The Zero Sum Game

Date: Weds, 22 February 2006

Here’s a little tip that can help you get the most out of working with a partner:

When you learn a new move and want to try it out in a sparring or wrestling match go ahead and see if you can pull it off – then show your partner exactly what you did.

That may seem like obvious courtesy, and good training, but not everyone sees it that way.

Some people mistakenly believe they’re playing what game theorists (a branch of political theory) call “A zero sum game.”  That means my loses equal your gains, your loses equal my gains.

Following that thinking, if I learn a move and you don’t, and I don’t share it, it’s my gain and your lose so I’m “winning.”

Know anyone who thinks like that?

Unfortunately, there are people like that.  But they’re wrong.  They’re not winning.  The reason they’re not winning is because they’re training (and probably living) a negative sum game, not a zero sum game.

They keep the move to themselves.  By not sharing it they 1)  Don’t learn to defend against it 2) Don’t learn how to execute it against someone who may see it coming 3) Never get the improvements and insights another person might offer 4) Will be less likely to learn new moves from their partner – because once one player gets stingy, others tend to follow.

Everyone looses.  See how that’s a negative sum game?

In our training, let’s play positive sum games.  The more you give, the more you get . . . and everyone wins.

Take care.  Train like you mean it.

Rob LaPointe