This is Part 2 of the Sun Tzu martial arts tactics series. Part 1 covered the foundational principles from chapters 4-6 (Formation, Momentum, and Hollow/Solid). This document explores how these principles integrate into complete tactical systems, plus offensive strategies for breaking opponent's defensive structures.
Prerequisites: Understanding of the three core chapters from Part 1.
Advanced Integration: Layered Tactical Setup (Strategic Forcing 誘敵之術)
The Complete System: Power Hand as Gate
This integrates all three chapters into a sophisticated tactical framework.
Layer 1: The Threat (威懾) - Chapter 4
- Power hand forward - Immediate strike capability
- Forces opponent to make decision: cannot come straight in
- This is your "gate" - controls centerline/direct path
- Active defense through threat display
Layer 2: Channeling (引導) - Chapter 5
- Opponent must avoid your power hand
- Forces choice: go around left, around right, or try to control/trap it
- You've limited their options - from infinite angles to 2-3 predictable paths
- Using momentum principles to shape their movement
Layer 3: Prepared Response (預謀) - Chapter 6
- You already know which paths they'll take based on your formation
- Each path has a weakness you've identified
- Pre-planned counters ready - not reacting, but executing prepared strategy
- 虛實 positioning for most likely path
Layer 4: The Hollow/Solid Trap (虛實陷阱)
- Weight distribution positioned for MOST LIKELY path
- When they take that path (avoiding your power hand), you shift to exploit it
- The path they "chose" was actually the path you wanted them to take
Sun Tzu Principles in Complete Action
"致人而不致於人" (Chapter 6) - Make them come to you on YOUR terms - Your power hand forward FORCES their movement pattern - You're not reacting to them; they're reacting to your setup
"攻其無備，出其不意" (Chapter 1) - Attack where unprepared - They think they're being clever by avoiding your power hand - But you've prepared for exactly that avoidance - their "safe" path is your trap
"形人而我無形" (Chapter 6) - Shape them while remaining shapeless - Your formation shapes their approach options - Your response adapts to whichever path they choose (but you're ready for all)
Practical Examples
1. Orthodox Boxing Stance
- Strong rear hand threat controls center
- Opponent circles to your left (away from power hand)
- Prepared response: lead hook waiting, or pivot right to cut them off
- Weight pre-loaded for that specific counter
2. Southpaw vs Orthodox
- Power hands on same line - mutual threat
- Forces specific footwork patterns (outside foot position battle)
- Whoever controls the angle has prepared counter ready
- The "solution" to the footwork puzzle is the trap
3. Wing Chun Bil Jee Hand
- Centerline occupied by thrusting fingers
- Opponent must go around or try to trap
- Each response has prepared counter (pak da, lap da, tan da)
- Weight distribution ready for most likely response
4. Fencing En Garde
- Point threatens direct line continuously
- Forces disengage or beat
- Riposte prepared for each opponent's blade action
- The threat IS the tactical channeling device
The Mental Game: Chess, Not Checkers
The Strategy: - Opponent feels like they're making choices - But you've designed the choice architecture - Every "option" they have leads to a position you've prepared for - Their "solution" to your power hand threat IS your actual attack plan
The Complete Formula:
- Threat Display (Power hand forward) → Restricts options
- Path Prediction (Formation reveals likely approaches) → Anticipate movement
- Pre-positioned Response (Weight distribution ready) → Prepared counter
- Hollow/Solid Execution (Shift when they commit) → Spring the trap
Offensive Principle: Breaking the Frame (打破框架)
Core Concept: Don't Accept Their Terms
The previous sections focused on defensive control - shaping opponent's choices. This section addresses the offensive counterpart: refusing to play within opponent's defensive structure.
