The Deadliest Warrior and Deadliest Philosopher

Many of us who watch Spike’s Deadliest Warrior suspected the outcome of this week’s epsiode: Vlad the Impaler vs. Sun Tzu. After regular viewing, we are familiar with the show’s computer program, designed to compare the weapon technology of famous and infamous warriors of all time, rather than the personalities and strategies behind the duels. After a climatic duel, Vlad – one of histories cruelest and most feared warriors (who forced parents to feed on their roasted children) defeats the Chinese general and author of The Art of War.

An ignoble defeat. History’s most brilliant military strategist, Sun Tzu, is skewered on a stake by Vlad the Impaler. But a warrior vs. a martial philosopher/general? Come on. Yeah, in a mano a mano duel, put your money on the barbarian with superior technology. However, pit them in warfare and the outcome would be different. Savage force over the power of the mind? Bullshit!

Do tigers rule the world? Look at history. Cro-Magnon man, weaker but more intelligent, overcame the strong but dumb Neanderthal. If this were real life war with armies and the mental – not just the physical – components were factored into the computer, I would put my money on the grand daddy of all military philosophers. After all, he wrote the book (no pun intended).

So, for fun, let’s change the duel to armies at war. The encounter has Vlad, the model for Dracula, sneaking up on an unsuspecting Sun Tzu. Not realistic. Sun would be forewarned by the use of spies and would have prevented Vlad from advancing so close. And if Vlad managed to do so, it would probably be into an ambush planned by the wily Sun. Sun Tzu’s Art of War, has so many martial gems of insight and wisdom, that if he followed his own advice, as history indicates, he would not likely have been defeated by Vlad. Sun’s most famous adage “Know your self and your opponent and you will survive a hundred encounters” would certainly have kept him from encountering Vlad face to face. In fact it is more than likely, he would have given the feared warrior a gift of fair maidens, trained to poison the unsuspecting conqueror.

Of course, this is all fun conjecture, just as the premise of the show is entertainment and not to be taken too seriously. For Evolving Martial Artists, intelligent strategy guides the skilled warrior to victory over terror and brute force.

Lawrence Tan

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Tags: deadliest warrior, dr dorian, geoff desmoulin, Martial Arts, max geiger, sun tze, tandao, the art of war, weapons