Bibliography:
Kane, Lawernce; Wilder, Kris; Burrese, Alain; Anderson, Dan; Christensen, Lisa and Smedley, Wallace. “Musashi’s Dokkodo (The Way of Walking Alone): Half Crazy, Half Genius - Finding Modern Meaning in teh Sword Saint’s Last Words.” Stickman Publications, inc. Internet. Novenber 2015
Review: It is apropos that I received my copy of this book just a day after reading an article that actually says, in a more terse manner, exactly what these find Martial Artists and Authors say herein. I have been captivated by their writings, perceptions and perspectives toward this concept we use as to the epitome of martial arts strategies and tactics. It makes me wonder about a lot of things currently accepted as true vs. what is merely legend and stories to entertain and attack believers.
It is just one more possible presentation of reality that many will take homage to just because it refutes their core belief system as to martial arts much like hearing that, “Karate is not a martial art,” tends to send karate-ka climbing the walls with indignation. It is just one of those possibilities that tells us that things may not be what we think or would like but it does say that finding reality is critically important, important toward understanding what it is that we do.
These guys do a bang up job informing us of the other side to a one-sided story. In the study or karate principles there is the discussion and study of yin-yang where the original story is the yin that makes it exciting and believable while the yang side as presented herein brings out a more realistic perception of who and what this man is and was with a more realistic view of his writings.
This is an awesome book and should be an important addition to your library. You may not agree and you may want to argue the points but at the very least if it makes you think, consider and continue an open-minded type of study than regardless you are a better human for it.
p.s. as an aside, I have a feeling if the authors go further to see the variations of translations they can achieve a new goal of several books on this very subject. I did some research on the Dokko-do by Musashi to find what appears as, "Different," interpretations and translations into English. The differences I detect on meaning do change according to who translate so if these guys feel it, they can do follow up books on this same subject. Now wouldn't that be really cool - a collection!