"兵之形，避實而擊虛" (Chapter 6) - Military form: avoid the solid, strike the hollow
The Problem with "Allowed" Paths
When attacking a skilled opponent: - Their defensive formation appears to offer certain paths - These "allowed" paths are actually their prepared traps - Following the "obvious" opening leads to their pre-planned counter - You're playing their game, on their terms
This mirrors the defensive principle in reverse: - Just as YOU create defensive structures that channel opponents into traps - THEY are doing the same to you when you attack - The path that looks open IS the path they want you to take
Breaking Down Defense: Creating Unexpected Paths
Strategic Approach:
- Recognize the Frame
- Identify their defensive structure
- Understand what paths they're "offering"
- See the trap they've prepared
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Recognize the inherent weaknesses of their frame
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Analyze Frame Weaknesses
- Every defensive structure has weaknesses by design
- High guard leaves body exposed (even if it's bait)
- Centerline control sacrifices outside angles
- Strong root limits mobility
- Heavy pressure forward creates vulnerability to redirects/pulls
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The weakness exists whether or not it's intentional bait
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Refuse the Frame
- Don't take the "allowed" paths (obvious weaknesses = their traps)
- Don't attack where they expect
- Break their defensive structure itself
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Attack the weakness they DON'T want you to see
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Create New Geometry
- Force them into positions their structure can't handle
- Attack the structure, not through it
- Generate angles/timing that weren't in their plan
- Exploit structural weaknesses, not presented openings
Methods of Breaking Defense
1. Timing Disruption (破壞時機)
- Attack during their transition between defensive configurations
- Strike when they're shifting weight, changing guard, adjusting distance
- The structure is weakest during transformation
Example: - Opponent maintains high guard (defending head) - Instead of attacking the "open" body (their trap), wait - Attack the head when they're switching to different guard position - Their structure is broken during the switch
2. Structural Collapse (破壞結構)
- Attack the foundation of their defense, not the defense itself
- Destroy their balance, root, or structural integrity
- Once structure collapses, all prepared counters become impossible
Examples: - Sweeps/throws - Remove the foundation (legs) - Heavy pressure - Collapse their frame through overwhelming force - Off-balancing - Destroy their root before striking - Trapping both hands - Structural control that prevents defensive tools from functioning
3. Multi-Vector Attack (多路攻擊)
- Attack multiple targets/angles simultaneously
- Their defense can only protect against one threat at a time
- Forces them to make choices, creating true openings (not bait)
Examples: - High-low combination - Guard protects head, body strike lands - Simultaneous hand and foot - Cannot defend both - Feint + real - Defense commits to false threat, real attack succeeds
4. Overwhelming Initiative (奪取主動)
- Continuous, rapid attack that prevents defensive setup
- They can't establish their prepared structure
- No time to create their frame, so no frame to accept
Examples: - Boxing's combination punching - No space for counter-setup between punches - Muay Thai's clinch pressure - Constant control prevents defensive reset - Wrestling's chain wrestling - One technique flows to next, no defensive breathing room
5. Range Breaking (破距離)
- Enter range they didn't account for
- Most defensive structures assume certain distance
- Attacking from unexpected range collapses their geometry
Examples: - Surprise closing - Enter close-range when they expected long-range fight - Maintaining distance - Stay outside their prepared trap distance - In-fighting - Too close for their structure to work
Sun Tzu Principles Applied to Attack
"攻其無備，出其不意" (Chapter 1) - Attack where unprepared, appear where unexpected - Don't attack where they're prepared (the "allowed" paths) - Attack the preparation itself (break the structure) - Appear at times/angles they didn't prepare for (transitions, unexpected ranges)
"致人而不致於人" (Chapter 6) - Make them come to you (offensively applied) - Even when attacking, force THEM to react to YOUR initiative - Your attack creates problems they must solve - Don't solve the problems their defense creates
