Musashi's Dokkodo (The Way of Walking Alone)

Goran Powell
, award winning author of 
Chojun
, 
A Sudden Dawn
,
Matryoshka
, and
 Waking Dragons
~~
“I am not familiar with martial arts so I had never heard of Miyamoto
Musashi. However, I do like books that promote self-improvement
and philosophy. When I first saw this book I initially thought it would
not be something I was interested in. However, I was intrigued by the
approach that the authors had taken to do such a unique and
personal interpretation of Musashi’s 21 precepts. The precepts
themselves offer priceless advice to anyone, not just those in martial
arts. And the authors approach make this a fresh and fun read. Well
done!” — 
Kate Vitasek
, Faculty, Graduate and Executive Education,
University of Tennessee
~~
"Reading 
Musashi’s Dokkodo
was like convening around a warm fire
with a hot mug of cappuccino and a wizened group of philosophical
mentors. It was akin to talking to five therapists. The unique
viewpoints, examples and stories were cleverly wrought, causing me
to laugh out loud and experience ‘a-ha’ moments. I could read this
multiple times and get to deeper levels of awareness. The five point
perspective inspired deep introspection. I have been elevated to
higher and deeper levels of personal and professional growth by
reading this book.” — 
Laela Erickson
, Senior Business
Development Executive
~~
“
Musashi’s Dokkodo
is a very unique book which critically and
creatively analyzes the precepts of a two sword psycho-killer and
seeks to learn positive lessons even from such a mind. Anyone who
has read 
The Book of Five Rings
will agree that Musashi is one of
the most influential martial artists of all time. If he was indeed a
psychopath, the question should be, ‘What does that say about

---

those of us who choose to follow his precepts, or at least consider
them?’ This is a question I rarely thought about until reading this
book.
“I thoroughly enjoyed 
The Book of Five Rings
in the way I enjoyed
Sun Tzu’s 
Art of War
. I had always thought that these were warriors,
and for those of us who are training to be warriors of a sort, this was
line of thinking was perfectly acceptable. Except, the battles most of
us fight are within ourselves. We are not living in feudal Japan.
Musashi fought his 60 famous duels to the death in order to better
his skills and sharpen his warrior’s mind. That is what was
necessary. And, he only fought, sword to sword, against proven
warriors as well (or so the stories go).
“This book about Miyamoto’s precepts—based on 5 different points
of view—analyzes the thinking that made Miyamoto successful,
allowing him to conquer his inner demons along with his combative
foes. What is most fascinating about this approach is that although
these authors are martial artists, they also live in and work in
different fields. If this were merely a book by and for martial artists, it
would still be interesting, but arguably not as important or even as
provocative. It is from deeper analysis that these precepts become
internalized, and therefore, most usable.
“The authors of Musashi’s Dokkodo should be commended for
opening a door to new paths, allowing us to understand the thinking
of a psycho killer, and yet appreciate how much we have evolved in
the martial arts—by fighting our inner demons instead of our human
enemies. After all, most of us train for peace.” —