TECHNIQUE OF THE MONTH
Retreat and renew
It
is hard to imagine anyone involved in japanese sword arts who didn't at
least once read the famous Go Rin No Sho - The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto
Musashi. This everlasting "bible" of strategy will inspire budoka as long
as budo and bujutsu exist. During the beginnings of my budo "journey" I
often found myself not understanding certain parts of Musashi's book.
It was stressing and disappointing. I was confused and often wondering
what is so deep in such trivial and (often) superficial advises. Yet, as
time went by, I realized more and more that there are thousands of secrets
and messages hiding in between the lines of Go Rin No Sho. Today,
after some 15 years of my "kenjutsu life", and after hundreds of hours
over the "Rings", I am a little bit closer to understanding it. And there
is still one whole Universe to be revealed in there. I sometimes even doubt
that Musashi himself realized what was the size of his work. But it is
some other story...
Kenjutsu system of Serbian Budo Council was based mostly on kendo techniques.
However, there were many tactics and techniques completely separated from
modern kendo, and often developed on the basis of Go Rin No Sho. Through
the hard shiai practice we experimented so far until we realized that any
"advice' from Musashi can be turned into a solid technique or strategy.
Finally, it also came to us that many times more than one passage from
Go Rin No Sho can be applied to one sole technique. It is a gift that can
be hardly described - gift from Miyamoto to all after him: practice one
technique and see many aspects of it!
Following technique is described with Musashi's words. I took 3 parts from
his book, which completely describe the philosophy of this action.
There is a lot behind superficial... Musashi was master of converting it
all in a short and condensed text:
TO RENEW
"To renew" applies when we are fighting with the enemy, and
an entangled spirit arises where there is no possible resolution. We must
abandon our efforts, think of the situation in a fresh spirit then win
in the new rhythm. To renew, when we are deadlocked with the enemy, means
that without changing our circumstance we change our spirit and win through
a different technique. It is necessary to consider how "to renew" also
applies in large-scale strategy. Research this diligently.
TO CAUSE LOSS OF BALANCE
Many things can cause a loss of balance. One cause is danger,
another is hardship, and another is surprise. You must research this.
In large-scale strategy it is important to cause loss of balance.
Attack without warning where the enemy is not expecting it, and while his
spirit is undecided follow up your advantage and, having the lead, defeat
him.
Or, in single combat, start by making a show of being slow, then
suddenly attack strongly. Without allowing him space for breath to recover
form the fluctuation of spirit, you must grasp the opportunity to win.
Get the feel of this.
NO DESIGN, NO CONCEPTION
In this method, when the enemy attacks and you also decide
to attack, hit with your body, and hit with your spirit, and hit from the
void with your hands, accelerating strongly. This is the "No Design, No
Conception" (Munen Muso) cut.
This is the most important method of hitting. It is often used.
You must train hard to understand it.
For the purpose of illustration I put the photo
of SBC members, Slobodan Drakulic (Nidan Jujutsu) and Vladimir Bojovic
(shodan kenjutsu). On photo #1 they are both in starting position, both
strong in their intention to keep their chudan no kamae, not allowing opponent
the slightest chance of approaching. It is time to "retreat and renew".
Following Musashi's instruction, Slobodan decides to "abandon his efforts"
and to retreat in a defensive guard and posture. On photo #2: He "renews"
his strategy, trying to win "through a different technique". He is
now in migi no kamae, waiting for "enemy" to approach. His guard and posture
are looking too open. This is causing a "loss of balance" in Vladimir's
strategy, "making a show of being slow". That initiates Vladimir's attack.
He is approaching with large shomen uchi (shin choku kiri), trying
to use Slobodan's "careless" stance. "Cheating" is successful and Slobodan
is now able to perform proper counter attack. Photo #3 shows his do kiri
(yoko kiri) after irimi with his right leg. He is "accelerating strongly"
and it all looks like "no design, no conception" strike. Just hitting with
the whole body and spirit... Vladimir is cutting through the air, being
dragged into the trap. One simple, and yet so powerful technique... I used
it many times. Worth trying.
... After all, Musashi recommends it...
Yours in budo,
Ivica