5.1 Creativity and Constant Research
It is much easier and there are better odds to win when you have the advantage, this is obvious, but the way to get the advantage is not trivial at all. This way is a way of constant research, always to be a step ahead of the enemy, in technology, strategy, tactics, intelligence and deeper understanding of fighting at the physical and the psychological aspects. This is right for the nowadays battlefield and for the hand to hand combat alike.
Creativity is a critical feature that allows us to create new and original solutions, thus improving the surprise factor. This is why it is critical for a state in a constant struggle for survival to have its own original, military research and development industry.
Originality does not stop with technology. A none the less important subject is the tactical layer, which is important in martial arts as well as in the battlefield. New fighting technics, drills, moves, ideas and principles are constantly revised and modified in a cyclic pattern. Thinking in those cycles of research improves the understanding and the analytical skill about the actions, thus this sort of thinking is developed toward more aspects in life.
5.2 Weak Point
Strategic planning process includes finding preferred targets for attack. Those targets are examined and prioritized according to several factors, such as: ease of getting there, vulnerability, benefits from hitting that target, tactical profit, strategic profit, amount of physical and psychological damage, collateral damage and indirect influence. Just like in a game of chess or go, same time while we are attacking, we are also in need of thinking about protection and vice versa. Both sides have weak point and the enemy is planning to hit them.
Understanding our own weak points is critical in order to understand the enemy's goal and strategy. This understanding requires an objective and honest self-analysis. Acknowledging those weak points may also bring to solution problems that are not directly connected to the battle field, such as society problems, fitness problems, etc.
5.3 Contingency Plan
What should we do when plan A is irrelevant… getting plan B. This is true for action movies and should be true in reality.
The existence of a plan of action is critical. On the battlefield, the plan synchronizes the force's actions that are relevant for same goal and construct the concentration of effort. The plan includes verity of actions and reactions and gives instruction of behavior for the forces at the field.
A plan is valid until the uncertainty of the battlefield is taking over, then we have to reevaluate and regroup. At this point contingency plans and backup plans are taking place. Those plans are answering the situation until a new plan is planned according to updated evaluation of situation. Those contingency plans are not plan B, plan B is just a course of action that reacting to changes in plan A, contingency plans are plans to continue plans A and B.
In martial arts the plan is the primal strategy, for example takedown the enemy, suffocate him or storming him aggressively, etc.
The planning can be, for example scanning the terrain and thinking of using them before engaging. We must remember that the time for planning in hand to hand combat is extremely short, thus the ability to think and analyze rapidly is very important.
Plans must be as comprehensive and detailed as possible according to the time and means and consider as much factors as possible without hesitancy.
5.4 Tactical Exercise Without Troops (TEWT)
In warfare, this is an exercise that is conduct on maps, at the office or the war room, and not at the field, without physical troops and without physical enemy. This is an exercise for the decision makers, TEWT is supposed to train the speed of thinking, evaluations of situations and decision-making process.
Every planned plan is undergoing TEWT. This is a procedure of inquiring the plan and a tryout to optimize it, considering as much factors as possible, while simulating the action.
In martial arts, the TEWT is in fact a thinking exercise of situations and responses, planning drills and applications in which there is no partner but in our heads and in the air. This sort of training is very important in order to imprint plans that in real situations will be executed almost automatically, thus preventing Freeze situation and helping getting into Fight mode. It is important to conduct those training while thinking of more than just one enemy, thinking of improvised weaponry and using terrain, thus in a real situation, the reading of the zone will be quick (this is because in first scanning of the zone you will be looking for patterns). Exercise the brain is critical for real combat situations, for example, if you will never think of how to fight a much larger enemy, so in a real situation you might just freeze or improvise badly, thus increasing the chances of you getting hurt.
5.5 Vision
Vision is the ability to think in long time scales, see the big picture, as from a bird's eye view. This ability is expressed with as wide as possible thinking in a future strategic planning. This can be seen in the question of what to do with occupied population in a possible future occupied territory, or in planning fitness and flexibility exercises in order to allow the body to withstand training for a lifetime with minimum erosion.
We are living in the present, planning for the future and learning from the past. This is the full vision, thinking and considering the entire time axis, but without missing the life in the now.
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