Study strategy over the years and achieve the spirit of the warrior. Today is victory over yourself of yesterday tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.

The saying frames martial “strategy” as a lifelong discipline aimed less at defeating others than at continual self-overcoming. “Victory over yourself of yesterday” emphasizes incremental improvement—training, reflection, and correction of one’s weaknesses—so that mastery is measured against one’s prior state rather than external rivals. The second clause (“tomorrow is your victory over lesser men”) suggests that outward success follows naturally from inward progress: if you consistently surpass your former self, you will eventually surpass opponents who have not undertaken the same rigor. The quote thus aligns warrior ethos with self-governance, patience, and long-term cultivation of skill and character.

1) "Today is victory over yourself of yesterday; tomorrow is your victory over lesser men."
2) "Today you win against yourself of yesterday; tomorrow you win against lesser men."
3) "Today is victory over yourself; tomorrow is victory over others."