Paradoxex of Defence 防禦悖論(8)

George Silver his resolution upon that hidden or doubtful question, who has the advantage of the Offender or Defender.

George Silver在進攻方和防守方誰優勢更大這個被隱藏和被懷疑的問題上的結論

The advantage is strongly held by many to be in the offender, yea insomuch, that if two minding to offend in their fight, it is thought to be in him that first strikes or thrusts. Others strongly hold opinion that the warder absolutely has still the advantage, but these opinions as they are contrary the one to the other, so are they contrary to true fight, as may well be seen by these short examples. If the advantage be in the warder, than it is not good any time to strike or thrust: if the advantage is in the striker or thruster, then were it a frivolous thing to learn to ward, or at any time to seek to ward, since in warding lies disadvantage. Now may it plainly by these examples appear, that if there is any perfection in fight, that both sides are deceived of their opinions, because if the striker or thruster has the advantage, then is the warder still in danger of wounds or death. If again, if the warder has the advantage, then is the striker or thrust in as great danger to defend himself against the warder, because the warder from his wards, takes advantage of the striker or thruster upon every blow or thrust, that shall be made against him. Then thus do I conclude, that if there is perfection in the Science of Defence, they are all in their opinions deceived. And that the truth may appear for the satisfaction of all men, this is my resolution: that there is no advantage absolutely, nor disadvantage in striker, thruster, or warder, and their is great advantage in the striker, thruster & warder, but in this manner. In the perfection of fight the advantage consists in fight between party and party, that is, whosoever wins or gains the place in true pace, space and time, has the advantage, whether he is striker, thruster or warder. And that is my resolution.

很多人都強烈的認為進攻者有很大優勢，即便如此，如果兩個人在戰鬥中，那麼雙方都會爭取第一次進攻。另一部分人認為防守方優勢很大。但這些觀點恰恰相反，他們和真正的戰鬥都不一樣，正如我們這幾個簡短的例子就可以看出來。如果防守方優勢很大，那麼任何進攻或者是推進都不是一個好事情，相反，如果進攻方佔據很大優勢，那麼防禦就是一個很廢物的選擇。通過上邊的例子我們可以看出來，如果戰鬥中真的有一件事情是完美的，那麼就是戰鬥雙方都被他們的意識所蒙蔽了。因為如果進攻方有優勢，那麼防守方就陷入危險或者死亡。再一次，如果防守方有優勢，那麼進攻方就是自尋死路了。因為進攻方會利用他防守的優勢，利用對手的攻擊向對手進行反擊。因此，我的結論就是，如果有人真的認為在戰鬥中存在完美的事情，那麼只能說他的觀點限制了他的想像力。我堅信真相會以所有男兒都滿意的姿態出現：攻守沒有優劣之分。在真正完美的戰鬥中，只有把握住正確的節奏、時機、空間的那個人才是佔據優勢那一方，這就是我的答案。

Ps：不由得說大師真是大師，把握住了戰鬥的本質。戰鬥本身不是靜態不變的，是一個運動本身的事物，其內在矛盾是來自於戰鬥雙方的對立。倘若存在一個天生佔據有絕對優勢的姿態，那麼戰鬥本身內在的主要矛盾又會如何產生呢？這是令人無法想像的。戰鬥必然帶來一個結局，這個結局是如何演化而來則取決於戰鬥雙方。戰鬥雙方內在的技能和武器固然是一方面，但是也應該把握住環境的變化、利用系統內部的漲落，從而讓系統演化到自己希望的形式。