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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
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