Welcome to MALICIA AS A GAME OF POWER, a blog series focused on the art of strategy in human interactions. It covers effective communication, conflict resolution, negotiation techniques, manipulation tactics, and leadership skills. Additionally, it highlights the importance of personal branding and online reputation management, providing tools for navigating power dynamics in social and professional settings. Engaging with this content equips you with insights to achieve success and foster meaningful relationships while asserting your influence.
In this installment, we will explore the 23rd law of power in the book, the 48 laws of power by Robert Greene. You can buy a copy by clicking HERE.
The 23rd law of power:”Concentrate your forces.”
The 23rd law of power, often referred to as “Concentrate your forces,” emphasizes the importance of focusing your resources, energy, and efforts on a singular goal or objective rather than spreading yourself too thin. By harnessing the full extent of your capabilities and concentrating your forces, you can achieve greater impact and effectiveness in your pursuits.
This law teaches that in the realms of influence and competition, it is better to concentrate your strength against a single adversary than to dilute your energies across multiple fronts. A focused approach not only enhances your chances of success but also allows you to build momentum, creating a sense of undeniable power that can intimidate your opponents and inspire your allies. By narrowing your focus, you can develop deeper strategies and tactics that are tailored to effectively combat your chosen adversary, leading to greater efficiency and impact.
Moreover, the concentration of resources and efforts increases your visibility and reputation in the area of your engagement, forming a psychological advantage that can sway neutral parties to your side and deter potential challengers from engaging at all. Therefore, recognizing where to direct your efforts, carefully weighing your options, and wisely selecting your battles becomes crucial in the quest for dominance and success in any endeavor, especially in competitive environments where clarity of purpose and steadfastness can distinguish the victor from the vanquished.
The specific law referenced is likely Law 23: “Concentrate Your Forces,” which, in a traditional strategic sense, means focusing all your energy, resources, and momentum on a single, vital objective. Spreading yourself thin guarantees mediocrity and defeat.
The Angoleiro’s Interpretation
For the Angoleiro, “Concentrating Your Forces” takes on several layered meanings:
- Concentration of Malícia (Cunning): The Angoleiro does not rely on continuous, high-energy attacks. Instead, they conserve physical energy, moving slowly, provocatively, and close to the ground (the principle of ficar na manha). The “concentration” is in the mental effort, the intense focus on reading the opponent’s intentions, their weight shifts, their breath, and their character. All mental force is concentrated into a single, perfectly timed golpe (blow) or rasteira (sweep) that capitalizes on a tiny, self-created opening. The power is concentrated not in the duration of the conflict, but in the precision of the climax.
- Concentration on the Jogo (The Game/Ritual): The true force of Capoeira Angola is the roda (the circle) and the ritual of the game. The Angoleiro concentrates their force not just on the opponent, but on the entire environment: the rhythm of the berimbau (musical bow), the call-and-response of the songs, and the energy of the participants. A great Angoleiro harnesses the momentum of the roda itself, using the collective energy as a concentrated force multiplier for their personal expression and strategic dominance. They concentrate their effort on upholding the tradition, which, paradoxically, gives them more power within that tradition.
- Concentration in Tradição (Tradition): The Angoleiro concentrates their entire practice on the preservation of the art’s historical roots, techniques, and philosophy passed down by masters like Mestre Pastinha. This focused, unwavering adherence to tradition is their greatest strategic advantage. While other arts might chase new techniques, the Angoleiro’s concentrated force lies in the depth of their foundation, making their simple, fundamental movements exponentially more effective and deceitful. The “force” is the weight of history and lineage behind every movement.
In summary, the 23rd Law, “Concentrate Your Forces,” translates for the Angoleiro into the art of strategic patience, mental intensity, and the focused application of cunning to deliver a decisive, high-impact action from a position of conserved energy and deep cultural rootedness.
Jogo Corpo Fechado 