose. Be put in jail, and extricate yourself by your own wisdom.” 

“Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.” 

“Whatever the Way, the master of strategy does not appear fast….Of course, slowness is bad. Really skillful people never get out of time, and are always deliberate, and never appear busy.” 

“All man are the same except for their belief in their own selves, regardless of what others may think of them” 

“The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time, and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful in all things.” 

“You may abandon your own body but you must preserve your honour.” 

“The only reason a warrior is alive is to fight, and the only reason a warrior fights is to win” 

“To become the enemy, see yourself as the enemy of the enemy” 

“Know your enemy, know his sword.” 

“To know ten thousand things, know one well” 

“It is difficult to realize the true Way just through sword-fencing. 
Know the smallest things and the biggest things, the shallowest things and the deepest things.” 

“No man is invincible, and therefore no man can fully understand that which would make him invincible” 

“The important thing in strategy is to suppress the enemy's useful actions but allow his useless actions” 

“When you decide to attack, keep calm and dash in quickly, 
forestalling the enemy...attack with a feeling of constantly crushing the enemy, from first to last.” 
----- 

I cannot find many things in common actually. This is because
Bruce Lee was basically a modern movie star and a marshal artist while Miyamoto Musashi was a real samurai or in the battle fields a solder or a sward/javelin fighter who was not allowed to make a mistake to survive and would be killed when making a fatal mistake. This is not a matter of good or bad but a distinctive difference.

sptt

A Book of Five Rings - Continued (1)

A BOOK OF FIVE RINGS with more sense in English

A BOOK OF FIVE RINGS or "Go Rin No Sho" by Miyamoto Musashi with more sense made for more correct understanding


- Continued (1) -


In THE WATER BOOK

In strategy your spiritual bearing must not be any different from normal. Both in fighting and in everyday life your spirit should be no difference, without tenseness yet not recklessly, set straight and broad, neither tightened nor slackened, quivered calmly yet quivered constantly. Study this well. (the original English version - In strategy your spiritual bearing must not be any different from normal. 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. Be neither insufficiently spirited nor over spirited. Pay attention to the spirit, no to the body. Even the spirit on the top appears weak, the spirit at the bottom shall be strong. (the original English version - An elevated spirit is weak and a low spirit is weak. ) Do not let the enemy see your spirit.

My comment: If the conclusion is "Do not let the enemy see your spirit>, the original English version - An elevated spirit is weak and a low spirit is weak - does not make sense well.


The Way of Seeing in Strategy (the original English version - The Gaze in Strategy )
To see things should be large and broad. There are two ways to see things (the original English version - The gaze should be large and broad. This is the twofold gaze.) - "Perception and Sight". Perception is strong and sight week.
My comment: 'Gaze' already has a meaning of "to see closely, carefully, with attention" so it contradicts "large and broad".
In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things. It is important in strategy to know the enemy's sword and not watch his sword at all (the original English version - not to be distracted by insignificant movements of his sword.) You must study this well. The way of seeing things is the same for a small combat and for a large-scale strategy.
It is necessary in strategy to be able to look to both sides without moving the eyeballs. You cannot master this ability quickly. Learn what is written here; use this way of seeing in everyday life and do not vary it whatever happens.

My comment: Musashi originally says "It is important in strategy to know the enemy's sword and not see his sword at all." Since it is difficult to get the meaning as it is the translator paraphrased the latter part as "not to be distracted by insignificant movements of his sword." But if you think of the difference between "Perception and Sight" and "Perception is strong and sight week." you can guess the meaning of "It is important in strategy to know the enemy's sword and not see his sword at all." Some professional people can do things (some performances) with their eyes closed by training, for instance.
Besides, Musashi did not explain "two ways to see things" very much here and not clearly mention "Perception and Sight" but hinted the difference between "seeing large and broadly" and "seeing closely."


The Five Approaches
The first approach is the Middle attitude. When confronting the enemy point your sword against his face. When he attacks, dash his sword to the right and "counter-attack" him. Or, when the enemy attacks, deflect the point of his sword by hitting downwards, keep your long sword where it is, and then as the enemy renews his attack cut his arms from below. This is the first method.
The five approaches are this kind of thing. You must train repeatedly using swords (the original English version - a long sword) in order to learn them. When you master my Way of the swords (the original English version - the long sword) , you will be able to control any attack the enemy makes. I assure you, there are no attitudes other than the five attitudes of the two swords (the original English version - the long sword) of Ni To.

