Most people have irrational tendencies that distort ideal tactics. These lobsided tendencies are caused by limited past experiences that makes individuals favour one partner in a pair of opposites over the other partner-effectively stopping the person from clear tactical awareness.

For example bravery and caution are partner qualities. Maybe in the past we acted cautiously and the result was that an opportunity was missed. Furthermore we were called a coward because of the event and felt bad about it. Due to these experiences we may begin to inwardly hate/repress our natural caution thus fall into the fault of recklessness.

Then in many situations we will rush forward recklessly and get ourselves into danger-seemingly brave but really because of fear of been called a coward etc.

So if we reject our natural caution our actions tend to be reckless. If we reject our natural bravery our actions tend to be cowardly.

If we accept both qualities-if we see the value in each and have an equal relationship with them then we are free from extremes. If a situation calls for moving forward we do it. If a situation calls for moving back we do it. Thus we act from a clear viewpoint free from prejudice against particular tactics.

In the theory if we reject an inner aspect of ourselves it falls into semi-consciousness. In that state false and negative beliefs form about it. Most people have thousands of limiting beliefs about so many things-picked up during childhood etc. By working on a concept and bringing it into awareness we can purify it of the false beliefs. The physical actions are effected by the inner beliefs so we can improve our physical effectiveness by clearing up negative beliefs etc.

Someone may have been told off as a child for some kind of deception and told that such actions are "bad" and "cheating". Even though the incident may be forgotten by the individual it may still influence them unconsciously. For example they may telegraph their moves to their opponent, they may be unable to misdirect their opponent with false strikes and thus loose the battle.

Another part to the ideas is that we are all energy, thoughts have power to influence matter and there are realms that material science is not yet aware of etc etc etc. From this viewpoint by meditating on a particular quality such as *universal toughness* we actually change our reality and develop toughness in a kind of mystical/magickal way.

This Zen story might prove instuctive to the sincere student: