Miyamoto Musashi and the Splendid Splinter

Miyamoto Musashi:

Japanese Swordsman
Samurai Warrior
Painter (Self Portrait on left)
Author of The Book of Five Rings

Ted Williams:

American Batsman

"The Splendid Splinter"
"Teddy Ballgame"
Expert Flyfisherman
Ace Fighter Pilot
Author of The Science of Hitting

These two wizards take a no-nonsense approach to articulating their craft. Without getting too technical here, if we apply Musashi's 5 categories (or "rings") to William's text, the art of both samurai swordsmanship and that of hitting a baseball show interesting parallels. Here's a very quick glance...


Earth -

The Sword: martial arts, leadership, and training are analagous to building a house

The Bat: good, solid base (digging in with the back foot, slightly closed stance w/ front foot open toward pitcher, up on the balls of your feet, balance and weight proportioned evenly, butt and hips ready to start it all), practice, practice, practice.

Water -

The Sword: style, basic technique, fundamental principles

The Bat: fluid flow of power starting with backward cocking of hips to the single motion of hips followed by hands and finally arms

Fire -

The Sword: the heat of battle, different types of timing

The Bat: battle between batter vs. pitcher, hitting the ball hard, focus and concentration, aggressiveness, the importance of timing together with anticipation

Wind -

The Sword: "wind" is the same character as "style" in Japanese. Musashi describes the failings of contemporary schools of swordfighting

The Bat: one's style of hitting need not be changed. Williams describes the failings of contemporary schools of hitting/bunting

Void -

The Sword: zen-influenced thoughts on consciousness and the correct mindset

The Bat: "hitting is 50% from the neck up"


That was a big out. 
There's some serious swagger in the next hitter as he lifts his lumber out of the on-deck circle.
There's a meeting on the mound...