Miyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings

I have written a good number of books over the last 40 years on both Karate and the Filipino art of Modern Arnis. They have been technical how-to books. I have never written one on strategy. Why is that? Because the best one on strategy was written hundreds of years ago by Japan's greatest swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi. This is also not going to be yet another translation of Musashi's flagship book. I don't speak Japanese and there really is no way I could top Bennett's and Tokitsu's translations. I've read The Book of Five Rings a number of times. I have read it each time with the purpose of answering this question. "How does this book apply to me and my fighting arts in present time?" Bear in mind that being born in the 20th century and living in the 21st century brings about a very different set of cultural circumstances. How can something written back in 1645, The Book of Five Rings, figure into my own martial expression? Simple. I have always maintained this pervading concept: All fighting is the same; just the rules of engagement and tools differ. How does Musashi's classic text fit into modern day? Read on.
Dan Anderson