The Greatest Samurai (the early years)
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In Imperial Japan the Samurai were the lords of life and death. You could be killed for looking at a samurai the wrong way, if you were a peasant. A samurai who killed another Samurai merely had to make a statement at the local government headquarters and he was free to go.
Samurai were trained from birth in a wide variety of arts. They were trained to sacrifice their lives in the service of their Lord, and they were expected to make there life one of value. Many consider the samurai to be the greatest warriors this planet has ever seen.
The greatest Samurai of them all may have been Sokaku Takeda. Compared to Myamoto Musashi, referred to as a Tengu (demon), he mastered many different skills and weapons including sword, staff, half-bow, short-staff, and throwing darts. He also received a license in the spear arts of the Hozoin-ryu, and he taught over thirty thousand students during his lifetime, among them the founders of Aikido and Hapkido.
The boy studied the approaching armies from his vantage point high in a tree. The Imperial Forces with their colorful banners moved in precise manuevers across the valley floor. The infantry dared the world in thunderous voice, and the proud cavalry on their high stepping chargers darted about, flinging challenges to the rebels.
The boy was small for his age, which was only ten, and yet he studied the precision movements of the large numbers of men with a bold eye. They moved well, and they looked so beautiful in their lacquered armor, yet his father had merely referred to them as trained dogs. Suddenly, beneath the boy, whos name was Sokaku Takeda, the rebels emerged from the forest.
These were taciturn, worn warriors, not overly proud peacocks, and among them Sokaku could see his fatherr and others of his family. These were the Aizu, his clan, and a fierce surge of pride ran through his body. Now we shall find out, he thought, and he flexed his fingers in anticipation--and quickly loosed them.
He had been slow in learning a technique the night previous, and his grandfather had watched as his father held his hand over the fire. Holding back tears, he had watched as his flesh singed. The punishment done, he had not held his hand, but just let it hang, a reminder to work ever harder, to master the techniques quickly quickly and avoid such punishment.
His flesh had been burned before, and it would, no doubt, be burned again, but it was more important to concentrate on the coming battle. Watch and learn, were the advice of his father the previous evening--learn what manner of technique gets a man killed, and what manner of technique lets a man live. Sokaku Takeda, knowing his father had spoken truly, made himself comfortable in the high tree, and prepared to learn the lessons that would guide his life.
Article Source: Articlelogy.com
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