Comparing Two Tactics

[Johnlogic121]

There are two primary tactics in martial arts that are usually mutually contradictory. I would like to get the forums' opinion about which is generally the stronger, or if you have no opinion on that, then I would like to know what tends to be favored most by your style background.

A) Use the technique or techniques that you are best at offensively;

B) Use the technique or techniques that your opponent is worst at defensively.

Both of these tactics have some merit but indicate differing modes of practice. The first tactic suggests specialization, while the second tactic suggests versatility. The great general Sun Tzu said that you should know yourself and know your opponent with an emphasis on knowing your opponent as important for success. Tactic A might be easier to apply, but tactic B seems pretty reasonable if you can find out what your opponent's weakness is.

What does the forum think is the stronger method, A or B?

[yingampyang]

You need a mixture of both , which should slowly come to you naturally as you develop your skill.

[ninjanurse]

The great general Sun Tzu said that you should know yourself and know your opponent with an emphasis on knowing your opponent as important for success.

Knowing how your techniques and body relate to others in the space around you are most important-not only for offense but for defense too. Thus, knowing your opponent becomes second nature as you master yourself.

[bushido_man96]

If you get randomly attacked on the street, then you may not have the advantage of knowing your opponent. Therefore, you need to have a set of techniques that you are good at, and can fall back on in emergencies. If a confrontation lasts long enough, you will begin to see weaknesses of the opponent. Then you can capitalize on them. However, I don't want to wait and see; I want to get the job done and get on with other things.

[Bushido-Ruach]

Your mind, at the moment you are attacked, picks out from it's memory banks the most effective technique it has to defend itself. For the untrained in martial ways, that usually means either simply blinking or shutting the eyes, or "duck and cover." The more techniques we practice, the greater the arsenal of defensive tactics our minds have to pick from for any number of possible scenarios one might find himself in. You might consider yourself good at a certain number of techniques, but maybe those techniques will be the wrong ones for a specific scenario, so practice as many as you can that are practical.

I'm with Bushido-man, if and when confronted, I want to get it over with as quickly as possible. Like the Samurai...if you have to pull out your sword, kill the enemy is as few moves as possible, the more prolonged the encounter, the greater likelihood of you getting hurt or put into a hospital bed. The hospital bed is where my attacker belongs, not me.

[tallgeese]

Plus one for bushido man.

Attack on the street will probibly not give you the time to analize the opponant. End the fight as quickly as possible in your favor, or if possible, escape so it really won't matter.