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Why Sun Zi Bing Fa is Art of War and Not 'War Methods'? When people hear The Art of War (孙子兵法), they usually think it is only about military strategy. But the phrase itself — “兵法” (Bing Fa) — means “the method, principle, or art of using forces.” The art inside the Art of War is not just about fighting battles; it is about mastering the invisible forces that determine victory without destruction. Here’s how the “art” reveals itself inside Sun Tzu’s writing: 1. The Art of Winning Without Fighting Sun Tzu said: “To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill.” The real art is in averting conflict by shaping perceptions, aligning strengths, and positioning yourself so that the other side yields naturally. This is why my book/course is aptly called 'Win Without Fighting with Sun Tzu Art of War', details at https://asiatrainers.org/wwfbook 2. The Art of Dao (The Way) Victory begins with alignment of purpose — when the people, the leader, and Heaven’s timing are un...

Let’s map Sun Tzu’s Art of War 五要素 of Victory — 道 (Dao), 天 (Tian), 地 (Di), 将 (Jiang), 法 (Fa) — into SuperME model, which is grounded in Purpose, Love, Gratitude (PLG) and the distinction between SuperMe vs. Survival-Me. 1. Sun Tzu’s Five Elements of Victory 道 Dao (Way/Alignment): Shared purpose, values, and direction. 天 Tian (Heaven/Timing): Recognizing the right timing, cycles, and external conditions. 地 Di (Earth/Position): Resources, terrain, and environment. 将 Jiang (General/Leadership): Leadership quality — wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, discipline. 法 Fa (Method/Discipline): Organization, systems, and execution. 2. How They Fit into SuperME  Think of it as SuperME = Internal Five Elements of Sun Tzu: Dao = Why I exist (Purpose) Tian = When I act (Gratitude for timing, patience, acceptance) Di = Where I stand (Love for people/environment, supportive networks) Jiang = Who I am (Identity of SuperMe leadership) Fa = How I do it (Disciplined PLG habits, execution fr...

The line "故善战者 致人而不致于人" translates to "Therefore, the skillful warrior directs others but is not directed by others." This reflects Sun Tzu's principle of proactive strategy and control in conflict or leadership. ​ Using the materials from the book Win Without Fighting with Sun Tzu Art of War , this line emphasizes the importance of preparation, positioning, and influence. A skillful leader or strategist creates conditions where they dictate the flow of events rather than reacting to external pressures. ​ This aligns with the idea of "winning before the battle begins" and "designing outcomes" rather than being forced into reactive decisions. ​ In practical terms: Preparation is Power: By knowing yourself, your purpose (Dao), and the situation (Tian and Di), you can set the stage for success. ​ Influence Without Force: Instead of being controlled by circumstances or others, you align people and resources with your strategy, ensuring th...

故善战者，致人而不致于人 This famous quote is from Sun Tzu's The Art of War chapter 6, and it translates to: "Thus, those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle, and are not brought there by him." In a modern business context, this is a fundamental principle of strategic initiative and competitive advantage . It means that successful companies proactively shape the market and force competitors to react to their moves, rather than constantly being on the defensive and reacting to competitors' actions. Here is a breakdown of what it means to "致人" (bring the enemy to you/control others) and not be "致于人" (be brought to the enemy/be controlled by others) in business: What it means to "致人" (To Control the Situation / Be the Disruptor): This is about being proactive and setting the agenda. You force others to play by your rules. Innovate, Don't Imitate: You launch groundbreaking products (e.g., SH Lingzhi cookies, CEO Cafe, CEO Pushcarts ...

“The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.”   — Sun Tzu, The Art of War Most people fight to feel powerful. But does fighting really work? Fighting drains energy and damages relationships. Real power lies in clarity, calm, and timing. Think of one ongoing conflict. What happens if you stop pushing and start observing?   What if the secret to winning isn't fighting harder — but not fighting at all ? What if your best victories were won long before the struggle began ?   In a world obsessed with hustle, competition, and pushing through resistance, Sun Tzu’s message cuts like a sword through fog: “ Win first. Then go to battle .” The Two Paths: Fight to Win vs. Win to Fight Most people, when faced with a challenge, do one thing: fight. They argue harder. Send longer emails. Pull rank. Offer ultimatums. They go into battle hoping to win. But Sun Tzu invites us to reverse this logic. His approach is: Win to fight, not fight to win. This mea...

