Musashi and Bruce Lee Agree

Almost 400 years apart

Musashi and Bruce Lee agreed. Miyamoto Musashi was the greatest samurai and sword strategist that ever lived. And he has advice for you. Born in 1584 in Japan, he lived a life of strategy and tactics as well as life and death battles.

Musashi’s life is the subject of movies, books, audiobooks, university courses, and documentaries. Musashi’s life is a legend. His words and battle-hardened philosophy are more valuable than ever. And his ideas are applicable today on the mat and in the boardroom.

The Book of Five Rings

Musashi wrote The Book of Five Rings, a book on the way of the samurai sword or Kenjutsu. The Book of Five Rings, Go Rin No Sho in Japanese, is broken into five chapters. These five chapters are the Book of the Earth, the Book of Water, the Book of Fire, the Book of Wind, and the Book of the Void. One section of The Book of Water is applicable in the world today.

Water can be a gentle stream or a tsunami. Bruce Lee spoke of this flexibility when in an interview he spoke, “…water can flow or it can crash be water, my friend.” Bruce Lee and Musashi agree

Musashi has a recommendation from deep inside the Book of Water, an idea that is often overlooked. Paraphrasing this section of The Water book reads. To apply stickiness. When the enemy attacks and you also attack with a long sword, you should go in with a sticky feeling. Fix your longsword against the enemy as you receive his cut.

The spirit of stickiness is not hitting strongly but hitting so that the long sword does not separate easily. It is best to approach this as calmly as possible when hitting the enemy’s long sword with stickiness. The difference between stickiness and entanglement is stickiness is firm, entanglement is weak. You must appreciate this.

The Mud of Entanglement

One of the worst things that can happen to an army is to get bogged down in the sticky mud of the battlefield. Excessive bureaucracy slowing innovation can be bad. Wrestlers at a stalemate are stood up to begin again to speed up the action. Judoka knotted on the mat are broken up by the referee and reset. BJJ sorting the problem of tangled legs.

Entanglement is Bad

Becoming entangled is as productive as arguing on social media. Whether it’s on the training floor, combat, home, or workplace. Entanglement is weak. In the world of sports, stickiness is honored and rewarded. You only need to look at the rules of your favorite sport to see this proven out.

Rodeo Knows the Difference

Musashi says to be calm as possible and being sticky is good, and entanglement is bad. And to know the difference. We desire what Musashi is saying to have a calm mind. A calm mind makes the best choices. Bruce Lee said, “Be like water, my friend.” Be flexible. A simple recommendation to apply what Bruce Lee and Musashi are endorsing.

When you sense entanglement, do what both men are saying to do. Don’t be heavy. Don’t be rigid. Stickiness is a unique combination of attention and action. I overheard a Rodeo Bareback rider say onetime, “Hold on tight, and stay loose.” a modern expression of what two martial artists had to say.

Miyamoto Musashi lived 378 years ago, yet his wisdom is here for you to use in today’s world. The world may be demanding rigidity from you, but you only need to do what the world’s greatest swordsman said to do.

Approach as calmly as possible, be firm, and avoid entanglement.

Be well and keep the path.

Key Takeaways:

1. Water symbolizes flexibility and adaptability
2. Stickiness in battle means engaging with the enemy in a way that prevents separation
3. Entanglement is unproductive
4. Being like water means being flexible and adaptable in various situations
5. A calm mind allows for better decision-making and action

Quotes:

• “Water can flow or it can crash, be water, my friend.” – Bruce Lee
• “To apply stickiness… Fix your longsword against the enemy as you receive his cut.” – Miyamoto Musashi
• “Entanglement is weak. Entanglement is punished.” – Go Rin No Sho
• “Approach as calmly as possible, be firm, and avoid entanglement.” – Go Rin No Sho

• About
• Latest Posts

Kris Wilder

Kris Wilder is a martial artist, author, and life coach. He holds multiple black belts in various martial arts disciplines, including Goju-Ryu Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo. Kris is known for his deep understanding of martial arts and his ability to connect with students on a personal level.
He has authored several books on martial arts and self-defense, such as "The Way of Kata" and "The Little Black Book of Violence". Kris also runs the Wilder Karate Academy, where he teaches classes and conducts seminars.

Latest posts by Kris Wilder (see all)

• Musashi and Bruce Lee Agree - February 12, 2025