"Master, 'The Gentle Way' does it mean something to you?"
"Certainly Ge Sin K. It is the characteristic name for Judo, the Ju principle."
"Yet one can observe the most violent banging on the mat by a human body. Is that gentle?"
"It is the most natural form of play. It has animal equivalents in the play of the young cats, dogs, bears and so on. Young boys do it 'Naturally' when they are good friends, when not, they hit, kick and bite. There is the boxing for you, a low type of sport, not play."
"Just what is the gentleness then in 'Ju' Master?"
"Look, when a big bully deals you a strong push or shove, you may escape by a very swift sidestep. This is natural, so, the bully more or less expect it. The Gentle Way, now, goes a step further. You not only sidestep swiftly, but you also PULL the opponent in the direction he PUSHES. This is so totally UNexpected that he overbalances, loses all command, even flies through the air. That is the principle of Ju."
"Has it a bearing on us, on life, on Mind?"
"Naturally so. The Tao Te Ching is full of not resisting but actively co-operating in order to prevail. In Kung Fu (54): 'You must wait for the moment, for at the right time, all may be reached.' In our example, you do not attack the bully, nor even provoke him, but sooner or later, WHEN he will push you, it is your time to act. You act gently and it will suffice for conquering him. This is The Gentle Way."