“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” - Albert Einstein

One of the central concepts of the martial art of Judo is unbalancing, or Kuzushi in Japanese. It refers to causing the opponent to momentarily lose their balance prior to throwing them. The throw is then timed and directed to use the opponent’s efforts to recover their balance against them. Without Kuzushi it can be very difficult to throw a trained and aware opponent.

Arts that combine striking and grappling often uses punches or kicks to set up their throws or takedowns. That is also Kuzushi. You can also find this principle in purely striking arts as well, in feints and drawing the opponents attack with a feigned opening. This concept is seen in every mode of conflict, from debates, to gunfights, to large-scale military engagements. Mastering this principle is essential to understanding strategy.

It’s easier to attack an opponent who is physically or mentally unbalanced. Learning to create that condition sets you up for success regardless of the nature of the conflict. It’s just as vital to learn to defend against an opponent’s efforts to unbalance us.

It’s human nature to push back when pushed, to pull when pulled. But this instinct often makes us vulnerable. Grappling teaches us to pull or spin when pushed and push when pulled. The awareness and discipline to do this makes us much harder to overcome. 

This isn’t just important for fighting. This can be seen as a metaphor for how we can approach many of life’s challenges. The ability to maintain mental and emotional balance is just as crucial as maintaining physical balance. Master both and they will serve you in good stead in every area of your life.