Musashi has thoughts about your karate. Miyamoto Musashi dies in 1645 but he wrote some precepts (The Dokkodo) and a book, the Book of Five Rings, (Go Rin No Sho).

Miyamoto Musashi

I like you have come across copies of the Book of Five Rings. We have read it front to back and dipped into different chapters over the years. One book and one stanza have stood out to me for thirty-some years.

Musashi and The Water Book

An idea presented in the Water Book applies to the world of karate we have not. We have a world of karate dominated by entanglement. Entanglement is a bad thing and engaging in to is to be avoided. And you have a master telling you that. Here is the section we are addressing and the wisdom contained in the writing.

The Water Book

To Apply Stickiness. When the enemy attacks and you also attack with the long sword, 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 hitting 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 this.

This is a profound policy and as said, Musashi has thoughts about your karate.

When adopting this policy the question becomes, “How do you enter into stickiness and avoid entanglement?” The secrete lies in the approach. Reverse your process. We look at the moment of conflict from the entry point. Then we move through the process to the end of the moment to a point of completion. As you drill your martial arts with your partner know what the final act is and then seek that final act.

This is not an easy task and requires focus and a slow process. Of course, you can get more information on this by listening to the podcast linked below. And of course, get more on Musashi has thoughts about your karate.

Roland Warzecha – SwordsWay Beyond Punching and KickingKarate Fists

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KRIS WILDER

Kris Wilder is a martial artist based in Eastern Washington. He has authored many martial art books, including the classic, The Way of Kata. Making no apologies for his obsession of Football he can be found telling any who will listen about the nuances of the Canadian Football League.