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The Complete Book of Five Rings

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The Complete Book of Five Rings

By: Miyamoto Musashi, Kenji Tokitsu - editor/translator
Narrated by: Brian Nishii
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About this listen

The Complete Book of Five Rings is an authoritative version of Musashi's classic The Book of Five Rings, translated and annotated by a modern martial arts master, Kenji Tokitsu. Tokitsu has spent most of his life researching the legendary samurai swordsman and his works, and in this book he illuminates this seminal text, along with several other works by Musashi. These include "The Mirror of the Way of Strategy", which Musashi wrote when he was in his 20s; "Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy", and "Forty-two Instructions on Strategy", which were precursors to The Book of Five Rings; and "The Way to Be Followed Alone", which Musashi wrote just days before his death.

Heard together, these five texts give listeners an unusually detailed, nuanced view of Musashi's ideas on swordsmanship, strategy, and self-cultivation. Tokitsu puts all these writings into historical and philosophical context and makes them accessible and relevant to today's listeners and martial arts students. Tokitsu understands Musashi's writings - and Musashi as a martial artist - unusually well and is able to provide a rare insight into the man and his historical contribution.

©2000 Kenji Tokitsu, English Translation 2004, 2010 by Shambhala Publications, Inc. (P)2014 Audible Inc. Career Success Combat Sports & Self-Defense Eastern Martial Arts Philosophy Samurai Sports Combat Sports Inspiring Military Meditation Business Classics Career Development
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Miyamoto Musashi, not only takes us through his life, but gives us a personal recollection of how he faced adversity through following the many "ways" of life, such as the way of the monk, confusionism and of the beggar. Through understanding this it has helped me become more perceptive when approaching the world and all of its paths, broadening my perspective and opening my mind to what us Humans can manifest in this reality. I leave this review with one quote from the book that has left a huge imprint inside my mind.

Miyamoto Musashi "Do not, Perform, any useless Acts"

More than just a Strategy.

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Mellifluously spoken, if slow but that, in part, is of the substance and purpose of the book

Consistency of voice

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I initially started listening with the intention of inspiring a Dungeons and Dragons campaign. As the book progressed, I increasingly noticed profound and broadly applicable insight behind the concepts. At one point, I watched my cat leap high in the air to catch a bird sitting in a tree, and my vicarious experience of her strategy mirrored what I was listening to at that moment.

Although myself and many raised to chase the spark of pleasure and success may struggle to truly understand Musashi, particularly regarding his thoughts on emptiness, an attempt to intuit feels braver than passive resignation. At the very least, be wary of misinterpreting emptiness as nihilism.

There were many explanations of techniques and strategy that could add flavour to a story or game. The narrator had exceptional pacing, clarity and tone. This listening experience was a good one.

Sword techniques and insight that grows on you

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enjoyed how miyamoto found basic actions that can be applied to fighting, along with training for the swordsmanship.

philosophical to reality

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in depth with great explanation of musashi's life and point of view. includes other vital writings by him and translates the japanese words carefully and clearly.

great

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An exellent interoperation of musashi's scrolls with a martialist take on it. Beautifully narrated and I like the comparative analysis between the different scrolls.

Great book and narration

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Excellent strategy book, good translation and well read. Real applicable strategies for life and business in the modern world

Core strategy

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Fantastic work This Translation is the most accurate and the format it was presented was also easiest to understand, then any other version I have encountered.

The Restructuring and Explanation of Period Language it’s nuances , and altered meanings.

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when listening to this book, it's quite evident that each word written down after extremely careful thought. definitely recommend.

brilliant

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It's clear that the author has put in considerable effort to make the interpretation as faithful as possible to the original. The narrator is amazing since his pronounciation of the Japanese words is accurate and clear

Accurate translation and narration

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