Introduction

Budo, the martial arts, is generally misinterpreted as a purely physical art which only consists of confronting an opponent in hand to hand combat and where strenuous training for the sole purpose of being victorious when the time calls for a physical engagement is the ultimate goal. But, in fact, aside from the physical and psychological benefits of understanding ones capabilities to handle a physical engagement after years of training, one can start to see that through Budo lies an entirely new perspective and philosophy that not only lies between the boundaries of the killings arts that is Budo, but that applies to life itself.

Aside from the basic concepts that Budo teaches us about discipline, cleanliness, and unselfishness, Budo also offers its practitioners an entirely new perspective on confronting issues in daily life and business. Deriving from proven battlefield strategies, the great masters of Budo have perfected a way to interpret and convey these concepts into our everyday lives. And if applied in the proper manner, just as a technique is applied with the utmost precision to accomplish total victory over an opponent, one can accomplish total victory in life and business.

Budo is a living art, always changing and improving. These concepts were passed down from master to student for hundreds of years evolving as the times did, and each time becoming better perfected and modified to match the ever changing ways of the times through war and peace. Through Budo we can start to uncover the secrets of conquering our everyday dilemmas making our minds and bodies stronger through positive experiences.

In the next sections we will start to analyze and uncover the simple but yet effective philosophies that lie within Budo using the concepts provided to us through Japan’s most respected form of Budo, the art of Japanese Swordsmanship. Through the bases of this art we will venture into the ideas and philosophies that have formed the foundation of Japan’s people and have changed the lives of those who have had entered its realm.