Miyamoto states that there are four ways in which men pass through life: Gentlmen Warriors, Farmers, Artisans and Merchants.
He implies that the way of the warrior, as well as the meaning of a true strategist is that of someobody who has made mastery of many art forms away from that of a the sword such as tea drinking (sado), laboring, writing, and painting as Musashi practiced throughout his life.
Musashi disagrees about the use of two hands for one sword, that there is no fluidity in movement.
"If you hold a sword with both hands, it is difficult to wield it freely to left and right, so my method is to carry the sword in one hand"
Even from an early age, Musashi separated his religion from his involvement in swordsmanship. Excerpts such as the one below, from The Book of Five Rings, demonstrate a philosophy that is thought to have stayed with him throughout his life:
"The Way of the warrior does not include other Ways, such as Confucianism, Buddhism, certain traditions, artistic accomplishments [,] [-and] or dancing. But even though these are not part of the Way, if you know the Way broadly you will see it in everything. Men must polish their particular Way."