"In budo, too, there are three important essentials: first, seeing and knowing oneself, one's own strengths and limitations; second, the sword of discrimination, of decisiveness, for eliminating faults, weaknesses, and the unnecessary; and last, the sincerity, feeling, devotion, insight, and understanding of the heart."

Masaaki Hatsumi

"You are not just fighting one opponent. You are fighting the unknown."

Masaaki Hatsumi

"A man who has thoroughly mastered the art does not use the sword, and the opponent kills himself; when a man uses the sword, he makes it serve to give life to others. When killing is the order, it kills; when giving life is the order, it gives life. While killing there is no thought of killing, while giving life there is no thought of giving life; for in the killing or in the giving life, no Self is asserted. The man does not see 'this' or 'that'; he makes no discrimination and yet knows well what is what. He walks on water as if it were earth; he walks on the earth as if it were water. One who has attained this freedom cannot be interfered with by anybody on earth. He stands absolutely by himself. "

Takuan


"All warfare is based on deception."

Sun Tzu: "Art of War"

If he is taking his ease, give him no rest.
If his forces are united, separate them."

Sun Tzu: "Art of War"

"The warrior doesn't care if he's called a beast or a dog; the main thing is winning."

Asakura Norikage (Soteki) (1474-1552)


"The ancient tradition that the world will be consumed in fire at the
end of six thousand years is true. as I have heard from Hell.
For the cherub with his flaming sword is hereby commanded to
leave his guard at the tree of life, and when he does, the whole crea-
tion will be consumed, and appear infinite. and holy whereas it now
appears finite & corrupt.
This will come to pass by an improvement of sensual enjoyment.
But first the notion that man has a body distinct from his soul, is to
be expunged; this I shall do, by printing in the infernal method, by
corrosives, which in Hell are salutary and medicinal, melting apparent surfaces away, and displaying the infinite which was hid.
If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear
to man as it is: infinite.
For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro' narrow
chinks of his cavern."

Plate XIV, Wedding of Heaven and Hell, William Blake

"natsukusa ya
tsuwamonodomo go
yume no ato"

Matsuo Basho