Conquering evil, not the opponent, is the essence of swordsmanship.
Yagyu MunenoriRead
Once a fight has started, if you get involved in thinking about what to do, you will be cut down by your opponent with the very next blow.
Interpretation
What this quote means
In the heat of conflict, hesitation can lead to defeat.
This quote emphasizes the critical importance of instinctive action in the midst of a crisis. Once a confrontation begins, overthinking can lead to missed opportunities and vulnerabilities, allowing an opponent to seize the advantage and potentially result in failure.
Themes
ConflictActionInstinctDecision-MakingCrisis
In practice
Example use cases
During a self-defense workshop, this quote can be used to illustrate the importance of quick responses.
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