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'There are many enemies' applies when you are fighting one against many. Draw both sword and companion sword and assume a wide-stretched left and right attitude. The spirit is to chase the enemies around from side to side, even though they come from all four directions. Observe their attacking order, and go to meet first those who attack first. Sweep your eyes around broadly, carefully examining the attacking order, and cut left and right alternately with your swords. Waiting is bad. Always quickly re-assume your attitudes to both sides, cut the enemies down as they advance, crushing them in the direction from which they attack. Whatever you do, you must drive the enemy together, as if tying a line of fishes, and when they are seen to be piled up, cut them down strongly without giving them room to move.

Miyamoto Musashi#39

TacticsCombatAggressionCrowd

About this quote

What does it mean?
Against many enemies, drive them together and cut them down without giving room to move.
In plain terms
Group enemies together and attack them aggressively.
What can you take from it?
Consolidate threats and strike decisively.

Where it applies

  • crowd control
  • multiple opponents
  • team management

Putting it to work

  • identify targets
  • limit movement
  • strike fast

Questions to consider

  • Can you limit movement?
  • How do you handle numbers?

Another view

Crowding opponents might be risky or impossible in some settings.

More from Miyamoto Musashi

  1. The spirit of the smacking parry is not parrying, or smacking strongly, but smacking the enemy's long sword in accordance with his attacking cut, primarily int…

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  2. You can know how to win through strategy with the long sword, but it cannot be clearly explained in writing. You must practise diligently in order to understan…

    Permalink to quote #40
  3. Fixed formation is bad. Study this well.

    Permalink to quote #37

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