To Release Four Hands

“Just when you think you know the answers, I change the questions” – “Rowdy” Roddy Piper.

To Release Four Hands describes a moment of perfect symmetry. It is when you and your opponent are locked in a contest of equal intent, equal energy, and equal timing. Neither can dominate. You can imagine it as two opponents gripping each other’s hands. Two hands per opponent, four hands gripping with no advantage.

A Lesson from History

232 years after Musashi’s death, Saigō, Takamori’s took a final stand at Shiroyama in 1877. The conflict between Saigō, and General Yamagata demonstrates, To Release Four Hands.

Shiroyama, Saigō, and his samurai were outnumbered, outgunned, and surrounded in their hilltop fortress. The Imperial army had rifles, artillery, and 30,000 troops. Saigō had 500 warriors, a 60:1 ratio.  The battle was a stalemate. The samurai refused to yield. The Imperial forces hesitated to crush a legend. They had become Four Hands, a clash of equal intent and resolve. Neither side could nor would dominate without consequence. How to break the deadlock?

General Yamagata Aritomo broke it with timing and transformation. Refraining from brute force, he shifted his rhythm. Yamagata used a nighttime bombardment, then added a dawn assault. He released the Four Hands, not by overpowering Saigō, but by reframing the engagement.

Saigō, wounded and surrounded, chose death over surrender. But his legacy wasn’t in the sword, or the battle, it was in the spirit. He didn’t lose. He was allowed to be released.

To Escalate or Not?

In martial arts, or life, when you meet equal force, you don’t escalate. Further, you don’t freeze; you release. Again, you may imagine the four hand grip described earlier and simply letting go of the opponent, letting go of the stalemate.

You change the question. You shift the rhythm. You find the space between domination and defeat, and you move through it. A lesser General would have likely laid siege to the castle, destroying everything. Yamagata chose another path. He did so by releasing his grip and allowing Saigō an honorable exit.

The question, in this instance, was no longer destruction, but where is the off-ramp?

You may enjoy this past posting: https://www.martialjournal.com/victory-or-regret/

You can reach Kris Wilder here: https://linktr.ee/KrisWilder

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Kris Wilder

Kris Wilder is a martial artist, author, and life coach. He holds multiple black belts in various martial arts disciplines, including Goju-Ryu Karate, Taekwondo, and Judo. Kris is known for his deep understanding of martial arts and his ability to connect with students on a personal level.
He has authored several books on martial arts and self-defense, such as "The Way of Kata" and "The Little Black Book of Violence". Kris also runs the Wilder Karate Academy, where he teaches classes and conducts seminars.

Latest posts by Kris Wilder (see all)

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