When you put yourself to begin with in the position of wanting to choose between being ''hard'' and ready or ''soft'' and using spontanity you have already split your mind in two: wanting this or that. From there the argument goes inside your mind for what is better: being soft or hard. This argument by itself will cause you to spend energy that is better used for the practical application of the correct movment. The way out of this probelm, (that is a very classical Zen Koan), is to break the berrier between what you consider as soft and hard. Both are just imaginary positions! Do not defend yourself until a hit comes in your way, and allow the movment of the opponent to direct your answer to their hit. The answer is in a movement- not in the mind! When you want to hit: hit. Don't worry about your opponent's movment at all. Control the game by doing what you want to do and leave it up to them to responde. So than your energy is well taking care of the actual mechanical movments of your body and is not wasted on mind-related issues with dualistic nature. If you were to stand in front of me I would not think of myself as hard or soft. When a part of your body will approch me to attach I will deflate it in the manner your movmemt dictates, when I want to hit you I will hit you without any regards to your own position- I will force you into my position through the power of my movment. When we are not engaged in a contact I will not be ready and not be un-ready. I will simply be. That is, be in a simular position of when you are watching television, simply watching. If you attach- I react. If I want to attack I will attack- and leave the reaction to you. I hope this helps your dilema. With a bow. shaimajor@yahoo.com