However, it is recorded in "Mikawa Monogatari" (Tales in Mikawa) that Ieyasu himself said 'For a noble man around whom his retainers exist, the swordplay to protect himself from an initial attack is necessary, but the swordplay to kill his opponent is unnecessary,' and it is also said that he told his sons that taisho (generals) should not directly fight in the fighting field.'
ただし、家康本人は「家臣が周囲にいる貴人には、最初の一撃から身を守る剣法は必要だが、相手を切る剣術は不要である」と発言したと『三河物語』にあり、息子にも「大将は戦場で直接闘うものではない」と言っていたといわれる。