Kachi wa saya no naka ni ari – 勝ちは鞘の中にあり
In Iaijutsu, there is a saying: “Kachi wa saya no naka ni ari” (Victory comes while the sword is [still] in the scabbard). Physical skills alone, no matter how highly perfected, are simply not enough. There is always someone more skillful, or someone with a dirty trick for which you are unprepared. But attitude is more important then aptitude in real combat. We have all seen encounters reminiscent of that between David and Goliath, where the underdog defeated a far more mightier opponent through sheer determination and faith.
Without the courage or determination to use it, a high degree of skill is useless. It would be like painting a great masterpiece, then storing it away where no one can ever see it, This is not only a waste of time, talent, and effort, but a loss of something valuable to mankind.
So the higher purpose of Iaijutsu is to develop the mind and spirit of a warrior, an attitude and strength of character that wins the battle before it begins. This is no simple matter to achieve. It takes years of daily training to cultivate these attributes and to rid oneself of attitudes and reactions, such as anger, fear, selfishness, jealousy, and hate, that are counterproductive or self-destructive.
Furthermore, winning must be accomplished without trying to win! Once again, this concept at first seems self-contradictory. After all, how can you be victorious if you don’t even try to win? The answer is that the key to winning a battle is a steadfast determination not to lose.
This is more than just a semantic difference; it requires a profound shift of focus and commitment. When you are trying to win, you will be inclined to take unnecessary risks in your determination to defeat your opponent. But when you are instead, dedicated to not losing, you have the luxury of waiting for your opponent to make a mistake that you can exploit to achieve victory.
However, Iaijutsu training demands a still higher and more noble purpose than merely winning battles. The great Chinese tactician Lao Tsu said that the highest principle in the Art of War is to win without a battle.
Flashing Steel - Masayuki Shimabukuro, Hanshi