SunZi says to appear weak when strong and appear strong when weak. If an opponent believes that you are weak, then a daring show of strength may have the effect of giving your opponent pause. Particularly if your enemy is not fully familiar with your situation, the enemy may allow the show of strength and hold off an attack until obtaining more information. This is particularly true if your enemy may suspect some sort of ruse or trickery.
Daniel Bryan demonstrates that he is not afraid of snakes
On the February 5, 2012 Smackdown episode, Daniel Bryan discovered the five opponents against whom he must defend his World Heavyweight Championship at the Elimination Chamber. One of these opponents was “the Viper” Randy Orton. Thus far in his championship reign, Bryan had weaseled his way successfully out of matches against Mark Henry and the Big Show, but he had yet to cross paths with Orton, who had been involved in a feud with Wade Barrett, was injured, and had just returned to resolve his issues with Wade Barrett. Smackdown GM Teddy Long had Bryan sit and watch the Orton-Barrett match with him in his office. At the conclusion of the match, Bryan looked noticeably concerned but said that he had already proven that he was not afraid of giants, and that now he would show that he was not afraid of snakes.
At this point, Orton was busy celebrating his victory and was going from second turnbuckle to second turnbuckle acknowledging the crowd. For seemingly no reason, Daniel Bryan ran down the entranceway cheering for himself as he has been doing as champion. Unnoticed by the victorious Orton, Bryan continued his self-cheering in the center of the ring, moving about the ring while Orton remained on the far corner’s second turnbuckle. Orton noticed Bryan and just glared at him in a semi-confused manner. Orton may have been shocked by Bryan’s audacity; or he may have been just pausing to see if Bryan was going to level some sort of attack against him. Either way, he was ready for Bryan. But Bryan just celebrated for a moment and then left the ring as quickly as he entered it, cheering all the way back up the entrance ramp.
Bryan, perceived by all as being weak, put on a seemingly daring show of strength as he entered Orton’s ring. He did not attack or taunt Orton, and he clearly did not want Orton to attack him. However, Bryan’s mere presence alone and the way it made Orton pause makes this a great example of the Kong Cheng Ji.
The Rock Stands Tall in the center of the ring
This is, I think, the third time I’m writing about this one particular episode of Smackdown, but so much was going on during this episode. The 04/27/2000 episode of Smackdown was just two days away from Backlash, where Triple H would defend his title against The Rock. The Rock made his way to the center of the ring put on a show of strength that deterred the entire McMahon-Helmsley regime from attacking him. At first, the Rock declared that, despite every pedigree and chair shot, he was still standing there. Despite all the various types of matches that the Regime had devised for him or whatever type of match they had for him on this night, whether it’s a cage match or a “Stephanie’s dirty panties on a pole” match, the Rock would be ready. The Rock, alone in the ring, then proceeded to call out the Regime. As he waited for Helmsley, announcer Michael Cole declared that the Rock had no fear.
As the regime appeared, Triple H declared that beating up the Rock has become a bit boring and a bit redundant. Triple H said that he would wait until Backlash to administer another beating to the Rock. Triple H urged the Rock to take the night off, like they were. Triple H also noticed that the Rock looked a bit anxious and that he needed to relax. Vince McMahon then told the Rock that he knew that the Rock was excited about having Stone Cold in his corner, but the regime will have Shane McMahon as the referee. Before the Regime could come down to the ring and attack, the Rock said that, speaking of Stone Cold, The Rock had spoken to Stone Cold and Stone Cold may not want to wait until Backlash and would be there for The Rock’s Show, Smackdown. McMahon screamed that the Rock was a liar and that Stone Cold didn’t have the temerity and the “grapefruits” to be at Smackdown tonight. The Rock then guaran-damn-teed that Austin was there tonight.
Upon hearing this, the crowd went crazy, but the McMahon-Helmsley regime held their position at the top of the entrance ramp and did not come down to attack the Rock. They stood there, concerned yet still leveling threats at the Rock. The Rock avoided a six-on-one beating at the hands of the Regime and stood tall in the process of doing so.
Conclusion
In conclusion, even when thoroughly outnumbered, outclassed, and / or vulnerable to attack, you may still be able to stave off an adversary. Your enemy may not be fully aware of all of his advantages on the battlefield; or he may suspect that you have kept a secret advantage in hiding and are waiting to unleash it. For this reason, the prudent course for the adversary is to hold tight and delay engaging in attack until the situation is properly analyzed.
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