Kill with one blow

Paula 2021-12-24 08:01:19

Regarding the duel between Zatoichi and the bodyguard, some people analyzed from a technical point of view that the city saw the opponent's small moves and was able to crack it. Obviously this kind of low-level analysis does not match the style of the whole film, and it is even more impossible for a key scene to contain only such an analysis. After reading a related sentence elsewhere, I think it might be like this: The hotel had already won the first time when the hotel drew a forehand knife. In order to play a new trick, he changed his posture-without considering how his opponent would change- -He didn't even consider whether he could kill with a backhand forehand. Because of this, he can kill with one blow!
This enlightening passage is from the Japanese scholar and martial artist Uchida Ki's "Japanese Frontier Theory". Uchida Ki is also quoted. Obviously, this concept is in martial arts thought, although it is not certain that Kitano Takeshi is expressing this concept. It's like


this-"The two sides stand opposite each other with swords, that is the collision of life. Even if there is a moment of trance, it is equivalent to surrendering your own life, you must be very careful. But, in fact, if you want to be in this way If you consider yourself in a situation, there will be a corresponding gap. As long as there is a gap, even a tiny gap will hit the opponent's sword. Therefore, if you die, it is actually suicide. The sword competition is like an electric light. Shihuo, there is no room for'I'. However, at the critical moment of life and death, how can one forget the self? From here, we can see the tiny parts of human psychology." (Suzuki Otsuki "New Oriental Views")
Consider There will be a gap in yourself, which is recorded in all martial arts books. The presence of a gap means that the intrusion path is opened unpreparedly, and it will be "hit by the opponent's sword." At the same time, it also means that there is a "time delay" that makes the opponent's intrusion possible, and you will appear if you consider yourself. If there is a gap, you will be hit by the opponent's sword, which is "suicide."
So, how can one escape death? Suzuki Dazhuo's statement is "electric light and stone fire", which means that he reacts without thinking about himself. So, how can we react without thinking about ourselves?
Dazhuo Suzuki used the language in "Fudo Chishin Myolu" sent by Zen Master Zawaan to Sumire Yagyu. Zen Master Ze'an called it "the opportunity of stone fire".
"As far as the art of war is concerned, at the moment of watching the sword, if the heart has the intention of attacking and defending with the sword, the heart is stagnated by the sword, and the body and mind are imbalanced, and the heart is killed. This means that the heart has stayed... The other side and this side, the other sword and the sword, the rhythm of the beat, and the rhythm. The heart is alive, then the action is slow, and it is cut by the other." (Ze'an Zen Master "Fudo Zhishen Miaolu") The
heart is stagnated by the object. At the end, Zen Master Zean called it "residence". In other words, the state in which the mind is stagnated and constrained by the object, and the body and mind have lost their freedom, is the place of residence. In contrast, it became a state of complete freedom, which is called "the opportunity of stone fire."



In other words, the city has reached a state of freedom, and drawing a knife with forehand or backhand is just like ordinary people slapped. The bodyguard not only had to think about how to attack and defend, he even snorted proudly, so uncomfortable, that is, he was killed by a single blow.

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Extended Reading
  • Koby 2022-04-24 07:01:15

    I feel that this film is to Ah Wu what the judo dragon and tiger list is to Du sir, that is, the modern age with guns and tap dancing has already arrived, and I still have to play it as a sword and halberd film.

  • Dashawn 2022-03-26 09:01:08

    It's a cliché story, but with a little bit of Kitano's humor, it doesn't look boring. But the last paragraph is a bit too shocking. Did the happy ending of "The Poor Man" learn from him?

The Blind Swordsman: Zatoichi quotes

  • Zatôichi: Even with my eyes wide open I can't see a thing.

  • Shinkichi: Massuer, did you see that?

    Zatôichi: I don't see much