The story has it that swordsman, Miyamoto Musashi, used mind control tricks to beat his ultimate opponent in at the Battle of Sekigahara. His nemesis, Sasaki Kojiro, was well respected and considered the top swordsman in Japan at that time so Musashi had to use extremely creative tactics to gain himself an advantage at the battle.

A number of tricks were played against Kojiro in an attempt to dishevel the master swordsman. This article is about the subtle, but highly effective mind control trick that Musashi implemented using his wooden sword. But first, a little background for those who are unfamiliar with the legend.

Sasaki Kojiro had developed a very swift and dangerous sword technique called, Tsubame Gaeshi, loosely translated as The Swallow Cut. The technique used not one, but two, katana (sharp, metal swords).

It was so swift (imagine the fluttering tail of a swallow) that it was said to be able to bring down the swallow in mid-flight. Hence, the name.

Musashi's Bokken to Kojiro's Katanas

This is where some story tellers get a little irritated with Musashi and have even called him unethical for some of the mind control tricks he did, especially since Kojiro had been known for his sense of fair play. You decide how you feel about this.

First, Musashi decides to use a bokken (a Wooden sword). This, in itself, was likely a slap in the face to Kojiro. It was almost as though Musashi was saying, "my Volkswagen can cream your Hummer." Can you imagine Musashi arriving on the shores of Sekigahara Island, in the heat of battle wielding a wooden stick when Kojiro is all decked out with his two shiny swords?

Now, That's Embarrassing.

But that's not all.

What Kojiro didn't know was that Musashi had been soaking his wooden sword in the water as he was making his way to battle. The boat ride was long to The Battle so Musashi had ample time to dip his sword in the ocean and drench is sword.

What that meant was that the wooden stick, he called a sword, was now water laden and very heavy. The weight of the sword was not visually obvious and this gave Musashi an added advantage.

Thus, any blows with this heavier weapon would be more effective in injuring and crushing. This aspect was not so obvious but because if it, the sword was more easily able to inflict the mortal blows to Sasaki Kojiro.

Click to learn how to create your own mind control tricks.