"An effective defense must assume an offensive character, striking at the moment of the enemy’s greatest vulnerability. As Clausewitz wrote, the defense is “not a simple shield, but a shield made up of well-directed blows.” The truly decisive element of the defense is the counterattack. Thus, the offense is an integral component of the concept of the defense."
When someone rears back to punch you, they open themselves up in a unique fashion. When the offense hikes the ball, they open themselves up to loss by attempting to gain ground. You can view an enemy attack through fragility, resilience or anti-fragility.
Fragility is seeing an enemy attack as the end of your peace. Everything is fine... until it isn't. Well, there goes that!
Resilience is seeing an enemy attack as an opportunity to hold your ground. You are prepared and ready for this. You've been waiting. Bring it! We aren't going anywhere.
Anti-fragility is seeing an enemy attack as an opportunity to do damage. You are prepared, but not just to absorb their blows, but to seize the weak spot they created by their aggression.
"Defense is not a simple shield, but a shield made up of well-directed blows." - Clausewitz
The best way to shield yourself from trouble is not just to endure the blows of the enemy, but to counter strike at the point of the weakness they created in their ranks by attacking. This type of shield not only endures the enemy's attacks, but makes future attacks less likely and/or less powerful.
Defense is not about merely holding ground, it is about gaining ground. It is not the fear of surviving aggression, but the faith to aggressively engage the attacker in a way that gains ground for you precisely because you were attacked. In this understanding, the enemy attacking produces a net gain for you and loss for them. How frustrating to throw a punch and find yourself on the ground, eye-blackened because of it. That is the type of frustration we delight in supplying generously to our enemies.
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