Miyamoto Musashi
~1584–1645 · Japanese (Harima Province) · Early Edo Period, Japan
Known for: Japan's greatest swordsman—fought 61 duels and never lost. Wrote The Book of Five Rings
Musashi was a ronin (masterless samurai) who fought his first duel at age 13 and won 61 consecutive duels—many to the death. He developed a two-sword fighting style (niten ichi-ryu) and in his final years, wrote The Book of Five Rings—a treatise on strategy, philosophy, and martial arts.
His most famous duel was against Sasaki Kojiro on Ganryu Island—Musashi arrived late (deliberately, to anger Kojiro), fought with a wooden sword he'd carved from an oar on the boat ride over, and killed Kojiro with a single blow.
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