HIIT Scarborough

08/29/2026

Miyamoto Musashi never lost a fight. As a teenager in 1600, he fought in a major civil war.

He soon became a wandering swordsman. He challenged masters across Japan to duels.

He developed a unique style called Niten Ichi-ryū. It used a long katana and a short wakizashi together.

This two-sword technique gave him a huge advantage. Over the next few decades, he fought over 60 duels.

He won every single one. His most famous duel was against Sasaki Kojirō in 1612.

But in his forties, Musashi changed. He stopped seeking fights.

He became a master of strategy, art, and philosophy. He wrote "The Book of Five Rings" on strategy.

He also created beautiful ink paintings and sculptures. The undefeated warrior had become a true master of many arts.

Sources: Nippon / The Book of Five Rings

Photo: Illustration generated for this story

08/29/2026

The Observing Eye

When I first read Miyamoto Musashi's phrase about "the observing eye and the seeing eye," it struck me as strange. I didn't understand why he made such a distinction between looking and observing. Apparently, seeing is seeing. But no.
Over time, I began to understand that he was referring to something much deeper than sight: he was talking about the mind.

Musashi wrote that "the observing eye is strong, and the seeing eye is weak." It wasn't poetry: it was strategy.
In the dojo, I discovered that when my attention focused on only one part of a partner—their hand, their sword, their stride—I lost sight of the whole. Through training, I understood that looking and seeing are not the same: looking concentrates, observing encompasses.

I practiced for a long time to feel that difference. I learned to relax my gaze, to let my vision expand without focus, and something changed. I no longer saw isolated movements, but the complete flow.
Musashi was right: he who looks is captured; he who observes, understands.

Gabriel Benitez©

ph: Toshiro Mifune

08/29/2026

08/29/2026

Join our dojo and learn iaijutsu, battojutsu, kenjutsu, and other traditional Japanese martial arts of Katori Shintō-ryū.

Sugawara Sogo Budo Philippines Yushinkan Dojo has been teaching Katori Shintō-ryū in Manila since 1998, and practitioners study a comprehensive system of martial arts that includes:

• Kenjutsu (Japanese swordsmanship)
• Iaijutsu, Tachiai Battojutsu (Japanese sword drawing techniques)
• Ryotojutsu (two swords)
• Kodachi (short sword)
• Bojutsu (long staff technique)
• Naginatajutsu (glaive art)
• Sojutsu (art of the spear)

Students learn the principles and techniques of Katori Shintō-ryū through hours of kata training and suburi (drills) with the teacher and other students.

Visit our dojo and join us! We accept everyone from aged 12-65 years old, with or without martial arts experience.

Send us a message for more info.

Dojo address:
Manila Boat Club
2442 Havana st, cor Del Pan st,
Santa Ana, Manila
https://maps.app.goo.gl/JsMrgmoQaFbkQJij8
(near Circuit Makati)

Training schedule:
• Sunday 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
• Tuesday 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
• Thursday 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm
• Saturday 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

菅原総合武道菲律宾 • 友真館道場
Sugawara Sogo Budo Philippines • Yushinkan Dojo

08/29/2026

In 2022, Dollywood and its operating partner introduced a remarkable education benefit for employees.

Through Herschend’s GROW U program, full time, part time and seasonal workers became eligible from their first day on the job for fully funded education programs covering tuition, fees and required books.

The benefit reflected an emphasis on education that had already become a major part of Dolly Parton’s legacy.