Forward of Win Without Fighting with Sun Tzu Art of War Dr Vivian Passion Koh When Andy Ng invited me to write the foreword for this book, I paused — not because I hesitated, but because I recognized the sacredness of what he was offering the world through these pages. 'Win Without Fighting with Sun Tzu Art of War' is not merely a book on strategy; it is a blueprint for inner alignment, authentic leadership, and transformative peace in action. In a world obsessed with hustle and domination, Andy revives the forgotten power of clarity over chaos, wisdom over warfare, and purpose over pressure. As someone who champions the PLG (Purpose, Love, Gratitude) framework globally, I see in Andy’s work a powerful convergence: Purpose:  the Dao that aligns teams beyond KPIs. Love: the Yin energy that dissolves resistance. Gratitude: the calm anchor that transforms challenge into wisdom. Andy doesn’t just teach Sun Tzu. He lives it. And he refines it — integrating ancient Eastern principles...

How SuperME Helps Us Win Without Fighting The #1 Strategy in Sun Tzu’s Art of War “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.” — Sun Tzu In today’s world, we fight every day — not just with others, but inside ourselves: 📌 Fighting for approval 📌 Fighting against fear 📌 Fighting to prove our worth But what if you could win without the fight? That’s what SuperME teaches you. SuperME = Winning Through Alignment SuperME is the you who leads from Purpose, not ego. Who walks with Love, not fear. Who lives in Gratitude, not complaint. When you are aligned internally, you stop needing to: Compete with others to feel worthy React emotionally to every challenge Force your way through resistance Instead, your presence becomes your power. You influence with calm, clarity, and conviction — and that’s how you win before the battle even begins. Real Examples: A leader practicing SuperME no longer needs to “command respect” — they earn it effortlessly. A businessperson doesn’t ...

Sun Zi Bing Fa (Art of War) is from Yijing, because Win Without Fighting is what it advocates. I, Andy Ng, have been teaching courses on The Art of War since 2009. In August 2025 alone, I conducted two one-day classes on August 1 and 11. The attendees included many non-Chinese individuals, mostly from the government sector.  I incorporate Yijing elements into my teaching, and I focus on applications in day-to-day life Because true strategy is not about defeating others—it’s about mastering the self, aligning with the unseen forces, and moving with Heaven’s timing. In all my Sun Zi Bing Fa programs, I don’t just teach tactics —I train inner generals . I bring out the strategist in each participant. Whether you’re a policymaker, a business leader, or a frontline officer, you’ll walk away with clarity, conviction, and calm power. Through the lens of Yijing , I help people decode the invisible . Each of the 13 chapters in Sun Zi’s work reveals timeless wisdom that can be applied not...

You Don't Need to Look Like a Leader From Sun Tzu art of war: THE MYTHS OF LEADERSHIP 1.  A Leader Must Be Tough.  Softness doesn't mean not effective, and sometimes being tough will alienate followers instead. 2.  You Must Be The Best.  The best may not lead because they prefer to be led. That doesn't mean that the leader is mediocre and incompetent. 3.  A Leader Must Behave Like a Leader at All Times. This is called fake leadership because ultimately a leader is just a normal human being like anyone. A leader is not God or a representative of God. In fact, if you behave weak at times you will touch more people's hearts and get more loyal followers 4.  You Must Have A Strong Team In Order to Lead Well.  This is the most daunting and untrue requirement that frightens most people.  In fact a leader builds his own team.  Even if he already has a strong team, he still must turn the strong team into strong followers or he is just an ineffective l...

Sun Zi Art of War 8-Week Business Momentum Program (SZBM) 8 Wednesday nights 7.30 to 9.30 pm at zoom 5 July 2023 Wed to 30 Aug 2023 Wed ·        FREE Revision ·        This is an on-going class, you can start from any module and we give FREE after-class service to ensure that you are progressing well.    After this 8-week lesson, you’ll be empowered to tackle any challenges in your business and get transformed. For Who to Attend :  Business owners and self-employed individuals,  Professionals in business development, marketing, sales, direct selling, corporate selling Financial planners Real Estate agents Unlock the secrets of success with the Sun Zi 8-Module Business Momentum Program , exclusively on Zoom. Join us once a week for 8 Wednesday nights, from July 5th to August 30th, 2023, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Led by renowned trainer Andy Ng from Asia Coaching Training, this program has b...

