I'm sure you've heard the adage -  that no matter how good you are, there's always someone out there who's faster, stronger, and better than you.  Do you agree with that?

I've found it to be generally true with one exception.

A few years ago....the year 1600, to be exact, there was a samurai roaming the lands of Japan, named Miyamoto Musashi. 

He had just participated in the epic Battle of Sekigahara, where the warlord, Tokugawa Ieyasu, emerged victorious to claim the title of Shogun, united all the lands of Japan. 

As a successful leader, the new Shogun firmly established a dynasty that ushered a period of peace in Japan that lasted 250 years. 

While peace was a boon for the common folk, it presented a unique problem for the warriors of the time. 

With no more wars or battles, there was no way to attain glory, honor, or prove your worth to your lord.

In order to test their skills, certain samurai and sword masters reverted to public duels.  The duels were often fought to the death and provided an outlet for warriors to test and validate their skills, obtain honor, social standing. 

After Musashi, had engaged and wiped out after the local talent, he began roaming the Japanese countryside, seeking swordsmen of renown to challenge for a duel.

The story of the Barritus comes from the 4th century AD. Unlike the early Greeks who marched to the cadence of music, it was the Roman custom to march in silence.  Before the battle, the Romans would unleash a roar in unison, striking fear into the hearts of their enemy. 

This war cry was called the Barritus.  We don’t know how it sounded, but Tacitus tells us it began as a “harsh, intermittent roar.”  By holding their shields to their mouth, the reverberating sound would swell into a deafening crescendo, like waves smashing into the rocky shore.