Striking Deep with the Body
Musashi describes moving into an opponent’s space with a committed body movement, disrupting their balance, and following with a decisive strike.
THE IDEA
STRIKING DEEP WITH THE BODY
Striking deep with the body means penetrating right into the enemy’s face with full resolve and commitment. When you use your body to penetrate you may be able to knock the enemy off balance, enabling you to continue in with your attack. You should understand the need to be able to “blast” the enemy’s body away from his center of balance. You do this the way it is explained. You drive your spirit through the enemy’s spirit, using the enemy’s body by driving in with your shoulder and focusing your strike against the enemy’s very being. You must focus intently and when you have moved the enemy out of position you absolutely must fire with authority, killing the enemy with a single and perfectly executed stroke.
When to use it
Studying commitment and body positioning in a supervised martial arts drill.
In competitive sports: committing to a practiced move at an appropriate opening.
In public speaking: delivering a key point with unwavering conviction to persuade an audience.
In personal development: tackling a difficult habit or fear with total commitment to break through resistance.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Negotiation Breakthrough
A negotiator states one core requirement clearly and explains why it matters, instead of making a series of vague demands. The analogy concerns commitment to a position; the other party may still reject it.
Sports Decisive Move
A basketball player notices an open lane and drives toward the basket, committing to the move while staying within the rules. The example illustrates decisive movement rather than knocking a defender aside.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
How can you apply the principle of full commitment to a situation where you are currently hesitating?
What preparation would make you ready to act on a problem you have been avoiding?
Think of a time when a partial effort failed. How might full resolve have changed the outcome?
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Musashis book of five rings the definitive interpretation of Miyamoto Musashis classic book of strategy (Kaufman, SteveMiyamoto, Musashi)