[CKDIWEQ]

Instead I much prefer the collection of writings from Takuan Soho "A Fettered Mind", which I feel deals much better with the mental side of conflict.

That would be The Unfettered Mind (as in "unchained" or "free"), which is William Scott Wilson's translation of Fudôchi Shinmyô Roku and some other essays/letters by Takuan. Other translations can be found in Hiroaki Sato's The Sword & the Mind and in the chapter on "Zen and Swordsmanship" in D.T. Suzuki's Zen and Japanese Culture, which is an interesting essay in itself.

Anyway, i agree with you. Musashi's book (and also Sun Tzu's Art of War) is often touted as a general guide to strategy for anyone from martial artists to business people, but the text doesn't really support this. As Hyaku said, most of the Five Rings is a manual of Musahi's school of swordsmanship, and while many tips can be gleaned from it, i think it's a good idea to first read it for what it is, rather than treat it as an oracle.

Musashi's views on mind and mindset are basically summed up at the end of the book in "The Scroll of Emptiness," whereas Takuan cuts to the quick and his insights seem to me much more directly applicable to kendo.

[ZwHRoTTn]

i've just started reading this book 2 days ago and it contained lots of deep words and phrases. i found this web site to be helpful http://www.samurai.com/5rings/

[Pznrrmaf]

i used this site..
http://www.hut.fi/~renko/gorinnosho.html

[GeorgeEckland]

Isn't it weird that Musashi began the book on the same month and day as my birthday? ...lol anyway does anyone want to talk about this book? And when I say talk, I mean seriously analyze. Anyone?

No, it is not weird. It is a coincidence.

I couldn't afford it so I ended up buying The Book of Four Rings and a Pigeon.

[traiffhetl]

Yep im in a few of those pics...

As for Canada, some things are going well, and other things are just going.

[infarrelisam]

Isn't it weird that Musashi began the book on the same month and day as my birthday? ...lol anyway does anyone want to talk about this book? And when I say talk, I mean seriously analyze. Anyone?

[WebDocMan]

Hi Nishi,

The man that I talked a little to about Niten ichi ryu was Gavin Thriepland I think. He has Ginger hair .

PS how do you know Wilf-sensei? .

I think The 'Gorin sho' does help even if Musashi’s style is very! different to Kendo. Any thing that gives you motivation is good though. Even if it is not practical .

[brandiweb]

i've just finished musashi the novel......(cool book by the way....)
and I want to start the book of the five rings...however, what is it about...I've only heard that one has to read it when interessting in japan, so I decided to do.....but I don't have the slightest idea what it is about...

[fd8IIys2]

I haven't read it entirely, so there are many people on this forum that will talk about it better than me, but whatever you do: DON'T BUY THE KAUFMAN VERSION!

I mean it, it's a patchwork of several other translations and the author doesn't even read or write japanese (there's a big error written on the cover of my version for example). It isn't even done by a swordsman, but by a karateka.

[avaincmolla]

Hmm. I've read it twice (second time to confirm my first impression) and while most of what it's saying is probably true, it's main points are to practice (and prepare) for everything and practice that a lot.
Instead I much prefer the collection of writings from Takuan Soho "A Fettered Mind", which I feel deals much better with the mental side of conflict.
YMMV.

Jakob

[Hixinfineedom]

One can draw off certain parts of Gorin no Sho although essentially its a manual for Niten Ichiryu. It's an oral tradition with the book in addition. With both this and Yagu's text they both clearly state this fact. What is unique about Gorin no Sho is that the manual has superseded the actual practice.

Gavin Threipland attended last years seminar in Canada. Hope he comes agian this year.

Forget the Nito though. We spend most of or lives trying to put everything we have into Kensen control. Two kensen's and its like stating all over again. We can only hope to briefly touch the level he must have had.

Just taking a quick break to log on here. I am fighting away at an English translation of Musashi's Dokkodo. Just spent a few hours with priests and now Japanese professors to try and thrash out how best to word things in English for you guys. You read the book, read the sequel (When I can get it finished).

