Miyamoto Musashi: The Way

Musashi Sensei, or Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Genshin, as he introduces himself in the Preface of The Book of the Five Rings, was born in the Harima County during a very turbulent time in Japan, when the last decisive battles took place at that Samurai Gold Era.

During his childhood, Musashi Sensei was called the Shinmen Bennosuke. It is assumed that he received his first instructions on kenjutsu from his own father, Shinmen Hirata Munisai.

As we can read in The Book of the Five Rings, he describes us the details of his first duel when he was with 13 years old only. At his 16, he defeated a very skillful warrior named Tadashima Akiyama.

On 1604, at 21 years of age, Musashi Sensei appears in Kyoto and his fame is spread for all over Japan after he defeated three important duels against three members of the illustrious Yoshioka Family, which was responsible, years before, for the instruction of House of shogun Ashikaga. (a kind of “official Swordsman School” for the Shogun himself).

He embraced on three duels. In the first two he defeated the “Kenpo Brothers”, Seijuro and Denshijiro. After having defeated both, Yoshioka followers saw Musashi Sensei not as a simple opponent anymore, but as a true and alive threat. They seek for a revenge and arranged a third duel against Matashichiro, Seijuro’s son, a 13 years old kid. Matashchiro would count with the help and support of all students and followers of Yoshioka School. It is recalled that during this duel, Musashi Sensei fought against 60 opponents at the same time, all of them armed with swords, spears, bows and arrows and even muskets.

Musashi Sensei defeated all his opponents, including Matashichiro and the Yoshioka’s students who crossed his path on that day. This was the end of a once upon time proud Yoshioka House and the start of the Miyamoto Musashi’s legend.

The Duel against Sasaki Kojiro

This is the most relevant and important duel fought by Musashi Sensei, which took place on 1612 when he defeated Sasaki Kojiro, the Ganryu School founder and a famous skilled samurai. Kojiro’s skills remark him as one of the most respected samurais of all times.
Afar from Musashi Sensei, who developed his own School based on his particular duel experiences, Kojiro was the follower of a long and extremely respected lineage and tradition.

The fight was very quick and intense. Both stroke each other simultaneously. Musashi Sensei hit Kojiro front forehead with a very keen and precise movement. It is recalled that Kojiro strike reached the headscarf Musashi Sensei was using, causing a small incision in his fronthead. After Kojiro’s fall, he tried a second and final strike while on the floor, aiming to hit Musashi Sensei’s legs, who leaped to avoid this final strike, hitting Kojiro on the hips, with an instant fatal knock out that costed Kojiro’s life.

Mature Life

On 1621, Musashi Sensei held a legendary duel, but it was not because of his challenger,Musashi Sensei Autoportrait showing the two sword position but mainly because this was the first official record of a two sword duel that became his trademark at Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu. Miyaki Gunbei was his opponent, who tried to strike Musashi Sensei several times in a roll, being blocked in each one of the failed tentative. Gunbei desperately stroke a direct stab, blocked by the short sword carried on the left hand by Musashi Sensei, simultaneously to a direct attack over Gunbei’s front face with the long sword carried by Musashi Sensei’s right hand. Gunbei recognized that he lost the duel and ask deep apologies to Musashi Sensei, bowing to him and asking to become his disciple.

Musashi Sensei was not a simple ronin. He was considered a Master of the Way and a person with great sensibility and wisdom, an advisor to be always listened and a Leader to be followed. He was often invited to stay on Castles and had in his inner circle the trust of respected personalities, as Takuan Soho Monk and the feudal Lords Ogasawara Tadazana and Hosokawa Tadatoshi. Together with Hosokawa Lord, Musashi Sensei embraced in a very long and deep friendship.

Musashi Sensei recalls on the Book of Five Rings that at his 50s he finally reached the full comprehension of the strategy. The level of understanding reached on the Way was so deep that, according with his words, he was able to “see” the Way in everything and on every detail of his life, from the time he waked up until he back to bed to sleep. Some of his paintings, sculptures and calligraphies masterpieces reached us nowadays. He reached the perfection on the Swordsmanship techniques and, thereafter, he was able to reach the same level of perfection in all of these Ways.

Musashi Sensei died on May 19, 1645. He was buried (at his request) using a complete War Dress (yoroi armor) in the Yuji village, near to Iwato Mount. It is recalled that during his funeral services a hard lightning bolt stroke at the sky, as Gods were welcoming the Powerful Warrior.