Strategy is the craft of a warrior
– Miyamoto Musashi
Written around 1645, Miyamoto Musashi’s
Five Rings
is a classic Japanese work on mastery in swordsmanship, leadership and conflict. Musashi was a swordsman, philosopher and strategist, and today his work remains of influence not only in the realm of martial arts but in the business world, too.
Musashi’s no-nonsense approach to the martial arts and combat includes eliminating technical flourishes, understanding that technique should simply be understood as defeating your opponent, and appreciating that the same qualities apply in both small- scale and large-scale conflicts. Repeatedly, he stresses the importance of learning through practice, rather than merely reading about them.
Produced using beautiful traditional Chinese bookbinding techniques,
is presented in an exquisite edition with a brand new modern translation.