My comments: As the Japanese language generally does not differentiate singular and plural when using a noun and uses a singular form even when talking about two or more things the translator used a singular form of sward. But Musashi is talking about Ni To (which means two swards) here. However, Musashi did not say how to use the right hand and with the long sward and the left hand with the short sward but used only the word long sward (太刀) here. To become of sure of this we must ask Musashi "Are you talking about one long sward as you use the word 太刀 in the writing or two swards also shown as Ni To (二刀)?"


The "Belated Second Timing" (the original English version - The "Abdomen Timing of Two")

The original English version: When you attack and the enemy quickly retreats, as you see him tense you must feint a cut. Then, as he relaxes, follow up and hit him. This is the "Abdomen Timing of Two".

My comment: The "Abdomen Timing of Two" does not make sense with the content.


Universal (or "Relating to all") Strike (the original English version - Continuous Cut)

When you attack and the enemy also attacks, and strike your sword, in one action cut his head, or hands or legs. You cut any place or places of the enemy's body with one sweep of the long sword, it is the "Universal Strike". You must practice this cut; it is often used. With detailed practice you should be able to understand it.

(the original English version - When you attack and the enemy also attacks, and your swords spring together, in one action cut his head, hands and legs. When you cut several places with one sweep of the long sword, it is the "Continuous Cut". )



My comments: The original title in English Continuous Cut comes from the content - continuously cut different places of the enemy's body - head, hands and legs.
It is possible to do this but in very few cases in a real battle. The original Japanese title is 縁's (which means "relation's" ) Strike. What is explained here is that the strike is related with the situation - or to strike any place or places with one pass of the sward under the circumstance.
Please also note that the enemy' body in a battle (war not a duel) is usually protected by an armour.


The Body in Place of the Long Sword
Also "the long sword in place of the body". Usually we should not move the body and the sword at the same time to cut the enemy. (the original English version - Usually we move the body and the sword at the same time to cut the enemy.) However, according to the enemy's cutting method, you should dash against him with your body first, and afterwards cut with the sword. You can cut first with the long sword followed by the body forward movement, but generally you dash against the enemy with your body first and then cut him with the long sword. (the original English version - If his body is immovable, you can cut first with the long sword, but generally you hit first with the body and then cut with the long sword. )You must research this well and practice hitting.

My comment: Common sense leads to Usually we move the body and the sword at the same time to cut the enemy. However, what Musashi said was - Usually we should not move the body and the sword at the same time to cut the enemy. Was it a mistake? Because of this seemingly mistaken statement the next sentence of the English version became different much from the original Japanese. The translator once correctly translated - you can dash against him with your body first. Mushashi repeated the same thing but the translation changed to but generally you hit first with the body and then cut with the long sword.
Musashi did not explain clearly but this (i.e. we should not move the body and the sword at the same time to cut the enemy) is a high technique. The enemy usually thinks that you will move the body and the sword at the same time to cut the enemy then the enemy can expect your move. If your body and your sword do not move at the same the enemy will be puzzled - a move different from his expectation, which will give you a good chance to hit him. Anyway these physical and psychological processes usually go on very quickly - less than 1 second if you are professional.


Autumn Monkey's Body (the original English version - Chinese Monkey's Body)
The Autumn Monkey's Body [a monkey stretching its arm to try to get the autumn moon reflected on the surface of water] is the spirit of not stretching out your arms. The spirit is to get your body in quickly, without in the least extending your arms, before the enemy cuts. If you are intent upon stretching out your arms you are naturally far away. The spirit is to go in with your whole body. (the original English version - If you are intent upon not stretching out your arms you are effectively far away, the spirit is to go in with your whole body. ) When you come to within arm's reach it becomes easy to move your body in. You must research this well.

My comment: The title comes from the Chinese story. A monkey tries to get the autumn moon reflected on the surface of water by stretching its arm but failed and dropped in to the water. The original English version - If you are intent upon not stretching out your arms you are effectively far away - does not make sense.

To Apply Stickiness
When the enemy attacks and you also attack with the long sword, you should go in and stick your long sword to the enemy's sword as he receives your cut. The spirit of stickiness is not attaching very strongly, but attaching so that your long sword does not separate from the enemy's sword easily. (the original English version - you should go in with a sticky feeling and fix your long sword against the enemy's as you receive his cut. The spirit of stickiness is not hitting very strongly, but hitting so that the long swords do not separate easily.) It is best to approach as calmly as possible when attaching your sword to the enemy's long sword with stickiness. The difference between "Stickiness" and "Entanglement" is that stickiness is firm and entanglement is weak. You must appreciate thi

My comment: In "To Apply Stickiness" Musashi does not talk about how to hit the enemy or hit the enemy's sword but continues to talk about how to get your body in close to the enemy as in the previous several topics - Autumn Monkey's Body, Glue and Lacquer Emulsion Body, To Strive for Height and the next topic The body Strike which follows this To Apply Stickiness. So the point is not hitting the enemy's sword but how to get in by attaching your sward to the enemy's sword to control the move of the enemy's sword.



