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many refinements of it.
Even so, according to the place, your long sword may be obstructed above or to
the sides, so you will need to hold your sword in such manner that it can be used. There
are five methods in five directions.
Methods apart from these five hand twisting, body bending, jumping out, and so
on, to cut the enemy are not the true Way of strategy. In order to cut the enemy you
must not make twisting or bending cuts. This is completely useless. In my strategy, I bear
my spirit and body straight, and cause the enemy to twist and bend. The necessary spirit
is to win by attacking the enemy when his spirit is warped. You must study this well.
Use of Attitudes of the Long Sword in Other Schools
Placing a great deal of importance on the attitudes of the long sword is a mistaken way of
thinking. What is known in the world as "attitude" applies when there is no enemy. The
reason is that this has been a precedent since ancient times, that there should be no such
thing as "This is the modern way to do it" duelling. You must force the enemy into
inconvenient situations.
Attitudes are for situations in which you are not to be moved. That is, for
garrisoning castles, battle array, and so on, showing the spirit of not being moved even by
a strong assault. In the Way of duelling, however, you must always be intent upon taking
the lead and attacking. Attitude is the spirit of awaiting an attack. You must appreciate
this.
In duels of strategy you must move the opponent's attitude. Attack where his spirit
is lax, throw him into confusion, irritate and terrify him. Take advantage of the enemy's
rhythm when he is unsettled and you can win.
I dislike the defensive spirit known as "attitude". Therefore, in my Way, there is
something called "Attitude-No Attitude".
In large-scale strategy we deploy our troops for battle bearing in mind our strength,
observing the enemy's numbers, and noting the details of the battlefield. This is at the
start of the battle.
The spirit of attacking is completely different from the spirit of being attacked.
Bearing an attack well, with a strong attitude, and parrying the enemy's attack well, is like
making a wall of spears and halberds. When you attack the enemy, your spirit must go to
the extent of pulling the stakes out of a wall and using them as spears and halberds. You
must examine this well.
Fixing the Eyes in Other Schools
Some schools maintain that the eyes should be fixed on the enemy's long sword. Some
schools fix the eye on the hands. Some fix the eyes on the face, and some fix the eyes on
the feet, and so on. If you fix the eyes on these places your spirit can become confused,
and your strategy thwarted.
I will explain this in detail. Footballers52 do not fix their eyes on the ball, but by
good play on the field they can perform well. When you become accustomed to
something, you are not limited to the use of your eyes. People such as master musicians
have the music score in front of their nose, or flourish the sword in several ways when
they have mastered the Way, but this does not mean that they fix their eyes on these
things specifically, or that they make pointless movements of the sword. It means that
they can see naturally.
In the Way of strategy, when you have fought many times you will easily be able to
appraise the speed and position of the enemy's sword, and having mastery of the Way
you will see the weight of his spirit. In strategy, fixing the eyes means gazing at the man's
heart.
In large-scale strategy the area to watch is the enemy's strength. "Perception" and
"sight" are the two methods of seeing. Perception consists of concentrating strongly on
the enemy's spirit, observing the condition of the battle field, fixing the gaze strongly,
seeing the progress of the fight and the changes of advantage. This is the sure way to
win.
In single combat you must not fix the eyes on details. As I said before, if you fix
your eyes on details and neglect important things, your spirit will become bewildered, and
victory will escape you. Research this principle well and train diligently.
Use of the Feet in Other Schools
There are various methods of using the feet: floating foot, jumping foot, springing foot,
treading foot, crow's foot, and such nible walking methods. From the point of view of my
strategy, these are all unsatisfactory.
I dislike floating foot because the feet always tend to float during the fight. The
Way must be trod firmly.
Neither do I like jumping foot, because it encourages the habit of jumping, and a
jumpy spirit. However much you jump, there is no real justification for it, so jumping is bad.
Springing foot causes a springing spirit which is indecisive.
Treading foot is a "waiting" method, and I especially dislike it.
Apart from these, there are various fast walking methods, such as crow's foot, and
so on.
Sometimes, however, you may encounter the enemy on marshland, swampy
ground, river valleys, stony ground, or narrow roads, in which situations you cannot jump
or move the feet quickly.
In my strategy, the footwork does not change. I always walk as I usually do in the
street. You must never lose control of your feet. According to the enemy's rhythm, move
fast or slowly, adjusting your body not too much and not too little.
Carrying the feet is important also in large-scale strategy. This is because, if you
attack quickly and thoughtlessly without knowing the enemy's spirit, your rhythm will
become deranged and you will not be able to win. Or, if you advance too slowly, you will
not be able to take advantage of the enemy's disorder, the opportunity to win will escape,
and you will not be able to finish the fight quickly. You must win by seizing upon the
52
Footballers: Football was a court game in ancient Japan. There is a reference to it in Genji Monogatari.
enemy's disorder and derangement, and by not according him even a little hope of
recovery. Practise this well.
Speed in Other Schools
Speed is not part of the true Way of strategy. Speed implies that things seem fast or slow,
according to whether or not they are in rhythm. Whatever the Way, the master of strategy
does not appear fast.
Some people can walk as fast as a hundred or a hundred and twenty miles in a
day, but this does not mean that they run continuously from morning till night. Unpractised
runners may seem to have been running all day, but their performance is poor.
In the Way of dance, accomplished performers can sing while dancing, but when
beginners try this they slow down and their spirit becomes busy. The "old pine tree"53
melody beaten on a leather drum is tranquil, but when beginners try this they slow down
and their spirit becomes busy. Very skilful people can manage a fast rhythm, but it is bad
to beat hurredly. If you try to beat too quickly you will get out of time. Of course, slowness
is bad. Really skilful people never get out of time, and are always deliberate, and never [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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