Details of the Canada Seminar is here

http://www.uoguelph.ca/~iaido/iai-nitenseminar.html

French Seminar here for email and application form.

http://www.hyoho.com

The English page is in the process of being completed.

Regards

[MpNelQTU]

Moe-KendoFreak!, I didn’t think I said I understood it all. I have read it once and then a little again and it still seems new. Musashi seems to say things like. 'You should consider this deeply' , if I said I understood it right away then I would be pretty stupid . I would be winning comps with my eyes closed too and you know that is not true hehe.

Any way. I do remember you Nishi. There are some photos of you on the Preston site right? .. Hope you are doing well in Canada .

[serius_06]

my old version has a few errors, but I go back to it every five years or so to see if I understand it a little better. My teacher still gets ideas form it and he's 92!+

Hyaku,
you should easily rattle off a translation of dokkodo in about 20 minutes. What ARE you playing at??

[itepearce]

I started reading it again because I have a tournament tomorrow . I am not sure if Musashi actually did write his book when he said. He said he wrote it at the time called 'Tora no ji' the time where day and night are one. This relates to Niten ichi ryu the two heavens (Day and night ..). I can guess Musashi liked to be cool. A Sensei that does Nito and Niten ichi ryu showed me one of Musashi's kamae. Looked like some thing from a Manga comic, but I am not sure if it was true of not..

[VQdeochratis]

hey musha,,,,,, miyamoto said: Study this book; read a word then ponder on it. If you interpret the meaning loosely you will mistake the Way.

so maybe you understood the book wrongly, you should read it many times and understand what it says in it and u should think deeply about what is written in it ,try to get the spiritual side of it ya know....

[VIAGRA-]

I started reading it again because I have a tournament tomorrow *snip*

Ive tried that as well, it dosnt help

A Sensei that does Nito and Niten ichi ryu showed me one of Musashi's kamae.

Harwood? The man knows his Musashi history. Say hi to Wilf for me!

[Lgcjqxlw]

The man that I talked a little to about Niten ichi ryu was Gavin Thriepland I think. He has Ginger hair .

I know Gavin through BKA events, he started nito last year after his yondan I think. Steve Harwood is a much better authority, and I know he frequents KNMS when hes not in Japan. Steve contributes to kendo-world magazine and has submitted the articles on breath control. You can see his credentials in the kendo-world magazine, he certainly is a vault of info!!

PS how do you know Wilf-sensei?

I trained with Mr Swindles for a few years when in the UK. I was a student at doshinkenyukai (Bolton and Preston) until I returned to Canada last november, I used to come with my wife (who is english). I am sure I have fenced you, I think I have fenced all Wilfs students. I really get around these days

I think The 'Gorin sho' does help even if Musashi’s style is very! different to Kendo. Any thing that gives you motivation is good though. Even if it is not practical .

Im afraid the book won't help, at this level, nothing but basics and hardwork will make a noticeable difference. 5 rings may give these older guys some deep insight into the art of swordsmanship, but honestly, it wont make one iota of change to your immediate performance. Try lots of water and a short run the week before the shiai, that will help the nerves and cardio.

[OgrGlgHu]

Which translation/edition of The Book of Five Rings do you all favor?

[CO2490pL]

Which translation/edition of The Book of Five Rings do you all favor?

I prefer the King James version.

[Gscvbhhv]

I prefer the King James version.

Nice.

Eh...I have the William Scott Wilson translation, and the translation done by Kenji Tokitsu for his book, Miyamoto Musashi: His Life and Writings. I'm gonna be honest with you guys, I find alot of Musashi's writings...rather dull. I don't know if it's because I'm too young to appreciate it, or if it's because my experience concerning JSA is still that of a begginer, but I just can't keep myself interested in it as much as some of you lot do. Don't get me wrong, it's a valuable manual to any JSA practioner. I just can't keep myself interested in it. Maybe after I've matured a little bit and improved my skills some, I'll take another look at it.