"兵無常勢，水無常形" (Chapter 6) - No fixed momentum, no fixed form - Don't commit to one attack path - Flow around their defense like water - Adapt attack based on their defensive response, but don't follow their channeling
The Complete Offensive Strategy
Phase 1: Analysis - Recognize their defensive frame - Identify "allowed" paths (their traps) - Find structural weaknesses, transition moments, range assumptions
Phase 2: Structure Breaking - Attack timing (transitions) - Attack structure (balance, foundation) - Attack geometry (unexpected angles/ranges) - Attack capacity (multiple threats simultaneously)
Phase 3: Exploitation - Once structure breaks, genuine openings appear - These are TRUE 虛 (hollow), not bait - Attack decisively into real vulnerability
Integration with Defensive Principles
The Complete Tactical Picture:
Defense: - Create frame that channels opponent - Prepare traps on "allowed" paths - Maintain continuous transformation to prevent pattern exploitation
Attack: - Recognize opponent's frame - Refuse to take "allowed" paths - Break their defensive structure - Attack true openings created by structural collapse
The Paradox: - You use frames defensively (to control them) - You break frames offensively (to avoid being controlled) - Both require understanding the same principle from opposite perspectives
Practical Examples
Boxing: Breaking the Guard
Their Frame: - High guard protects head - Offers body as "allowed" path - Counter prepared for body attacks
Breaking It: - Feint body (they commit defense) - Strike head during their commitment - OR: Heavy body shots that collapse their guard structure through accumulated damage - OR: Continuous jab that prevents guard from settling into prepared position
Wing Chun: Breaking Centerline Control
Their Frame: - Hands control centerline - Forces you to go around - Prepared counters for outside attacks
Breaking It: - Simultaneous double attack (one high, one low) - Heavy downward pressure collapses their structure - Close range where their hand position can't function (elbow range) - Attack during their hand transition
Grappling: Breaking Defensive Posture
Their Frame: - Defensive posture (hunched, protected) - Limits submission options - Makes certain attacks "allowed" (their traps)
Breaking It: - Create motion/pressure that forces posture break - Attack what they're using to maintain posture (grip breaks, base attacks) - Chain attacks that prevent posture re-establishment - Use their defensive tension against them (sweeps when posted, attacks when reactive)
Integrated Principles Summary
Defensive Integration:
- Strategic combat - fight the battle before they attack
- Design the choice architecture through formation
- Pre-position responses for predictable paths
- Execute with speed through pre-loaded weight shifts
Offensive Integration:
- Breaking the Frame (打破框架) - don't accept opponent's terms
- Recognize their defensive structure and "allowed" paths
- Attack the structure itself, not through it
- Create openings through timing disruption, structural collapse, multi-vector attacks, overwhelming initiative, or range breaking
- True 虛 (hollow) appears when structure breaks
Philosophical Foundation
"先為不可勝，以待敵之可勝" First become invincible, then await the enemy's vulnerability
This is not about waiting passively. It's about: 1. Creating a position where you cannot be defeated (proper formation, active defense) 2. Forcing opponent into predictable patterns (channeling through threats) 3. Exploiting their commitment with pre-planned responses (虛實 execution)
The highest level of martial arts is making the opponent defeat themselves by attacking where you've already prepared the trap.
Related Concepts
- 誘敵之術 (Luring Enemy into Technique) - Strategic forcing
- 四兩撥千斤 (Four Ounces Deflect Thousand Pounds) - Minimal force through timing and positioning
- 形人而我無形 (Shape Enemy While Remaining Formless) - Control without being controlled
- 打破框架 (Breaking the Frame) - Refusing opponent's terms, attacking their structure
- 破壞時機 (Timing Disruption) - Attacking during transitions
- 破壞結構 (Structural Collapse) - Destroying defensive foundation
- 多路攻擊 (Multi-Vector Attack) - Simultaneous threats to multiple targets
- 奪取主動 (Overwhelming Initiative) - Continuous attack that prevents defensive setup
- 破距離 (Range Breaking) - Attacking from unexpected distance
Document created: 2025-10-12 Part 2 of 2: Advanced Integration and Offensive Tactics See Part 1 for foundational principles from chapters 4-6