Principles of War – Economy of Force

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

M
O
O
S
Economy of Force
M
U
S
S

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

“Economy of Force
Allocate minimum essential combat power to secondary efforts.

4-42. Economy of force is the reciprocal of mass. It requires accepting prudent risk in selected areas to achieve superiority—overwhelming effects—in the decisive operation. Economy of force involves the discriminating employment and distribution of forces. Commanders never leave any element without a purpose. When the time comes to execute, all elements should have tasks to perform.”

When Lee sent Jackson’s corps to assault Hooker’s right flank at Chancellorsville he committed half of the Army of Northern Virginia to the attack through the forest. The other half of Lee’s army covered the long front of the much larger Army of the Potomac. Lee convinced Hooker that the entire Army of Northern Virginia was in front of him until it was too late for the Union army to react effectively (Surprise) while Jackson’s concentrated corps attacked the decisive point (Mass).

Lee accomplished this by spreading half of his army thinly across a long front – allocating the minimum essential combat power to this secondary effort (Economy of Force).

In a similar fashion in Operation Desert Storm, Schwarzkopf primarily used Navy assets – ships, boats, and SEAL teams - to create the misdirection resulting in the movement of the Iraqi Republican Guards to the Gulf coast. In fact, by using these Navy assets a minimal amount of Schwarzkopf’s total combat power was diverted to the (secondary) misdirection effort; a classic use of Economy of Force.

In martial arts, defense – avoiding injury from the opponent’s attack – is a secondary effort; though a necessary one to be sure. To win you must go on offense quickly. Some martial arts emphasize hard blocks directly opposing the attack with force. But when great force is applied to a block a transition to offense is more difficult; the greater the force the greater the difficulty.

At some level of force, the block itself becomes an offensive technique. When that level is reached it’s sometimes called a destruct instead of a block. The intention of the destruct is to destroy the opponent’s attacking limb.

The other approach is to minimize the energy expended in blocking. This approach – the “Economy of Force” approach – is exemplified by the brush block or by body movement (tai sabaki) to avoid the attack while simultaneously setting up the counter attack.

“Fitting” in a Judo throw can likewise exemplify Economy of Force. The judoka intercepts the opponent’s punch and redirects it past his body. He uses the opponent’s own energy to take his balance all while fitting his body to the opponent’s in preparation for the throw – I have harai goshi in mind.

Aikido, Judo for self defense (sport Judo is much more aggressive), and Neko Ryu Goshin Jitsu are examples of martial arts that primarily use Economy of Force in defense to set up their offense.

“Allocate minimum essential combat power to secondary efforts.”

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