Miyamoto Musashi was one of the best known Japanese swordsmen and because he was self-taught in this art, he is also known as rōnin. Though there is not much information about Musashi, yet his book ‘The Book of Five Rings’ (Go Rin no Sho) tells a lot about him and his origin.
He was born at Shinmen Takezo in the Harima Province of Japan and was named Shinmen Musashi-no-Kami Fujiwara no Genshin. His father Shinmen Munisai was a samurai who was skilled in kenjutsu as well as juttejutsu and this was probably how Musashi developed an inclination towards this combatting art. Shortly after his birth his mother died and hence, he was under the parent ship of his stepmother called Toshiko, but after his father divorced this lady, he was sent to the Shoreian temple to his uncle Dorin who was a monk there. During his stay there he learnt about Zen Buddhism and also given primary education. Not much is known about his family after this point, as his book is more about fighting tactics.
As stated by him, his first achievement as a swordsman was at the age of thirteen when he defeated a samurai named Arima Kibei. From then on, there was no looking back and it was him who first realized that only getting better at handling the sword is not enough. To win a combat one must know other strategies like gauging the moves of the opponent and plan their moves in accordance. Thus, the world was introduced to the book of strategies by Miyamoto Musashi which has not lost the lustre even after centuries.
Here is a treasure of quotes by this impeccable swordsman which will tell you how to move forward in life.