Principles of War: Surprise

The Principles of War can help us understand the connections between a battle in 253 B.C. and one in 1992 A.D. They can also be used to analyze martial arts training and to optimize the skills and capabilities of the martial artist.

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The fourth letter in the MOOSEMUSS mnemonic stands for “Surprise”. On page 4-14 of U.S. Army Field Manual FM-3-0, “Surprise” is defined.

“Surprise
Strike the enemy at a time or place or in a manner for which he is unprepared.

“4-47. Surprise is the reciprocal of security. Surprise results from taking actions for which an enemy or adversary is unprepared. It is a powerful but temporary combat multiplier. It is not essential to take the adversary or enemy completely unaware; it is only necessary that he become aware too late to react effectively. Factors contributing to surprise include speed, information superiority, and asymmetry.”

After defeating the Union Army of the Potomac from defensive positions on a ridge at Fredericksburg, General Robert E. Lee went on offense. Command of the Union Army was transferred to General Joseph Hooker who took up prepared defensive positions near Chancellorsville, VA. Hooker thought to bleed Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia like the Union Army was bled at Fredericksburg – but Lee wasn’t Burnside.

Lee’s cavalry reported that the Union right flank was anchored in thick woods but was lightly defended. Hooker thought the woods impenetrable by the Confederate Army. But Lee sent Stonewall Jackson’s corps around the Union flank to attack through the woods.

Jackson’s charge was a complete surprise crushing the right flank of the Army of the Potomac and routing the Army. Robert E. Lee’s use of the Principle of War, “Surprise” at Chancellorsville was masterful and it changed the strategic positions of the opposing forces. The Confederacy’s next move would be a fateful invasion of Pennsylvania leading to the Battle of Gettysburg.

In 1991 General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, commanding the U.S. and coalition forces in the Middle East used an elaborate misdirection scheme to convince the Iraqis that the United States Marine Corps would make an Inchon-like amphibious landing on Iraq’s Gulf Coast.

Schwarzkopf intended no such landing but he convinced the Iraqi military commanders that the threat was serious and they pulled elite divisions from the Saudi boarder to defend the Gulf Coast. When Coalition forces rolled through the berms on the Saudi-Iraqi boarder the defenders were not only badly beaten up by the previous six weeks of air attacks - they were also too thin and lacking strategic reserves to impede Schwarzkopf’s assault.

Schwarzkopf’s surprise through misdirection is a form used frequently in all martial arts. It manifests itself in feints, in combinations, and in disguised techniques.

From the Field Manual again; “… it is only necessary that he become aware too late to react effectively.” Surprise is fleeting and the strike must happen quickly else the opponent is able to reorient his defense to counter the blow. In war, the window of opportunity to exploit surprise can be minutes or hours. In hand to hand combat the window may close in the blink of an eye.

“Strike the enemy at a time or place or in a manner for which he is unprepared.”

Link to the Martial Arts Training Report: The Principles of War

Self Defense Weapons Training Library

Selections from my Self Defense Weapons Library:

The Stick And Cane In Close Combat: Jointlocks, Takedowns and Surprise Attacks

Raising Cane - The Unexpected Martial Art

The Cane: Techniques (Jang Sul) (Korean Hapkido Weapons, Vol. 2)

The "Walking Stick" Method of Self-Defense

The Cane as a Weapon

Falcon Defense Cane: Basic System

Basic Stick Fighting for Combat (Special Forces/Ranger-Udt/Seal Hand-to-Hand

Combat/Special Weapons/Special Tactics Series)

Self Defense Training Library

Return to "Martial Arts Training - Self Defense training - Neko Ryu Goshin Jitsu"

Selections from my Self Defense Training Library:

Tough Target: The Street-Smart Guide to Staying Safe

Combat Strategy: Junsado, the Way of the Warrior

Anatomy of a Street Fight

Not an Easy Target: Paxton Quigley's Self-Protection for Women

Meditations on Violence: A Comparison of Martial Arts Training & Real World Violence

The Gift of Fear

The SAS Self-Defense Handbook: A Complete Guide to Unarmed Combat Techniques

Krav Maga: An Essential Guide to the Renowned Method--for Fitness and Self-Defense

Self-Defense Nerve Centers and Pressure Points for Karate, Jujitsu and Atemi-Waza

Bruce Tegner Method of Self-Defense: The Best of Judo, Jiu jitsu, Karate, Savate, Yawara, Aikido, and Ate-Waza

H2H Combat: Modern Army Combative

Principles of War: Offensive

The Principles of War can be used to understand the relationship between a battle in 253 B.C. and one in 1992 A.D. They can also be used to analyze martial arts training and optimize the skills and capabilities of the martial artist.

