Text of Samurai Discloses the Secrets of the Supernatural Powers of the Sword Fighters

A recently converted samurai text, called Twelve Rules of the Sword, reveals the secrets of a sword fighting school that dominates a technique that grants supernatural powers.

The text, dating from the seventeenth century, contains information transmitted by a samurai named Itō Ittōsai (born around 1560), who fought and won 33 duels in Japan. Researchers have no assurance on when he died, but historical records that may have lived more than 90 years. Ittsai never wrote Twelve Rules of the Sword, but it was transmitted orally to his students in the One Cut Sword Fighting School.

The text describes the rules to defeat the opponent and two magic prayers to improve the spirit and mind of a samurai, according to Eric Shahan, who recently translated the text. Shahan is a Japanese translator who specializes in the translation of Japanese martial arts texts. He also has a San Dan (third degree black belt) in Kobudō, a Japanese martial art.

The two magical prayers are vague and difficult to understand. One of them states that a samurai must draw several Sanskrit characters on his palms, including a character that represents an Oni, a type of demon. Then, the samurai unites his palms, says a prayer and turns his hands once, makes a loud Un! Before applauding once and rubbing, say the prayer.

One of the rules in the text is called eyes of the heart Given, in Shahan's translation, that You must not look at your opponent with your eyes, but you must see them with your spirit . Two magical prayers that may have helped the samurai of the school A cut to the opponents with his spirit and mind was also translated into English in the text.

People living in seventeenth-century Japan have seen a samurai who have mastered the eyes of the heart rule. At that moment, it may seem like an observer that someone who masters this technique has supernatural powers, Shahan said. However, there is no scientific explanation of how to use your mind and your spirit, instead of your eyes, to observe your opponent.

According to Shahan, The explanation is that it reacts faster to the things that move in your peripheral vision at the time of your focus center. Looking directly at an opponent's sword, consciously recording a movement and then trying to respond. It will not end well for you in a sword duel. 

Shahan added: On the contrary, allow your opponent to be in your field of vision without focusing anywhere that your peripheral vision reacts in any movement or attack and you will react faster in what you can to look directly at the enemy.
The magic sentences in the text are probably a kind of self-hypnosis or meditation ritual: If your mind is in a confusion before the battle, the defeat will be certain, there could certainly be a connection with the eyes of the heart in the sense that Shahan said.

By: Preeti Narula