This is the way for men who want to learn my strategy: 1. Do not think dishonestly. 2. The Way is in training. 3. Become acquainted with every art. 4… - Miyamoto Musashi

"To tread down the sword" is a principle often used in strategy. First, in large-scale strategy, when the enemy first discharges bows and guns and then attacks, it is difficult for us to attack if we are busy loading powder into our guns or notching our arrows. The spirit is to attack quickly while the enemy is still shooting with bows or guns. The spirit is to win by "treading down" as we receive the enemy's attack. In single combat, we cannot get a decisive victory by cutting, with a "tee-dum tee-dum" feeling, in the wake of the enemy's attacking long sword. We must defeat him at the start of his attack, in the spirit of treading him down with the feet, so that he cannot rise again to the attack.

Za ljude koji žele usvojiti moj ratnički nauk, postoje pravila pomoću kojih će to umijeće naučiti :
1. Razmišljaj o onome što je ispravno i istinito.
2. Vježbaj i usavršavaj nauk.
3. Upoznaj se s umijećima.
4. Upoznaj načela zanata.
5. U svemu spoznaj prednosti i mane.
6. Nauči sve točno vidjeti.
7. Postani svjestan onoga što nije očito.
8. Budi oprezan čak i u sitnicama.
9. Ne zadržavaj se na beskorisnim poslovima.

Becoming the opponent means you should put yourself in an opponent's place and think from the opponent's point of view.