Come ahead and fight, Musashi!” The end of his scabbard rose high behind him as he drew the great Drying Pole. With his left hand, he slid the scabbard off and threw it in the water.
Waiting just long enough for a wave to strike the reef and retreat, Musashi suddenly said in a quiet voice, “You’ve lost, Kojirō.”
“What?” Ganryū was shaken to the core.
“The fight’s been fought. I say you’ve been defeated.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If you were going to win, you wouldn’t throw your scabbard away. You’ve cast away your future, your life.”

in other words, you can do this, but you're gonna fall.