The Book of Five Rings

This authoritative and enlightening version of Miyamoto Musashi’s classic on confrontation and strategy is translated and annotated by a modern martial arts master. Kenji Tokistu has spent most of his life researching the legendary samurai swordsman and his works. Here he uses his extensive knowledge to present this seminal text along with several earlier works by Musashi, putting them into historical and philosophical context and making them accessible and relevant to today’s readers and martial arts students.

While there are several versions of The Book of Five Rings edited by martial artists, Tokistu’s is by far the most extensively researched, the clearest, and the most packed with valuable insights from a martial arts perspective. Tokitsu really understands Musashi’s writings—and Musashi as a martial artist—and is able to give a rare insight into the man and his historical contribution.