One of the most famous stories about Miyamoto Musashi is his duel with Sasaki Kojiro, a formidable swordsman known for his "Swallow Cut" technique. The duel was set to take place on Ganryujima Island at dawn. However, Musashi arrived late on purpose, angering Kojiro. In his hands Musashi carried a wooden sword he had carved from an oar during his boat ride to the island. When Kojiro drew his sword and attacked, Musashi used his long wooden sword to deliver a single, fatal blow to Kojiro's head. This duel demonstrated Musashi's understanding of psychological warfare, and his victory solidified his status as Japan's greatest swordsman.
