A strange tip in judo: grip your opponent's gi with your pinky and ring finger, not the index and thumb, let alone all at once. But how do you hold it that way?
Judo techniques are over 140 years old—they must know something.
To grasp this counterintuitive insight, try spinning a mace. A tight ring made with the index finger and thumb feels solid and reliable, but your hand quickly tires and a blister forms.
For long spinning, hold the mace again with pinky and ring finger, right at the very edge. As in judo, the goal isn't to "freeze" the alien Force, but to "lead" it, stay close, not lose it.
A dog on a leash or a horse in reins feels free. The owner remains invisible for a while, and then effortlessly redirects their movement.
The mace also follows its natural trajectory. All you need to do is follow it, making small corrections left and right. Your effort is minimal when your fingers hold the very end of the lever.
How does this insight apply to business and life?
Suppose you meet Chaos, that is, something you don't understand, can't rigidly fix, but that can harm you.
Beating it bone-to-bone is risky. Running away is naive. You need to make contact with Chaos—information-rich, but energy-low for you—like pinky on the end of the lever.
The grip is there, but as if not.
In the right moment, you'll feel it skin-deep, Chaos will show "vulnerability"—get carried away, weaken, hesitate—and you're right there.
Chaos doesn't even notice when it stops bothering you and starts working for you.
Sincerely yours,
-Alexander
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