MUSASHI · Mind & Blade

The two-beat rhythm: when you are about to strike and the enemy pulls back fast or parries fast, feint the strike, and strike him in the slack after his parry, or in the slack after his withdrawal. — The Water Book

The third stance: lower, holding the sword as if letting it hang. As the enemy strikes, strike his hands from below. — The Water Book

Once you are within range, in the moment the enemy has not yet made up his mind, strike: without moving your body, without settling your mind, as fast and as directly as possible. — The Water Book

The bow serves in the advance and retreat of battle... The bow's one virtue is that you can see the arrow in flight. That is good. — The Earth Book

See the enemy's mind, see the state of the ground, fix the eye wide... In strategy large or small, never fix the eyes small. — The Wind Book

When the enemy is about to strike and you too are about to strike, the body becomes a striking body and the mind becomes a striking mind, and the hand strikes of itself out of the void, with sudden speed, and hard. — The Water Book

The second sword: from the upper stance, strike the enemy the instant he strikes. — The Water Book

A great matter of this Way: the ultimate stance is the middle. The middle is the essence of stance. Look at strategy on a large scale and the middle is the general's seat, with the other four stances following the general. — The Water Book

Trying to swing fast throws you off the line, and the sword becomes hard to swing. Swing it calmly, at the pace it swings easily. — The Water Book

In every Way, to know how not to lose to others, and so to protect yourself and your name, is the Way of strategy. — The Earth Book