Flood In
Musashi advises changing tactics at a combat impasse while continuing the attack. His emphasis is on practising enough variations to change approach without hesitation.
THE IDEA
TO FLOOD IN
If the fight develops to the point where neither you nor the enemy are able to make the killing strike, you will have the advantage if you suddenly change your technical strategy and proceed relentlessly with your attack. This is called “flooding in.” To back off and try to regain your composure gives the enemy the opportunity to do likewise; it then starts all over again. When you are in a fight, you are not in a contest to see who can outlast the other in a standoff.
This is why you absolutely must train incessantly to develop the proper spirit that will enable you to continue attacking even under dire circumstances. It is not a question of your technical ability, but it certainly is a matter of your desire to win with the spirit of the warrior—something you can attain only when you have acknowledged the Way as the true reality for you and you alone.
When to use it
Examining whether a change of tactics could break a pattern in a close sporting contest.
Military operations where a stalemate on the battlefield requires a sudden change in tactics to overwhelm the enemy.
Entrepreneurial competition where two startups are neck-and-neck; one launches a disruptive product to capture the market.
When a personal disagreement stalls, changing how the issue is discussed or asking what has not yet been addressed.
FROM THEORY TO EVERYDAY LIFE
In practice
Business Negotiation Stalemate
When a negotiation stalls, one party presents a different proposal that changes the terms under discussion. This illustrates changing approach rather than repeating the same unsuccessful offer.
Chess Attack
After a balanced middle game, you sacrifice a piece to launch an unexpected assault, forcing the opponent to react under pressure instead of maintaining their defensive posture.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
Put it to work.
When have you reached an impasse? Would changing approach have helped, and what might continued pressure have cost?
What does 'proper spirit' mean in your personal or professional context? How can you cultivate that relentlessness?
Consider a recent situation where you reached a standoff. What would a flooding-in strategy have looked like?
Often confused with
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION
Source texts
- Musashis book of five rings the definitive interpretation of Miyamoto Musashis classic book of strategy (Kaufman, SteveMiyamoto, Musashi)