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A common tactic in judo and other martial arts is to use your opponent's strength against them. Just as they launch an attack, you take their energy and force and redirect it so that it is they who end up on the mat instead of you. Debating is a kind of martial art, only using words and ideas rather than limbs and muscles. But you can use this judo move in debating too.

Let's take an example. The motion is This house would introduce a wealth tax. At first sight, it seems obvious that one of the proposition's greatest strengths is the idea of fairness. The proposition speaker says that it just isn't fair that some people have houses in every continent in the world and private jets to hop between them when other people can barely afford to feed their families. The argument that a wealth tax would make the world a fairer place seems like a win for the proposition. Surely the opposition should simply take the blow before shifting on to surer ground by talking about ambition and incentives? Not necessarily. Fairness can be used against the proposition. 'You say that a world with a wealth tax in it would be fairer. But how is it fair that someone who has laboured eighteen hours a day for ten years building up a business that has given work to thousands of people and provided a valuable service for millions more receives no reward for their efforts? How is it fair to take away what someone has earned through their own hard work?'

Now let's switch it round, and see how the proposition could use the judo move. The opposition are arguing for the importance of promoting prosperity. Keeping down tax for wealthy people, they say, will help economic growth, because it will incentivise people to work harder and create more wealth. It is worth putting up with a level of economic inequality in return for greater prosperity for everyone. The proposition could respond by moving the argument on to the importance of equality to promote social cohesion and fairness, even if this reduces prosperity. But, more surprisingly and therefore more effectively, they take the punch of prosperity and turn it against the opposition. 'We believe in prosperity too. One reason the British economy has failed to grow in recent years is because of a lack of investment in vital infrastructure. This investment needs to come from the government. And where does the government get the money to invest? From taxation. The money raised by a wealth tax would enable greater government investment leading to greater economic growth. This will bring much greater all round prosperity than a billionaire dropping a few million on another private island.'

Using the judo move in debating requires you to think in creative and unexpected ways, but is also surprisingly powerful. You can land your opponent on the mat just when they think they are at their strongest.