The Fighting Style of Miyamoto Musashi

Note: This article has been excerpted from a larger work in the public domain and shared here due to its historical value. It may contain outdated ideas and language that do not reflect TOTA’s opinions and beliefs.

From Japan in Days of Yore. Vol. 3 by Walter Dening, 1905.

Nothing special happened on the way to Kumamoto. But the journey was full of interest to a lad who had never been far away from home before. Shichinosuke observed everything with a keen eye as he went along the road; and the knowledge of places and things acquired at this time served him to good purpose in later years.

On Buzaemon's arrival at the Kumamoto castle, he reported the results of his journey; and, finding that Katō Kiyomasa was in the mood for chatting, he related to him the episode connected with Shichinosuke and asked for permission to adopt him. Kiyomasa was taken with the story of the lad's brave deeds and immediately said:—"Adopt him of course. You are lucky to have found such a boy to be your son."

Buzaemon instructed Shichinosuke day after day in those arts and accomplishments with which at that time gentlemen's sons were expected to be acquainted: in all of which the lad made astonishing progress, being sharp enough to infer from any one thing that he acquired some ten others.

Buzaemon's style of fencing differed considerably from that of Munisai. Munisai was the author of a style known as the Jiken-ryū in which a very short sword (about 1 ft. 2 in.) was used. Buzaemon, on the other hand, practised a style known as the Kurama-ryū, in which a sword measuring about 2 ft. 3 in. was employed. Buzaemon was an adept in the Kurama style. Shichinosuke, whose aptitude for fencing was something astonishing, soon acquired the new style. At the same time, the lad did not at all like the idea of relinquishing his father's style. It seemed to be giving up that which connected him with Munisai more than anything else.

One day, after these thoughts had been filling his mind, he went to Mount Aso, where there was a famous temple erected in honour of the great god Aso. Here he prayed that war might become more and more prosperous in the country reaching down to distant generations.

The day on which Shichinosuke visited Mount Aso was a festival day, and all sorts of theatrical performances were going on in front of the temple. One of these consisted of the dancing of a woman. As she danced, she flourished about in an extraordinarily skillful manner two swords. As Shichinosuke watched these manoeuvres, the thought instantly struck him that if two swords could be thus made to perform all kinds of wonderful exploits they might, if skillfully handled, be used for fighting, and that with great effect too.

"Here" said he to himself, "is the way out of my difficulty about the two styles, that of my father and that of Buzaemon. If I can discover a way of using effectually both a long and a short sword at the same time, then without relinquishing my father's style I shall be able to practise that of Buzaemon."

Shichinosuke went to the temple and uttered solemn vows and prayers, invoking the gods to assist him in the elaboration of his scheme. Then he returned to his house, and week after week and month after month assiduously practised the new style until he had brought it to perfection. When he felt confident of its success, he gave out to the world that he had invented a new style of fencing, which he had named the Two-sworded-style (Nitō-ryū).

This invention has an interest of its own. Its origin was curious. It was the result of an attempt to solve a problem, as most inventions are. But what is peculiar about it is that it originated in a moral feeling. It had its source in filial affection. Had Shichinosuke cared less for either his real or his adopted parent, he would have practised the Jiken to the exclusion of the Kurama style, or the Kurama to the exclusion of the Jiken. It was his ardent affection for both parents that led to his attempting to incorporate both their styles in his Nitō-ryū.

Buzaemon, having heard that Shichinosuke had been practising a new style of fencing, one day, called him and said:—"I hear that you have invented a new style of fencing. What is it like?"

"Well" replied Shichinosuke, "to speak of inventing a new style to one's parent, is perhaps saying more than is proper. But, as you are kind enough to inquire what the style is like, I will tell you. The way it is practised is as follows:—Two swords are taken, one in each hand, a long one in the right hand, which corresponds to the male principle (yō) and a short one in the left hand, which corresponds to the female principle (in). At first the two swords, like the two principles, remain together, and seem as though they were hesitating how to act: then, they part from each other, the male sword ascending, and thus corresponding to heaven, the female descending, and becoming earth. Then, coming together again in the form of a cross, they produce all manner of results. This crossing of the two it is that, like the combining of the two principles, begets a universe of things. By a slight movement of the swords, the defensive posture known as the Seigan is assumed. There is no difficulty about changing the positions of the swords a thousand times to suit the ever varying movements of an opponent—their advance or retreat, their moving up or down is free and unimpeded by any hindrance whatever. But still, since I am young and inexperienced in such matters, I have little doubt that the style possesses a great many defects. I trust therefore that you will be kind enough to point out to me what you consider to be its weak points."

''Splendid! splendid!" exclaimed Buzaemon. ''A magnificent theory! a great feat! a clever discovery, indeed! But as it not unfrequently happens that there is a discrepancy between theory and practice, we will put your theory into practice and see how it acts."

Accordingly, with apologies for assuming the position of an opponent to his father, Shichinosuke took two swords and placed them in position. Buzaemon with his usual long fencing sword, commenced the attack by a shout and a cut at Shichinosuke's head. The latter, in an instant, had his crossed swords up to receive the blow. Buzaemon pressed his opponent's swords hard to try and break through the combination, but in vain. He then tried to withdraw his own sword; but there was no chance of doing it without the risk of being pierced, as Shichinosuke held his upper sword close to the blade of his opponent's weapon while supporting it from beneath with his under one. Had Buzaemon removed his sword, Shichinosuke would have run his under sword into his body before Buzaemon 's sword could be lowered to parry the thrust. So Buzaemon, seeing that there was nothing to be done, threw away his weapon and retired. He tried another mode of attack, but with no better success. "This is a style," said Buzaemon, "of which you need never be ashamed anywhere."

As time went on, the Two-sworded-style became more and more popular in every part of the country. Fencers crowded to Shichinosuke’s place to fence with him, but were invariably defeated.

Dening, Walter. Japan in Days of Yore. Vol. 3, Kyōbunkwan, 1905.

Walter Dening

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