Hǎo quán bù yíng tóu sān shǒu; zìyǒu gāozhāo zài hòutou.

好拳不贏頭三手, 自有高招在後頭。

Lit A good boxer doesn't (try to) win [with his] first three blows; [his] high skill [in martial arts in fact won't be seen until] the end.

Fig A superior fighter holds back at first, to give his opponent time to reveal his weaknesses, so he can evaluate and take advantage of them.

Topics BOXING FIGHTING MARTIAL ARTS STRATEGY