Musashi Miyamoto

Musashi Miyamoto (c. 1584 – June 13, 1645) - probably the most famous Japanese swordsman in history, the author of "The Book of Five Rings".

"To be a warrior is not a simple matter of wishing to be one. It is rather an endless struggle that will go on to the very last moment of our lives. Nobody is born a warrior, in exactly the same way that nobody is born an average man. We make ourselves into one or the other."

"You must understand that there is more than one path to the top of the mountain"

"The true science of martial arts means practicing them in such a way that they will be useful at any time, and to teach them in such a way that they will be useful in all things."

"Under the sword lifted high, There is hell making you tremble. But go ahead, And you have the land of bliss."

"Do nothing which is of no use"

"Aspire to be like Mt. Fuji, with such a broad and solid foundation that the strongest earthquake cannot move you, and so tall that the greatest enterprises of common men seem insignificant from your lofty perspective. With your mind as high as Mt Fuji you can see all things clearly. And you can see all the forces that shape events; not just the things happening near to you."

"If you wish to control others you must first control yourself"

"Know your enemy, know his sword."

"there is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself"

"Study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior. Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men."

"In fighting and in everyday life you should be determined though calm. Meet the situation without tenseness yet not recklessly, your spirit settled yet unbiased. An elevated spirit is weak and a low spirit is weak. Do not let the enemy see your spirit."

"All things entail rising and falling timing. You must be able to discern this."

"Perceive that which cannot be seen with the eye."

"Perception is strong and sight weak. In strategy it is important to see distant things as if they were close and to take a distanced view of close things."

"When you have mastered the Way of strategy you can suddenly make your body like a rock, and ten thousand things cannot touch you. This is the body of a rock.You will not be moved."

"The true Way of sword fencing is the craft of defeating the enemy in a fight, and nothing other than this."

"To attain the Way of strategy as a warrior you must study fully other martial arts and not deviate even a little from the Way of the warrior. With your spirit settled, accumulate practice day by day, and hour by hour. Polish the twofold spirit heart and mind, and sharpen the twofold gaze perception and sight. When your spirit is not in the least clouded, when the clouds of bewilderment clear away, there is the true void"

Masutatsu Oyama

Masutatsu Oyama (July 27th, 1923 – April 26, 1994) - a karate master, Kyokushinkai Karate founder, considered the first and most influential style of full contact karate




"If someone asked me what a human being ought to devote the maximum of his life to, I would answer: training. Train more than you sleep."

"In the martial arts, introspection begets wisdom. Always see contemplation on your actions as an opportunity to improve."

"Personal greed and egoism are things that cause human beings to forget respect for others and to violate rules that have been established for the sake of peace and friendship."

"A beginner starts to train with a whitebelt to show innocence and purity... Аnd as he progresses its color will darken and becomes a blackbelt. When a blackbelt trains hard, it will lose its color again and become pure."

"Reading good books implants good ideas in the mind, develops good aspirations, and leads to the cultivation of good friends."

"One must try every day to expand one’s limits"

"Human beings are capable of virtually limitless degradation; they are also capable of virtually limitless improvement and achievement. Success depends on goals and on diligence in pursuing them"

"Behind each triumph are new peaks to be conquered."

"Subjecting yourself to vigorous training is more for the sake of forging a resolute spirit that can vanquish the self than it is for developing a strong body."

Morihei Ueshiba

Morihei Ueshiba (December 14, 1883 – April 26, 1969) - a famous martial artist and founder of the Japanese martial art of aikido as a synthesis of his martial studies, philosophy, and religious beliefs.



"Always keep your mind as bright and clear as the vast sky, the great ocean, and the highest peak, empty of all thoughts. Always keep your body filled with light and heat. Fill yourself with the power of wisdom and enlightenment"

"Progress comes to those who train and train; reliance on secret techniques will get you nowhere"

"A good stance and posture reflect a proper state of mind"

"Mankind's role is to fulfil his heaven-sent purpose through a sincere heart that is in harmony with all creation and loves all things"

"When an opponent comes forward, move in and greet him; if he wants to pull back, send him on his way."

"Contemplate the workings of this world, listen to the words of the wise, take all that is good as your own. With this as your base, open your own door to truth. Do not overlook the truth that is right before you. Study how water flows in a valley stream, smoothly and freely between the rocks. Also learn from holy books and wise people. Everything-even mountains, rivers, plants, and trees - should be your teacher"

"The heart of a human being is no different from the soul of heaven and earth. In your practice always keep in your thoughts the interaction of heaven and earth, water and fire, yin and yang"

"The art of Peace I practice has room for each of the world's eight million gods, and I cooperate with them all. The God of Peace is very great and enjoins all that is divine and enlightened in every land"

"Each and every master, regardless of the era or the place, heard the call and attained harmony with heaven and earth. There are many paths leading to the top of Mount Fuji, but there is only one summit - love"

"The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit"

"There are no contests in the Art of Peace. A true warrior is invincible because he or she contests with nothing. Defeat means to defeat the mind of contention that we harbor within"

"All the principles of heaven and earth are living inside you. Life itself is truth, and this will never change. Everything in heaven and earth breathes. Breath is the thread that ties creation together"

"Do not look upon this world with fear and loathing. Bravely face whatever the gods offer"

"As soon as you concern yourself with the 'good' and 'bad' of your fellows, you create an opening in your heart for maliciousness to enter. Testing, competing with, and criticizing others weaken and defeat you"

"One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to practice the Art of Peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train"