Summary We should help our competition in most aspects of life. Teaching is the fastest way to internalize knowledge, and to gain expertise in a certain field. If your student becomes the master, you gain to learn more. Healthy competition will boost your abilities, such that you become better off than before.

Observations Many of us here participate in martial arts. Especially for those who are competitive practitioners, we are faced with constant competition from those who threaten our position.

The dilemma Once a person reaches a certain standard of achievement, e.g. best fencer in the club, best fighter in the state, competitive pressure really sinks in. The only way to improve is usually to fight someone better than you. But these people also threaten your status!!

A coach or trainer can push you towards lifting heavier/running faster, but to actually improve, we need someone better than ourselves. Coaches can sometimes fulfill that role, but for the most part they are past their physical prime. If you train with a coach who also competes, then this dilemma also affects them:

The new rookie whom you help train may one day best you in competition.

Selflessness? or Selfishness No rational person would sacrifice his own advancement for another. However, in this instance, helping the competition is actually beneficial.

It takes a brave man to look past his own ego. The rookie you spar with might go on to become the next Muhammad Ali. If that happens, you are better off for it! Not because he might remember you once he achieved success, not because of the fame that might arise from being his trainer, but for the sole reason that you've had the opportunity to train with the best fighter around.

Skills are honed through competition. Objectively, we are better off having trained with the best.

The Other Perspective Sure redpillcynic, but what if said rookie runs off with the HB9 you've been courting all night? What if he gets the promotion you would've gotten otherwise?

The possibility of being usurped by someone you helped in always present. But if that happens, it means you are doing something wrong.

If you train with Muhammad Ali, you'll have insight into his technique, into how he fights. If you can't best a person knowing all his tricks, maybe you're not good enough to begin with. At any rate, it forces you to improve.

Stagnation is the alternative.

Conclusion Helping the competition is embracing competition. The only path towards mastery is through competition with those better than us.

Avoiding competition leads to stagnation.

Discussion Would you train the rookies in your lives?