31 Benefits of Knowing Sun Tzu Art of War Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" is an ancient Chinese military treatise that is widely studied for its insights on strategy, tactics, and leadership. Here are the 31 benefits of studying "The Art of War": Developing strategic thinking: "The Art of War" teaches how to think strategically, to plan ahead and to anticipate the moves of your opponents. Understanding the nature of conflict: The book presents an understanding of the nature of conflict, and how to use that understanding to gain an advantage. Improving leadership: "The Art of War" emphasizes the importance of a clear chain of command, effective communication, and the ability to inspire and motivate troops. Improving decision-making: The book teaches how to make decisions quickly, accurately, and with confidence. Understanding the importance of intelligence: The book stresses the importance of gathering and analyzing intelligence, and using it to ma...

People Set the Wrong Goals and Achieve Them!  The worse thing that ever happens to anyone is NOT to never set goals, or to set goals and never achieve them, but to set the wrong goals and achieve them!  Many people don't even know that they set the wrong goals.  Sun Tzu in the Art of War first sentence said that the Art of War is very important, for it determines your life and death.   The entire chapter 1 of the Art of War talks about planning. It says that you must do this right or you will die.  He listed the 5 criteria for any goals.  They are Dao Tian Di Jiang Fa.  So when you set the wrong goals, you are on the wrong path.  Worse still is to achieve your wrong goals!  What are wrong goals? 1. Make a lot of money ($xxx) this year  2. Get promoted in my career 3. Get elected as President of my association 4. Get my child to score A in his exams 5. Slim down 5 kg The above are examples of wrong goals.  To know if your goals ...

  31 Benefits of Using Sun Tzu Art of War When you know and apply the Sun Tzu Art of War, you can reap at least 31 benefits: 1. You are able to get more done with less 2. Less stress for yourself and others 3. Save time, team and money 4. Get higher productivity, which is ever more with ever less 5. Leverage on others, so able to work smart and not just work hard 6. Know yourself and know others, in a hundred battles, there are no dangers 7. Be mindful, not mind full 8. Know what is a good person and how to be a good person 9. Loyalty, the most trusted virtue, will be yours too 8. Know how to take care of your people as though they are your children 9. Know the dangers of fire and how to harness fire in your daily life 10. Know the biggest fire is fire in the belly, and how to use this fire daily 11. Get automatic leadership, that is, leadership that no one notices 12. Get automatic followership, that is, followership that no leader asks for 13. Get what you want without asking for...

Never Underestimate your Opponent Sun Tzu talks often about deception and also warns about being deceived by the opponent and underestimating their ability.  Art of War also talks about knowing yourself and your opponent to ensure no peril in your battles.  How to NOT Underestimate Your Opponent? 1. Don't overestimate yourself 2. Compare yourself and your opponent in these 5 areas: purpose, environment, support, leadership and methods 3. Overestimate your opponent and do a stress test  4. Be one step ahead of your opponent by not walking behind them. Always do better than them 5. Set and achieve your goals and make your goals bigger than you or your opponent  Customer Service with the Art of War:  Sun Tzu Art of War simplified and clarified and its relation to The 36 Stratagems  How to serve customers from our hearts with Sun Tzu's strategy of 'Win the Entire Nation' Creating Trust and Rapport with Customers with Sun Tzu's 'Know Yourself Know Others' strate...

Written by David Clapp What Mr Putin failed to consider A thoughtful analysis of Mr. Putin’s goals concludes that he intended to flood Ukraine with overwhelming firepower, seize critical cities, and remove the current Ukrainian government. Instead, what he envisioned as a quick Russian takedown of an inferior Ukrainian defending force has turned into an increasingly bloody slog with no guarantee of success. That the war has stagnated should be no surprise for those who have studied  The Art of War . Mr. Putin, and the commanders under him, ignored the basic principles of preparing an army and waging war. They did not understand the capabilities of Ukrainian forces, did not account for the conditions on the battlefield, and did not acknowledge and mitigate the vulnerabilities of their forces. These principles of war have been known for over two millennia and were compiled in  The Art of War , which Chinese General Sun Tzu wrote in the sixth century BCE.  The Art of War ...