Weapons in Strategy

WEAPONS IN STRATEGY

Each weapon has its own “spirit.” Each weapon must be used in its proper place in order to be effective and enable the handler of the weapon to take advantage of its properties. The ultimate weapon is “thing-no-thing.” In addition to physical weapons consider the use of “empty hands” to be the ultimate physical weapon. Now consider the use of “empty mind.”

You must study with the idea in mind of being able to function in any situation with any weapon. If you study hard and understand the properties of all weapons, they may be used effectively in any situation.

Attack weapons like the spear and the bow are good at the onset of an attack but become virtually useless when involved with up-close combat. This does not mean that the bow is entirely useless. Remember to read with understanding and to keep in mind the weapons that are used in warfare. As new weapons are developed they should also be studied with the proper intent of the warrior, which is to master strategy.

The gun is a formidable weapon and has no equal at the beginning of an onslaught but it becomes useless in combat at close quarters because of the difficulty of reloading. The lance and spear must be used at a distance and the bow is of no use in close combat either. Consider the times you are living in and the weapons available to you. As times change and new weapons are made available to you, you must continue to study the nature of these weapons and learn to work with them in learning my strategy.

The weapon is a tool to be used efficiently and effectively; otherwise it will be of little value, even in the hands of a master. With the long sword or with empty hands, the stance should be strong, the cuts, strikes, punches and kicks strong, and the spirit unyielding in the face of battle. This will depend on the amount of heart you have put into your training and practice. Weapons may have decorations on them to enhance the spirit of the warrior but they should primarily be built for durability.

It is dangerous for a warrior to know only one thing. It will eventually create shortsightedness and limit the possibilities for additional growth. What is the sense of knowing a thing to such a degree that you become oblivious to other things? If you constantly disregard the possibilities of other methods and tools, then you become short-sighted and may in fact lose the advantage of your own strength. That is why the warrior must learn the techniques of other schools and apply that information to the system being studied here.