By boldly seizing the initiative in this way you at once throw the other side on the defensive

“By boldly seizing the initiative in this way, you at once throw the other side on the defensive.”

“The Art of War by Active 6th Century B.C. Sunzi.” Gutenberg.Org, https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/132. Accessed 16 July 2021, loc. 121.

I think this may be better said as “throw the other side off-balance.”