Strategy vs strength. Which is more important?

[TenHands]

I saw a video of strongman Eddie Hall once where he said something along the lines of "I'm not the best fighter but I have the most powerful punch in the world."

This got me thinking of the traditional idea of Karate being a way of turning your body into a weapon, rather than a "fighting" style. In other words, the idea hardening your limbs and fine-tuning your individual techniques to be very powerful, rather than developing a strategy for 1v1 consensual "fighting."

So, what is more important: making your individual techniques super powerful through hard conditioning, or a more well-rounded focus on fighting strategy? In other words, who would be more safe during a prototypical "self defense" situation: a guy with the most powerful punch ever or a guy who is the best "fighter" ever?

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

Old saying said,

- Strength count for 10 techniques.
- Everything has counter, only extreme speed plus extreme power has no counters.

Can you use good strategy to fight against a grizzly bear? The strategy has limitation.

 

[Taiji Rebel]

Eddie Hall tried applying his powerful punch in a boxing ring:

 

[Haruhiko]

I saw a video of strongman Eddie Hall once where he said something along the lines of "I'm not the best fighter but I have the most powerful punch in the world."

This got me thinking of the traditional idea of Karate being a way of turning your body into a weapon, rather than a "fighting" style. In other words, the idea hardening your limbs and fine-tuning your individual techniques to be very powerful, rather than developing a strategy for 1v1 consensual "fighting."

So, what is more important: making your individual techniques super powerful through hard conditioning, or a more well-rounded focus on fighting strategy? In other words, who would be more safe during a prototypical "self defense" situation: a guy with the most powerful punch ever or a guy who is the best "fighter" ever?

"The supreme strategy appears neither strong nor weak."

To answer your question, the fighter who transcends the binary notion of strategy and strength is the fighter who will win.

 

[Cynik75]

Strategy is the way of using force

 

[Sammy Naur]

Eddie Hall tried applying his powerful punch in a boxing ring:

I watched this fight in 2022. Hall can deadlift over 1,000 lbs, and Hafthor literally played the largest most deadliest human in Game of Thrones, a part he won for being some sort of real life Norse demigod.

He lost 140 lbs just getting into boxing shape. And he was already in shape before that. Holy mackerel, talk about strategy combined with strength. You can learn the basics of boxing in a matter of months but if you have already the roadwork put in, watch out.

 

[drop bear]

Strength and conditioning has a much broader application that technique and probably gives you more bang for buck.

Even to the point that say. You wanted to get good technique. Good Strength and conditioning will let you practice longer in order to achieve that

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

Good Strength and conditioning will let you practice longer in order to achieve that

If you are as rich ad Bill Gates, you don't need to borrow money from the bank.

Can Mike Tyson defeat a grizzle bear with his strategy? No! Why? Because the grizzly bear is stronger and faster than Mike Tyson.

 

[Haruhiko]

Strength and conditioning has a much broader application that technique and probably gives you more bang for buck.

Even to the point that say. You wanted to get good technique. Good Strength and conditioning will let you practice longer in order to achieve that

Technique is not the same as strategy.

 

[Tigerwarrior]

If someone with brute strength fights another who has no strategy or strength then the brute strength guy would win. If someone with just brute strength went up against someone with experience, strategy and powerful techniques they could beat pure brute strength. I used to train with a kempo master years ago, he even told me "in an mma fight you would kill me" but if we did self defense sparring which is me grabbing an arm or put him in a headlock or throwing punches at him in a self defense way instead of an mma or kickboxing way, he could throw me all around that gym and make it painful. He wad 78 5'5 and 135lbs, I was 23 5'10 and 265lbs. He could throw me around that whole gym in self defense sparring. With age in the arts alot of experience and wisdom comes with.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

He could throw me around that whole gym in self defense sparring. With age in the arts alot of experience and wisdom comes with.

I believe the OP is talking about striking art.

Now you are talking about throwing art which is different from the striking art. There is always a lucky punch. There is no lucky throw.

- In striking art, ability may defeat skill.
- In throwing art, skill may defeat ability because speed and strength are not that important.

 

[TenHands]

Technique is not the same as strategy.

I should clarify:

Power:
-Technique.
-Strength.
-Body mechanics.
-Limb conditioning.

Strategy:
-Fight IQ.
-Continuity.
-Accuracy.
-Speed.

 

[Haruhiko]

I should clarify:

Power:
-Technique.
-Strength.
-Body mechanics.
-Limb conditioning.

Strategy:
-Fight IQ.
-Continuity.
-Accuracy.
-Speed.

Power and strategy are completely interconnected, and each point listed under them shows how they rely on each other:

1. Technique: Technique is both power and strategy - it's the physical skill to act and the mental understanding of when and why to use it.

2. Strength: Strength by itself doesn’t mean much without a strategy to channel it effectively. Otherwise, it’s just wasted energy.

3. Body mechanics: Good mechanics generate power, but strategy determines how you position yourself to make that power count.

4. Limb conditioning: Conditioning adds durability and force, but without strategic timing and placement, it’s just hitting harder for no reason.

