My understanding is there is a disposition similar in most martial arts too, no? That thought that the training is enough and doesn't always have to be used?
A co-worker went to a Karate demo by a Buddhist school. They saw three stages:
1: The guy attacks, you react, defend, and strike.
2: The guy attacks but you respond simultaneously and 'smother' his attack before it even develops.
3: The idea of attacking you goes out of the guy's head.
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Master Swordsman Tesshu was alive in the mid 1800s so there's a ton of attested material about him. Japan was brewing up for a civil war between the Shogunate (military governors) and supporters of the Emperor. Tokyo was filling up with hot heads, was 'policed' by self-elected paramilitary militias, it was like prohibition Chicago.
So Tesshu decided to keep the peace by starting a kendo club, attracting all the hotheads cos he was a famous fighter, and working them so hard they were too tired to go out and cause trouble. It worked, but he was always suspect by the authorities as well as the gangs.
One gang hired an assassin, a strangler, to get rid of him. The assassin watched, followed him through the streets, and made his move — but each time he moved Tesshu changed direction, or stepped into a shop, or ... until the assassin realised he was totally outclassed. Eventually the assassin caught up with him in an inn. "I'm supposed to kill you" he said. "Really? How?" "I strangle!" "Really, show me!" Tesshu obediently leant over (he was a very big man) and the assassin took his grip ... but could not strangle the man.
One day, Tesshu decided to talk the the authorities in Edo Castle, even though he knew he was 'persona non grata'. The Shogunate was so jumpy, they had a guard spaced evenly every hundred paces along both sides of the broad avenue leading to the gate, with orders that no-one passes without authorisation and escort.
So the Master of the Guard was somewhat surprised when Tesshu knocked on the door unaccompanied and unannounced. At a convenient point in the conversation, he said, "Tell me, did you notice my sentries as you came here?" "Oh yes!" nodded Tesshu, "and very impressive they look, too!"
My favourite:
When the Yagyu Ryu were chosen as sword teachers to the Shogunate, its fame and fortune was secured. Yagyu Munenori handed over the running of the school to his sons, and retired.
One day, his servant stepped out onto the veranda at the back of the house to watch the old man tending his flowers. Munenori looked up, stopped what he was doing, and walked off to a small tea house at the back of the garden.
Three days later, the servant decided he'd better find out what was going on in there. "My mind is going," the old man explained, "I've come here to prepare for my death." "Why, what makes you think that?" asked his servant.
"D'you remember, when I was gardening? Suddenly I knew I was at risk, under attack. I looked up, and there was only you there. You would never attack me, so my mind is playing tricks. My life is drawing to its close."
"Master," the servant replied, "when I walked out and saw you I thought, 'how peaceful, how serene, and yet I know, if someone should attack him right now, without warning, in an instant that man would be facing a tiger!"
History does not record what Munenori said, but he came out of the tea house and carried on with his gardening, and the enjoyment of his retirement.
Me? If I were Munenori, I'd have kicked him. "Three days? You let me sit in here for three days before telling me that?!"
Thomas
