NEWS

In this final of four articles, we examine Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and focus on being disciplined and decisive, and, in summary, being prepared. 

The Art of War is a lasting literary work laying out Sun Tzu’s principles for a successful military campaign. These last two principles emphasize moving like a thunderbolt and making your position impenetrable. Let’s see what action we can take to better compete on the paddle court.    

 Be Disciplined and Decisive

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

“Disciplined and calm, to await the appearance of disorder and hubbub amongst the enemy; this is the art of retaining self-     possession. To refrain from attacking an army drawn up in calm and confident array—this is the art of studying     circumstances.”

 This section speaks to three important ideas in the sport of paddle.

 1. Keep your plans unknown to your opponent, to use the element of surprise.

 2. Use patience and discipline in your attack, such that you attack only when you see your opponent is disorganized and vulnerable.

 3. When you do attack, strike quickly, decisively, and with conviction.

Action Step: Try to disguise your shots so that you don't give away your plans. This is often given away in the preparation for the shot. For example, if ahead of time, I see you change your grip and load up for a drive, you have lost the element of surprise. I can take countermeasures (move forward) to defend your attack, leaving the attack itself open to exploitation.

Remember to be patient and wait for your opponent to be clearly disorganized and out of position before you attempt your drive or attacking shot, and strike decisively with full commitment and no hesitation.

Overall: Be Prepared            

“The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy’s not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him, not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable.”

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, your victory will not stand in doubt, if you know heaven and know earth, you may make your victory complete.”

The Art of War for Sun Tzu was about understanding the battle to come and being prepared to act optimally when it does. We must calculate beforehand what moves we will need; first, to defend our enemy's attacks (aka withstand defeat), and next, if the conditions allow, how we may attack the enemy ourselves (aka do the defeating) while understanding that attacking requires a “superabundance” of strength.

We must know our own attributes and skills but also our opponents' abilities so that we can fully understand the dynamics that will play out during the conflict.

Finally, we must understand the environment and conditions upon which the battle will be fought, so that we can optimize our strategy by taking in these elemental forces.

Action Step:  Embody the ideas of General Sun Tzu—he offers many ways to win the battle. Move like water, keeping your plans hidden. When the moment is right, strike fast and strike decisively. Take time before matches to consider all the factors that will govern the engagement. Put yourself beyond the possibility of defeat before attempting to defeat your opponent. Be modest and calm in your demeanor and approach, so that you can focus squarely on the fundamentals—the key elements that will secure victory and allow you to limit costly mistakes. Finally, be ready physically and mentally to receive your opponent’s attack, knowing you have done the work beforehand to make your position unassailable.

Oliver Jones is the Director of Paddle at Martin’s Dam Swim and Tennis Club in Wayne, PA. He ranked in the Top 50 teams in 2023. He is the author of Paddle Principles: A Beginner to Advanced Guide to Winning Paddle.  If you would like to purchase it, contact him directly at o.d.j.jones@gmail.com.