As for strategy?
1. Fight IQ: Knowing how to read a fight is useless if you can’t execute on what you see. Your ability to act depends on having both the mental and physical tools working together.

2. Continuity: Flow isn’t just about movement - it’s about how you integrate power and strategy so every action supports the next.

3. Accuracy: Precision is pointless if you don’t have the physical control to land it. It’s power and timing working hand in hand.

4. Speed: Speed is power, but it’s also timing. Moving fast is meaningless if you don’t know when or where to move.

"You must understand the rhythm of the opponent and the rhythm of yourself."

Power and strategy are part of the same rhythm. Splitting them apart only throws you off-beat.

 

[TenHands]

Power and strategy are completely interconnected, and each point listed under them shows how they rely on each other:

1. Technique: Technique is both power and strategy - it's the physical skill to act and the mental understanding of when and why to use it.

2. Strength: Strength by itself doesn’t mean much without a strategy to channel it effectively. Otherwise, it’s just wasted energy.

3. Body mechanics: Good mechanics generate power, but strategy determines how you position yourself to make that power count.

4. Limb conditioning: Conditioning adds durability and force, but without strategic timing and placement, it’s just hitting harder for no reason.

As for strategy?
1. Fight IQ: Knowing how to read a fight is useless if you can’t execute on what you see. Your ability to act depends on having both the mental and physical tools working together.

2. Continuity: Flow isn’t just about movement - it’s about how you integrate power and strategy so every action supports the next.

3. Accuracy: Precision is pointless if you don’t have the physical control to land it. It’s power and timing working hand in hand.

4. Speed: Speed is power, but it’s also timing. Moving fast is meaningless if you don’t know when or where to move.

"You must understand the rhythm of the opponent and the rhythm of yourself."

Power and strategy are part of the same rhythm. Splitting them apart only throws you off-beat.

I confess I am terrible at expressing my ideas sometimes. For the purposes of this post, I am distinguishing two separate things:

1.) The ability to hit hard a single time.

2.) The ability to fight with another human being and win.

 

[Haruhiko]

I confess I am terrible at expressing my ideas sometimes. For the purposes of this post, I am distinguishing two separate things:

1.) The ability to hit hard a single time.

2.) The ability to fight with another human being and win.

All good! I tend to over analyse this stuff

So your distinction is the difference between raw power (hitting hard once) and the broader skill set required to fight and win (strategy, adaptability, and integration)? Do you think the first naturally feeds into the second, or are they entirely separate in your view?

 

[TenHands]

All good! I tend to over analyse this stuff

So your distinction is the difference between raw power (hitting hard once) and the broader skill set required to fight and win (strategy, adaptability, and integration)? Do you think the first naturally feeds into the second, or are they entirely separate in your view?

I think naturally, yes, the first feeds into the second typically.

However, let's say I want to consciously focus on absolutely nothing else but raw power, every other aspect of fighting be damned. Let's say I want to have 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝓅𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝓅𝓊𝓃𝒸𝒽 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹. Would this be a useful self-defense tool?

 

[Haruhiko]

I think naturally, yes, the first feeds into the second typically.

However, let's say I want to consciously focus on absolutely nothing else but raw power, every other aspect of fighting be damned. Let's say I want to have 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓂𝑜𝓈𝓉 𝓅𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝓅𝓊𝓃𝒸𝒽 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓌𝑜𝓇𝓁𝒹. Would this be a useful self-defense tool?

Every other aspect be damned? One Punch Man style?

Situational of course, but history tells us that brute force is easily beaten by good strategy. The Battle of Thermopylae is a great example in group warfare.

The duel between Musashi and Kojiro is another. Kojiro was known for his use of the nōdachi which required strength to wield, and he had one particular technique which required no small effort to execute. Musashi's strategy was to use a slightly longer wooden sword for reach, and it was said he hid the length of the sword in the water from Kojiro.That's not to say Kojiro was a brute, but that strategy won in the end.

There's also Batman.

 

[Kung Fu Wang]

1. Technique: Technique is both power and strategy.

My definition is different.

1. Skill (technique) is something you learn in school.
2. Ability (power/speed) is something you develop at home.
3. Strategy is how to enter safely and finish your job quickly.

 

[Haruhiko]

My definition is different.

1. Skill (technique) is something you learn in school.
2. Ability (power/speed) is something you develop at home.
3. Strategy is how to enter safely and finish your job quickly.

Your definitions highlight how skill, power, and strategy are interconnected, but strategy is what ultimately ties them together. Skill and ability - technique and power/speed - are tools, but without strategy to guide their use, they’re wasted. Strategy - "enter safely and finish quickly" - determines when and how to apply skill and ability effectively. It’s the foundation that ensures everything else works in harmony.

From my perspective, at least.

 

[isshinryuronin]

1. What good is superior power if you can't land it? Landing a punch takes timing, speed, technique and tactics. Without these, one is left with luck.

2. No matter how strong the opponent is, his eyes, throat, knees, nuts and fingers are weak.

Combining 1 and 2 should take care of most all opponents, regardless of power. History is full of examples of a weaker force defeating a stronger one, usually thru tactical movement and superior moral.