Since reading this a few years ago, I’ve often thought about the Void and Musashi’s advice. For the reference of anyone like me, the quote in its full context is comes after a description of the ‘five fundamental stances’ in ‘the Way of the sword’. Here it is from the 2001 Wilson translation of the Five Rings—I think it’s worth thinking about together with the piece above:
The Lesson of Stance/No Stance What is called Stance/No Stance means that there is no stance that you should take with your sword at all. However, as I place this within the Five Stances, there is a stance here. According to the chances your opponent takes, and according to his position and energy, your sword will be of a mind to cut down your opponent in fine fashion no matter where you place it. According to the moment, if you want to lower your sword a little from the Upper Stance, it will become a Middle Stance; if, according to the situation, you raise your sword a bit from the Middle Stance, it will become the Upper Stance. The Lower Stance, accordingly, may be raised a little to become the Middle Stance as well. This means that the two Side Stances, according to their position, may be moved a little to the center and become the Middle or Lower Stances.
This is the principle in which there is a stance and there is no stance. At its heart, this is first taking up the sword and cutting down your opponent, no matter what is done or how it happens. Whether you parry, slap, strike, hold back or touch your opponent’s cutting sword, you must understand that all of these are opportunities to cut him down. To think, “I’ll parry,” or “I’ll slap,” or “I’ll hit, hold or touch,” will be insufficient for cutting him down. It is essential to think that anything at all is an opportunity to cut him down. You should investigate this thoroughly. With martial arts in the larger field, the placement of numbers of people is also a stance. All of these are opportunities to win a battle. It is wrong to be inflexible. You should make great efforts in this.
Since reading this a few years ago, I’ve often thought about the Void and Musashi’s advice. For the reference of anyone like me, the quote in its full context is comes after a description of the ‘five fundamental stances’ in ‘the Way of the sword’. Here it is from the 2001 Wilson translation of the Five Rings—I think it’s worth thinking about together with the piece above:
The Lesson of Stance/No Stance
What is called Stance/No Stance means that there is no stance that you should take with your sword at all. However, as I place this within the Five Stances, there is a stance here. According to the chances your opponent takes, and according to his position and energy, your sword will be of a mind to cut down your opponent in fine fashion no matter where you place it. According to the moment, if you want to lower your sword a little from the Upper Stance, it will become a Middle Stance; if, according to the situation, you raise your sword a bit from the Middle Stance, it will become the Upper Stance. The Lower Stance, accordingly, may be raised a little to become the Middle Stance as well. This means that the two Side Stances, according to their position, may be moved a little to the center and become the Middle or Lower Stances.
This is the principle in which there is a stance and there is no stance. At its heart, this is first taking up the sword and cutting down your opponent, no matter what is done or how it happens. Whether you parry, slap, strike, hold back or touch your opponent’s cutting sword, you must understand that all of these are opportunities to cut him down. To think, “I’ll parry,” or “I’ll slap,” or “I’ll hit, hold or touch,” will be insufficient for cutting him down. It is essential to think that anything at all is an opportunity to cut him down. You should investigate this thoroughly. With martial arts in the larger field, the placement of numbers of people is also a stance. All of these are opportunities to win a battle. It is wrong to be inflexible. You should make great efforts in this.
(The Japanese is here: https://www.koten.net/gorin/yaku/214/)