The Complete Book of Five Rings

By: Miyamoto Musashi, Kenji Tokitsu - editor/translator

Narrated by: Brian Nishii

Length: 5 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

The Complete Book of Five Rings is an authoritative version of Musashi's classic The Book of Five Rings, translated and annotated by a modern martial arts master, Kenji Tokitsu. Tokitsu has spent most of his life researching the legendary samurai swordsman and his works, and in this book he illuminates this seminal text, along with several other works by Musashi. These include "The Mirror of the Way of Strategy", which Musashi wrote when he was in his 20s; "Thirty-five Instructions on Strategy", and "Forty-two Instructions on Strategy", which were precursors to The Book of Five Rings; and "The Way to Be Followed Alone", which Musashi wrote just days before his death.

Heard together, these five texts give listeners an unusually detailed, nuanced view of Musashi's ideas on swordsmanship, strategy, and self-cultivation. Tokitsu puts all these writings into historical and philosophical context and makes them accessible and relevant to today's listeners and martial arts students. Tokitsu understands Musashi's writings - and Musashi as a martial artist - unusually well and is able to provide a rare insight into the man and his historical contribution.

©2000 Kenji Tokitsu, English Translation 2004, 2010 by Shambhala Publications, Inc. (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Martial Arts Masterpiece

Simple and profound.

Would you like to learn about the way and strategy this is a essential work. Written by a man who faced more than 60 life or death combats you can obtain some of his thoughts and understandings about how he achieved such feat.

In our present days of relative peace and stability it's hard to understand or even learn by real experience the art of combat, so what remains it's some of grandmasters works to reflect well on those matters.

Translation

Amazing translation. The five scrolls and the 21 principles were very easy to visualize and understand.

So insightful

Narrator was so well spoken and the author really took the time to try and get into Musashi's frame of mind and having the context of his other works just enhances the book of 5 rights. i loved this book!

Valuable Insights

The commentary and background information provided deeper understanding of this classic work regarding strategy. This presentation of a somewhat cryptic text clarifies the cultural and historic background from which the text originated from.

Always good

If you were looking for this book, it’s a great find! Nishii always does excellent work.

Excellent treatise on strategy in Martial Arts.

Even after several centuries, Musashi's explanations on strategy for fighting is very relevant. Not just sword fighting, but all in martial arts. He goes into individual opponents, as well as multiple adversaries. Truly genius, and earned from his own life experiences!

A Remarkable Testament of a Warrior

Musashi's classic Book of Five Rings is ably edited and translated by Kenji Tokitsu who is not only a scholar of the Japanese language but is himself a martial artist. Includes excellent Introductions and Commentary.

Hard for western listeners, but the author pulls through

A lot of the book was the narrator explaining how the author framed his lessons. Very different perspective and super interesting. Very philosophical.

Must Listen

Even if combat sports is not your thing, you can learn a thing or two from a man the dedicate his life to a craft.

The best presentation of Musashi’s works

Of all variations of this book, I found this to be the best one. Narration is superb and adds to the experience as well.