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The third letter in the MOOSEMUSS mnemonic stands for “Offensive”. On page 4-13 of U.S. Army Field Manual FM-3-0 “Offensive” is defined.

“Offensive

"Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative.

"4-38. Offensive action is key to achieving decisive results. It is the essence of successful operations. Offensive actions are those taken to dictate the nature, scope, and tempo of an operation. They force the enemy to react. Commanders use offensive actions to impose their will on an enemy, adversary, or situation. Offensive operations are essential to maintain the freedom of action necessary for success, exploit vulnerabilities, and react to rapidly changing situations and unexpected developments.”

In any violent confrontation it’s extremely difficult and rare to “win” while staying on defense.

Robert E. Lee “won” the Civil War battle of Fredericksburg on defense. While his Army of Northern Virginia defended a fortified mountain ridge Union General Ambrose E. Burnside’s Army of the Potomac charged Lee’s positions in what, a hundred years later, would be called human wave attacks.

Burnside failed to dislodge Lee and finally gave up leaving Lee in command of the field. Lee won the battle. But because nothing was decided that day Lee followed the Union Army setting up the battle of Chancellorsville.

Even when a “win” seems to come from the defensive it’s rarely true. In American football it’s commonly said that the defense wins championships. Clearly, a powerful defensive squad is a strategic advantage. But except for the unusual event of a 2-point safety where the defense tackles the opposing ball carrier in his own team’s end zone or a fumble recovery in the opposing team’s end zone – points are scored on offense.

When the ball is kicked through the uprights or a ball carrier is found in the opposing end zone with both feet having touched the ground and in control of the football - the team on offense has scored - even when the ball carrier is a member of his team’s defensive squad.

In self-defense you can get a “win” by getting away, but in most cases escape will be possible only after you have taken aggressive action to create an escape opportunity.

If you shoot someone in self defense you draw a weapon, aim, and pull the trigger – you’ve taken offensive action. In nearly all cases winning requires offensive action.

A martial art must be built around a rapid conversion from defense to offense. Aikido is supposed to be defensive only. However, as Professor Ernie Cates has often said – “Hit him with the biggest weapon you’ve got – that’s usually the parking lot.” An Aikido throw - like a Judo throw – starts as a defense against an opponent’s assault. It quickly turns into an offense ending with the opponent crashing into the macadam parking lot or in a painful and potentially damaging joint lock.

“Seize, retain, and exploit the initiative.”

“Offensive action is key to achieving decisive results.”

Link to the Martial Arts Training Report: The Principles of War

Martial Arts Library

Return to "Martial Arts Training Self Defense Training - Neko Ryu Goshin Jitsu"

A Selection of Books from my Martial Arts Training Library:

Karate-Do: My Way of Life - Book Review

Mind Over Muscle: Writings from the Founder of Judo - Book Review

Kodokan Judo: The Essential Guide to Judo by Its Founder Jigoro Kano

Small-Circle Jujitsu

Bruce Tegner's Complete Book of Jujitsu

Aikido: The Way of Harmony

Tang Soo Do: The Ultimate Guide to the Korean Martial Art

Hapkido the Integrated Fighting Art

Complete Krav Maga: The Ultimate Guide to Over 230 Self-Defense and Combative Techniques

Tao of Jeet Kune Do

Tae Kwon Do

Mastering Jujitsu (Mastering Martial Arts Series)

Principles of War: Objective

The Principles of War provide a flexible structure for understanding how a battle in 253 B.C. is related to one in 1992 A.D. They can also be used to analyze martial arts at the individual level; to optimize the skills and capabilities of the martial artist.

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“O”; the second letter in the MOOSEMUSS mnemonic stands for “Objective”. U.S. Army Field Manual FM-3-0, on page 4-13, defines the Principle of War “Objective”:

“Direct every military operation toward a clearly defined, decisive, and attainable objective.”

An objective must be defined, decisive, and attainable.

DEFINED - You, and all others involved, must understand the expected outcome of the intended action.

DECISIVE - Attaining the expected outcome must result in an anticipated strategic advantage or improvement or be perceived by you and all others as achieving the improvement.

ATTAINABLE – The expected outcome must be possible and perceived by you and all others as possible.

In a military operation the commander issues orders that make the objective understood by the entire command. Knowing the objective sub-units can adapt to conditions on the ground and to the actions of the enemy. Sub-units and the overall command can improvise changes in tactics and maneuver that achieve the clearly understood objective even though the commander’s original plan doesn’t survive contact with the enemy.

