I open with the words of Nishiyama Hidetaka who said: "In a confrontation or Shiai my opponent becomes my Sensei, and in turn I am his Sensei, so we must respect each other." This sentiment is familiar in many traditional martial arts, especially iaido.
In combat, the samurai would not leave an opponent to suffer a painful death, but quickly end their life as to bring honor to himself and the fallen aggressor. Everything requires respect, this concept must be understood and practiced everday.
My greatest learning has come from teaching. When I partner up with a student to train and they ask questions, or I notice an error in technique, I must first look at my own training and see if I am doing it correctly and teaching it clearly. I correct the technique, but walk away having learned more about my own skills and abilities. This type of learning will only be possible when we respect our opponents. When ego and pride block our path, we can no longer accept this concept because we are learning by ourselves and our learning becomes inhibited.
