This Musashi principle reveals a truth most people overlook:
“You should not have a favourite weapon. To become over-familiar with one weapon is as much a fault as not knowing it sufficiently well.”
At first glance, it seems like he’s only talking about swords. But the wisdom runs deeper.
You see attachment makes you fragile.
Here’s what most miss: The warrior who clings to one weapon is predictable, just as the person who clings to one way of thinking becomes trapped.
Modern psychology confirms this: cognitive flexibility, the ability to adapt your strategies, is one of the strongest predictors of long-term success.
And here’s what changes everything: Detachment isn’t about not caring. It’s about refusing to be chained to a single method, tool, or identity.
Here are 3 ways to practice Musashi’s principle of detachment:
1. Rotate Your Tools
Don’t rely on a single method for growth.
If you always journal, try meditation. If you only lift weights, try running. Variety builds adaptability.
2. Question Your Defaults
Notice when you say, “That’s just how I do things.”
Ask yourself: “Is this the best approach for this moment, or just the one I’m comfortable with?”
3. Train for Versatility
In work, relationships, and personal growth, practice skills outside your comfort zone.
The more weapons you can wield, the fewer situations can break you.
Musashi’s genius wasn’t in mastering a single weapon, but in refusing to be ruled by any.
The ultimate lesson: Strength comes not from attachment, but from the freedom to adapt.