Martial Arts Stories and Fables
A collection of stories I have collected over the years. Some I have found online and others were received orally from my Sensei and may not be exactly true to the original, however I hope you still find the lessons hidden within.
Matajuro Yagyu, son of a renowned master of the sword, was relegated by his father, who believed his efforts were not sufficient to become a true master. Ma...
Mon, 17 Feb, 2025 at 10:55 AM
One day a hungry old man entered a small village and noticed a sign proclaiming the name of a local Iaido school. Knowing that it was customary for a dojo&...
Mon, 17 Feb, 2025 at 10:57 AM
A long time ago during the reign of the Tokagawa Shogunate a samurai set out on an errand. Precisely one year ago to the day he had lent 10 koku to a fishe...
Mon, 17 Feb, 2025 at 10:57 AM
A Samurai was calmly eating his supper in a small inn, ignoring four flies, which kept buzzing round him. Three Ronin (masterless samurai) came in: they loo...
Mon, 17 Feb, 2025 at 10:59 AM
An old man and his son worked on a small farm, with only one horse to pull the plough. One day the horse ran away. "How terrible," sympathized th...
Mon, 17 Feb, 2025 at 11:00 AM
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar, and the 2 cups of coffee... A ...
Mon, 17 Feb, 2025 at 11:02 AM
I will tell you the story of the Samurai who came to see the legendary master Miyamoto Musashi and asked to learn the true way of the sword. The master agr...
Mon, 17 Feb, 2025 at 11:03 AM
One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. For hours, the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old and the we...
Mon, 17 Feb, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Some time ago there was a stone cutter. The stone cutter lived in a land where a life of privilege meant being powerful. Looking at his life he decided that...
Mon, 17 Feb, 2025 at 11:08 AM
A learned man once went to a Zen teacher to inquire about Zen. As the Zen teacher explained, the learned man would frequently interrupt him with remarks lik...
Mon, 17 Feb, 2025 at 11:09 AM