In self-defense situations the strategic purpose is typically survival and escape without injury to self or loved ones. The objective chosen should create an opportunity to achieve the strategic purpose; for example disabling the attacker’s knee to permit escape.

The next principle in the MOOSEMUSS mnemonic is “Offensive”.

Link to the Martial Arts Training Report: The Principles of War

Self-Defense Articles on the Web

Links to Self-Defense Articles:

"On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs"
by LTC (RET) Dave Grossman
March, 2 2010
Human Events

Special Report: The Principles of War

Links to Other Topics in the Special Report: The Principles of War

Principles of War: How They Relate to the Martial Arts
Principles of War: Mass
Principles of War: Objective

Principles of War: Offensive
Principles of War: Economy of Force

Principles of War: Maneuver

Principles of War: Unity of Command

Principles of War: Security

Principles of War: Simplicity

Analyzing Myself As A Martial Artist Using the Principles of War
Principles of War: Self Analysis - Striking Techniques
Principles of War: Self Analysis - Throwing Techniques

Principles of War: Self Analysis - Chokes & Joint Locks

Principles of War: Self Analysis - Weapons

Principles of War: Self Analysis - Mass

Principles of War: Self Analysis - Objective

Principles of War: Self Analysis - Offensive

Principles of War: Self Analysis - Surprise

Principles of War: Self Analysis - Economy of Force

Principles of War: Self Analysis - Maneuver

Principles of War: Self Analysis - Unity of Command

Principles of War: Self Analysis - Security

Principles of War: Self Analysis - Simplicity

Principles of War: Self Analysis Results

Principles of War: Mass

The Principles of War are used at West Point to analyze the major battles and campaigns of history. They provide a flexible structure for understanding how a battle in 253 B.C. is related to one in 1992 A.D. I believe the Principles of War can also be used to analyze martial arts at the individual level; to optimize the skills and capabilities of the martial artist.

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The “M” in the MOOSEMUSS mnemonic stands for “Mass”. On page 4-13 of U.S. Army Field Manual FM-3-0 the Principle of War “Mass” is defined.

Mass: “Concentrate the effects of combat power at the decisive place and time.”

This simple definition contains three key words; concentrate, place, & time. Confederate cavalry general Bedford Forest summed up his tactics in these words, “Get there firstest with the mostest.” General Forest relied on the Principle of War “Mass”. He concentrated his cavalry at the decisive point before his enemy could assemble a significant opposing force.

In similar vein French Marshall Henri Turenne (1611-1675) is famous for saying, “'God is always on the side of the big battalions.” And, American combat doctrine since General Colin Powell’s term as Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has been to engage the enemy with “overwhelming force”.

But “Mass” is not just about big battalions. It’s concentration at the decisive place and time.

So, how does “Mass” apply to the martial arts at the individual level?

CONCENTRATION of combat power for an individual martial artist means fully committing to deliver a powerful technique or combination of techniques.

The DECISIVE PLACE is a vital point target or in the case of Judo the entry into a decisive throw.

The DECISIVE TIME is when the vital point target or throw entry is momentarily unguarded and open to attack.

To apply the Principle of Mass the martial artist will deliver a powerful attack directed at a vital target when the target is open.

Mass is not flailing about bouncing kicks and punches off an opponent’s forearms and shoulders. It’s not jabbing and moving. It’s delivering the knockout punch; the throw for ippon; the submission arm bar; the disabling kick to the knee.

Mass is just one of the nine Principles of War. The next principle in the MOOSEMUSS mnemonic is “Objective”.

Link to the Martial Arts Training Report: The Principles of War

Principles of War: How They Relate to the Martial Arts

The “Principles of War” are taught in some form by all Western armies. The American version that I learned as a West Point cadet consists of the following elements:

Mass
Objective
Offensive
Surprise
Economy of Force
Maneuver
Unity of Command
Security
Simplicity

I still remember the principles by the acronym “MOOSEMUSS” taught to cadets as a memory aide.

The Principles of War are used at West Point in the analysis of the major battles and campaigns of history. With the “Treads of Continuity” they provide a flexible structure for understanding how a battle in 253 B.C. is related to one in 1992.

Technologies change the means of shooting, moving, and communicating but people and principles remain constant.

I suggest that the Principles of War are also useful in analyzing martial arts at the individual level and for developing doctrines that optimize the skills and capabilities of the martial artist.

To that end, I will review the “Principles” and apply them to myself in an effort to develop a personal martial arts doctrine.

Link to the Martial Arts Training Report: The Principles of War