🆂Week 2025-44: On Attack

"And if we are able thus to attack an inferior force with a superior one, our opponents will be in dire straits." (Sun Tzu, "The Art of War", 5th century BC)

"What is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy." (Sun Tzu, "The Art of War", 5th century BC)

"No doubt you see the sword about to strike you, but do not let your mind 'stop' there. Have no intention to counterattack him in response to his threatening move, cherish no calculating thoughts whatsoever. You simply perceive the opponent’s move, you do not allow your mind to 'stop' with it, you move on just as you are toward the opponent and make use of his attack by turning it on to himself. Then his sword meant to kill you will become your own and the weapon will fall on the opponent himself." (Takuan Soho, "Fudōchi Shinmyōroku" ["The Unfettered Mind"], cca. 1630)

"Many things can cause a loss of balance. One cause is danger, another is hardship, and another is surprise. You must research this.

In large-scale strategy it is important to cause loss of balance. Attack without warning where the enemy is not expecting it, and while his spirit is undecided follow up your advantage and, having the lead, defeat him." (Miyamoto Musashi, "Go Rin No Sho" ["The Book of Five Rings"], 1645)

"'To move the shade' is used when you cannot see the enemy's spirit.

In large-scale strategy, when you cannot see the enemy's position, indicate that you are about to attack strongly, to discover his resources. It is easy then to defeat hin with a different method once you see his resources." (Miyamoto Musashi, "Go Rin No Sho" ["The Book of Five Rings"], 1645)

"[…] the art of war consists of six distinct parts:– 

1. Statesmanship in its relation to war.

2. Strategy, or the art of properly directing masses upon the theater of×war, either for defense or for invasion.

3. Grand Tactics.

4. Logistics, or the art of moving armies.

5. Engineering,–the attack and defense of fortifications.

6. Minor Tactics." (Antoine-Henri Jomini, "The Art of War", 1838)

"The Judo pupil, therefore, must cultivate his mind; he must never feel fear, never lose his temper, never be off his guard; but he must be cool and calm, though not absent-minded; he must act as quick as thought, according to circumstances. He must also be dexterous as well as bold both in attack and in defense." (Yokoyama Sakujiro, "Judo", 1915)

"The secret principle of martial arts is not vanquishing the attacker but resolving to avoid an encounter before its occurrence. To become the object of an attack is an indication that there was an opening in one's guard, and the important thing is to be on guard at all times." (Gichin Funakoshi, "Karate-do Kyohan: The Master Text", 1935)

"Always imagine yourself on the battlefield under the fiercest attack; never forget this crucial element of training." (Morihei Ueshiba, "Budo", 1938)

"Do not fall into the trap of thinking that just because a kata begins to the left that the opponent is attacking from the left." (Kenwa Mabuni, "Karate-do Nyumon" ["Introduction to Karate-do"], 1938)

"Regarding technique, from ancient times it has been said that movements must fly like lightning and attacks must strike like thunder." (Morihei Ueshiba, "Budo", 1938)

"To appreciate the best opportunity for attack and defence, you must fully understand the rhythm of movement." (Sadami Yamada, "Principles and Practice of Aikido", 1966)

"You must learn to allow patience and stillness to take over from anxiety and frantic activity for the sake of doing something, Between martial artists of the first rank, there is room for only one mistake. Before an exchange of blows, several minutes may be spent in controlled patience and planning while each man respectfully observes his opponent, studying his position or stance, watching, getting ideas, and charging his energy. When one man thinks he is going to attack, his opponent may quickly change his stance. If he has overreacted, his opponent makes a note of it. This is a weakness which he will later attempt to use to his advantage." (Jim Lau)  [in Joe Hyams's, "Zen in the Martial Arts", 1979] 

"In our techniques we enter completely into, blend totally with, and control firmly an attack. Strength resides where one's ki is concentrated and stable; confusion and maliciousness arise when ki stagnates." (Morihei Ueshiba, "The Art of Peace", 1991)

"Water, by its nature, never collides with or breaks against anything. On the contrary, it swallows up any attack harmlessly." (Morihei Ueshiba, "The Art of Peace", 1991)