I read this about 30 years ago and it made an great impact on me so I am paraphrasing this from the book: "Zen in the Martial Arts", by Joe Hyams. Please note the differences are from my interpretation as well as from my memory (or lack of it).
Two students are selected for sparring. Both advanced students, but one was notably superior to the other (Such differences in level are often paired for learning purposes, primarily for the benefit of the less skilled of the two.).
It was soon notable that the difference in skill was significant and the more advance student pulled strikes and lightened his technique, to keep the match constructive and competitive.
The lower level student, feeling bested and wanting to save face began using questionable tactics, dirty techniques, focusing on "winning" at any cost to protect his bruised ego and false pride. Still, the superior student maintained his calm and did not engage in prohibited techniques and controlled the match. Frustrated, the lesser fighter became more reckless risking iinjury to himself and his sparring partner. The match ended and the teacher took the lesser student to the side, drew a line on with chalk on the floor and asked,"how do you make this line shorter?". After several guesses, the teacher drew a longer line next to the first line and asked, "how does the first line look now?" He then explained that when training with a higher skilled partner, one should seek to extend our line, and not to shorten your partners line."
Allowing our ego to take over and seeking to win at any cost eliminates any opportunity of learning and growing from the encounter. Trying to shorten your opponent's line is wasting effort for no benefit . Being humble, acknowledging your opponent is better and doing your best, allows you to see where and what to improve. This is extending your line.
This is a prominent teaching in Daoist philosophy that applies to everything in life. Be aware and choose to extend your line at every opportunity. Do not let your lower instincts blind you into taking the negative path and into acting dishonorably. Do not sell your honor cheaply.
Caveat:
There may come a time when there is no choice..... when you encounter a stronger opponent and lossing is not an option. Grow as much as possible by extending your line and be prepared for a time when you may have to resort to any means necessary in order to defeat a more powerful opponent, or to overcome a seemingly insurmountable challenge and failure would too destructive or cause too great a loss. Let it be your choice to make and worth sacrificing your honor. There is a time and a place for everything and given the right set of circumstances, even the negative path can be the right choice.
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