“The manner in which a warrior carries himself is of the utmost importance both physically and mentally. You are undoubtedly familiar with men who are quiet and strong and seem to be doing nothing.
They do not wp-contentear to be tense and do not wp-contentear to be in disarray. They simply wp-contentear. This is exactly the wp-contentearance for which they strive. When it is necessary to attack, they do so with complete resolve, sure of themselves, neither over-bearing in attitude nor with false humility. They attack with one purpose and one purpose only- to destroy the enemy.They do not take false postures when they prepare for attack. They simply attack with all their heart and soul…
Miyamoto Musashi, from his “Book of Five Rings” as interpreted by Hanshi Steve Kaufman
Whether on or off the battlefield, there is no difference in spirit. The warrior sees all of life as the battlefield.”
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My first real martial arts instructor, Carlos Macias, gave me the book the above quote is taken from about 2 years into our relationship. It was his personal copy, and was painstakingly highlighted. Contained within were concepts that felt very familiar, though I had never seen them on paper or knew their origins. I was aware of the importance of strategy in fighting and in business, but never had I seen clearly how useful and important it was to carry that type of discipline and mindset throughout everyday life.
As I moved on to different physical aspects of martial arts, the gift of the book from Mr. Macias enabled me to learn more thoroughly, find incredible importance in the smallest of details, draw knowledge from any and all fields of expertise, and familiarized me with the difference between a “warrior” and a “sport” mentality.
Though Musashi was writing from the perspective of a swordsman in ancient Japan, the theories and ideas he put forth are timeless, and transferable to almost anything. If you are struggling with any path you are on, or simply want to take a path further, you may find value in reading “Book of Five Rings”.