Three Ways to Parry His Attack
There are three methods to parry the enemy's cut when you make an attack to get in closer to the enemy (the original English version - There are three methods to parry a cut)

First, to parry by dashing the enemy's long sword to your right by your sward, as if thrusting at his eyes. (the original English version - First, by dashing the enemy's long sword to your right, as if thrusting at his eyes, when he makes an attack.
Or, as it is called thrusting parry, to parry by thrusting the enemy's long sword towards his right eye by your sword with the feeling of snipping his neck. (the original English version - Or, to parry by thrusting the enemy's long sword towards his right eye with the feeling of snipping his neck. )
Or, when you have a "short sword", without worrying about parrying the enemy's long sword, to get in close with him quickly, thrusting at his face with your left hand.
(the original English version - Or, when you have a short "long sword", without worrying about parrying the enemy's long sword, to close with him quickly, thrusting at his face with your left hand. )
These are the three methods of parrying. You must bear in mind that you should always clench your left hand and thrust at the enemy's face with your fist. For this it is necessary to train well.

My comment: This part "Three Ways to Parry His Attack" is one the most difficult parts in the book because you can read this as handling one sword and handling two swords as well. Also very technical. The point is not only to parry the enemy's sward but at the same time you will get your body in close to the enemy as well.


To Stab at the Face
To stab at the face means, when you are in confrontation with the enemy, that your spirit is intent of stabbing at his face, following the line of the blades with the point of your long sword. If you are intent on stabbing at his face, his face and body will lean backward (the original English version - become rideale). When the enemy leans backward (the original English version - becomes as if readable), there are various opportunities for winning. You must concentrate on this. When fighting and the enemy's body leans backward (the original English version - becomes as if readable), you can win quickly, so you ought not to forget to stab at the face. You must pursue the value of this technique through training.

My comment: Simply a problem of translation of the Japanese word. The original Japanese may be incorrect (does not make sense).

To Stab at the Heart
To stab at the heart means, when fighting and there are obstructions above, or to the sides, and whenever it is difficult to cut, to thrust at the enemy. You must stab the enemy's breast without letting the point of your long sword waver, showing the enemy the ridge of the blade of your sword square-on in order to deflect his long sword (the original English version - and with the spirit of deflecting his long sword). The spirit of this principle is often useful when you become tired or for some reason our long sword will not cut well. You must understand the application of this method.

My comment: Difficult to understand but Musashi states that "without letting the point of your long sword waver, showing the enemy the ridge of the blade of your sword square-on" is one way to "deflect his long sword".

To Scold "Tut-TUT!"
To "Scold" "Tut-TUT!" means that, when the enemy tries to counter-cut as you attack, you thrust your sward at him from below and then try to cut him down from above by return. With very quick timing you cut, scolding with a rhythm of "Tut-TUT!" the enemy. Thrust up, "Tut!", and cut down "TUT!" . This timing is encountered time and time again in exchange of blows. The way to scold Tut-TUT is to time the cut immediately after raising your long sword as if to thrust the enemy. You must learn this through repetitive practice.

My comment: What is told here is that you thrust your sword up at the enemy from below, "Tut!", and immediately after cut him down with your raised sword from above "TUT!". This is a continuation of the two actions - thrusting up and cutting down.The Smacking Parry
By "smacking parry" is meant that when you clash swords with the enemy, you meet his attacking cut on your long sword with a tee-dum, tee-dum rhythm, smacking his sword and cutting him. The spirit of the smacking parry is neither parrying, nor smacking strongly, but smacking the enemy's long sword in accordance with his attacking cut, and cut him immediately after smacking. It is important to take an initiative by smacking and again to take an initiative to cut him. (the original English version - this part is missing). If you take a good timing of smacking and have an intention to smack the enemy's sword even a little, however hard the long swords of your and the enemy's clash together, your sword point will not be knocked down. You must research sufficiently to realize this.

My comment: Like the above To Scold "Tut-TUT!" this is a continuous action of smacking and cutting. However, "tee-dum, tee-dum" is not the rhythm of smacking and cutting.

sptt