1. 'Know Yourself, Know Enemy'.
It's a key to victory - either in a 1-on-1 fight(s) or between larger forces.
This wisdom was used to win in conflicts between armies, many times in history.
Knowing oneself is more important than knowing one's enemy - but knowing enemy is also a very important factor to win.
In this article, however - we'll focus on 1-on-1 fights.
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It's important to understand when and how to use which subpath, among ones listed below:
2. 'Know the Arts, Know the Ways'.
Certain Martial Art styles have advantage(s) and disadvantage(s) against other Martial Art styles.
One's training should include this knowledge both during planning phase, as well as in training's execution.
3. 'Know the Team, Know Synergy'.
Team might involve teachers, sparring partners, dietician, etc.
Synergic team is more than sum of it's parts.
4. 'Know the Risks, Know Solutions'.
One should work both on strongest point of one's Martial Arts, but also on weakest ones.
Also, one should pay attention to one's team, their strong/weak qualities.
Risks can be managed, brainstormed ... and proper training/weapons can be attempted to address these.
Worst Risks - one's weakest points - should be addressed first, and the most seriously.
5. 'Know the Costs, Know the Time'.
Weapons can be expensive, training as well. Hiring training assistants and teachers, renting a training place, buying punching bags, ... - everything costs.
The most often it's the most cost-efficient to just join a particular Martial Arts School, who has most of these costs already covered. The choice of school/teacher should depend both on one's training needs and on school's training offers.
One's time is precious as well, can be considered as part of costs needed to pay for a succesful training.
One should estimate how much of one's time he/she can give certain part(s) of one's training, then plan training accordingly. Same with equipment as weapons, training place, punching bags, etc.
6. 'Know the Ego, Know the Mind'.
Martial Artists sometimes meditate.
Martial Artists sometimes transcend, surpass themselves.
.. i've heard that highly skilled Martial Artists, who have body and mind conditioned for combat - see fights similar to a game of chess. They observe enemy, speak mantras in mind ... and their trained body reacts quickly and precisely to mantras, without much of time-consuming thinking or decisions.
Buddhists sometimes practice Martial Arts as a way to surpass their own Egos. They fight to protect physically-combat-weak friends, and sometimes help to Protect important Teachers. Surpassing one's Ego, achieving Liberation, involves forgoing one's glory and just doing it for others.
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There's also 'false path':
7. 'Know the Money, Know the Way'.
It's a way of traitors, taking bribes.
