Meyer, Time

“Hence the proverb has arisen: ‘A true combatant doesn’t parry, but when the opponent cuts, then he cuts too; when the opponent steps, then he steps too; when the opponent thrusts, then he thrusts too.“ not only tells us that to make a simple defense that does not offend is poor and puts us into a position of obedience, but also gives us a framework for proportion of time as it relates to opportunity. The Provoker and Taker should be continually employed until the the rule of proportion is true: “the time of our offense is shorter than our opponent’s defense, and the time of our defense is shorter than the time of the their offense,“ at which point we may proceed to use the Hitter.