Lab Report 035 — The Time Musashi Brought a Stick to a Swordfight

Lab Report 035 — The Time Musashi Brought a Stick to a Swordfight

Legend has it that Miyamoto Musashi, the undefeated swordsman of Japan, once showed up to a duel… late. But this wasn’t a dramatic entrance. No, this was psychological warfare, Musashi-style. His opponent, Kojiro, famous for his oversized sword and razor-sharp technique, was fuming, waiting in the sun, fully armored, fully irritated, and definitely not ready for what came next.

Musashi strolled up—casual, confident, holding a wooden oar. Yes, a bokken he carved out of a boat paddle. Kojiro was livid. Musashi just nodded like he had all the time in the world and said something like, “Nice sword. Shame if it got outplayed by driftwood.”

Now, imagine trying that today: showing up to a Magic tournament without sleeves, deck in a sandwich bag, saying, “Don’t worry, it’s budget, but it slaps.”

The duel didn’t last long. Musashi, disheveled and unconventional, beat Kojiro soundly and calmly walked away, proving that preparation, psychological edge, and unorthodox tools can sometimes outperform polish and pride.

Lesson? You don’t always need the fanciest tools, just the right mindset—and maybe an oar.

Whether you’re slinging spells, editing a video, or prepping your next arcane project, remember: show up smart, be a little weird, and don’t be afraid to carve your own weapons from the boat ride in.

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