Does anyone know what that means and how it is used in tajiquan combat strategy?

my guess is that it has to do with attack patterns and the rotation of offense and defense.

Sounds like dating advice.

lol

regarding sparring, self defence etc: it's hard not to lose when you are on the defence. It's always better to be setting the pace, forcing your opponent to react, rather than initiate. Even when being attacked, the best don't back up. They simply move laterally (figuratively, not necessarily literally) The best guys don't have defences, they have counter attacks.